How to Become an Occupational Therapist

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How to Become an Occupational Therapist

Choose a Setting

Teletherapy

Travel therapy

Administration/Academia

Mental Health

Home Health

Acute Care

Skilled Nursing Facility

Pediatrics

School System

Inpatient Nursing Home

Outpatient

Community Service

Demonstrate evidence of helping those in need

Help the elderly with household duties

Volunteer in a nursing home

Volunteer in a food bank

Demonstrate evidence of advocating for occupational therapy in your community or campus

Demonstrate evidence of working with people with special needs

Pre-requisite Courses

Complete Sociology or Anthropology

Complete General Psychology

Complete Biology I and II with labs (depending on school)

Complete a course in advanced writing

Complete a statistics course

Complete Medical Terminology (1-3 credits depending on school)

Complete Developmental Psychology

Complete Abnormal Psychology

Complete Physics I with lab or Kinesiology with lab (depending on school)

Complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs

License and Certification

Obtain certification in specialty areas you want to be trained in

Assistive technology

Seating and mobility

Autism therapy

Brain injury rehabilitation

Diabetes education

Industrial rehabilitation

Kinesio taping

Low vision therapy

Stroke rehabilitation

Sensory integration

Aquatic therapy

Neonatal therapy

Hippotherapy

Hand therapy

Complete continuing education requirements to keep license

Obtain licensure for the state you desire to practice in

Pass NBCOT exam upon graduation from a MSOT or OTD program

Research Experiences

This will help with graduate school applications and give experience for the research you are required to conduct as an OT student

Conduct your own research

Work with a professor on any project they may be working on

Standardized Tests

Take the CASper Assessment if required by school

Take the GRE

Observation Experiences

Maintain good professionalism and build relationships

Shadow a licensed occupational therapist in at least 2-3 settings

Education

MSOT or OTD degree in occupational therapy from an accredited institution

OTD offers the ability to teach and work in administration

Both are acceptable at this time for entry-level practitioners

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university

Common choices include Psychology, Biology, and Exercise Science

Can be in any desired field

High school diploma or GED