How To Select From The Many Occupational Therapy Schools
Those who want to become occupational therapists should get their academic qualification from one of the many occupational therapy schools that have come up all across the country now. You might not be a physician or a surgeon, but you can still be an extremely part of the medical profession. In fact, often, even the most simple of operators such as a technician or an assistant can perform a key task, and without these tasks, the physician or the surgeon simply cannot perform. The job of an occupational therapist is much like this. Naturally, the profession has become very important now.
These days, there are a lot of jobs available for these people, and the pay is also good. According to statistics, those with just a year of experience can earn anything between $40,000 and $65,000 every year, and the therapists who have more than 20 years of experience can make a staggering $90,000 or even more in just a year. That is of course more than the national average. The average salary for a person in this profession is also high at $73,000. This is one major reason why so many people want to become occupational therapists now. Of course, there are others who genuinely want to help those people who are in urgent need of help. A lot of occupational therapy schools are coming up all over the US, as a lot of people today want to join the profession.
The Value of an Occupational Therapist
The work of an occupational therapist has become really important in today’s perspective. The modern lifestyle is full of tension and stress. People are expected to perform always at the workplace, and there are expectations from friends and family too. Life has become much too fast now, and there’s hardly any time for relaxation. All this certainly has an impact on the person’s life. Soon enough, for many people at least, there’s a breakdown, and it can often be quite serious. The work-life balance is critical, and very few people can achieve this.
A student from one of the best occupational therapy schools can certainly help. The therapist can work with the patient and help the person achieve the best he or she can. And thus, the service provided is a great contribution to society too.
Programs Offered At Occupational Therapy Schools
There are many schools in the US, and these schools offer a variety of programs. Some of them offer an advanced degree, and some others offer just the basic learning program. But even before you can join a school, it is essential to find out what the admission requirements are. For each school, these requirements may be somewhat different, but generally, it can be said that they will require you to be a Bachelor in Science or Arts at least. Your minimum GPA should also be 3.0. There are some institutions that will require you to have a background in anatomy, biology, and some other science courses. To join a few schools, you must have a background of voluntary work where you have actually helped people who required medical help.
Some schools offer a certificate program as well. These programs are meant for the occupational therapists that have already been certified. Often, the practicing therapists must always upgrade themselves so that they are able to stay prepared to offer specific treatments in a field that is always growing. A person may already be working, but it is still important to learn about the latest developments, because the demands are always changing. These programs can help here.
What do you do if you find that you are unable to meet the requirements of admission? Do keep in mind that it is best not to compromise on your school. Remember, a lifetime of career opportunities is in front of you, and so, one mistake here can be extremely costly. So, don’t seek admission right now. It is best that you take some additional course prior to taking admission. Make it your target to seek admission in the next term. This way, you can still go to some of the best occupational therapy schools in the country.
The Value of Accreditation
Some schools offer the training under an Occupational Science Dept. But there are independent schools too that offer training only on this subject and nothing else. Both of these occupational therapy schools are good enough – so you can choose either one. It does not matter. But what matters is the accreditation. In other words, you should check to confirm that the school and the program are accredited by the ACOTE or the Accreditation Council. Be careful, because not all schools are accredited.
This is really very important, because if the school you have joined is not accredited, then you cannot sit for the NBCOT or the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam. The fact is, you need to pass this exam to become eligible to practice in the country. This is the basic requirement in each of the 50 states in the US now. Yes, certainly, no employer will hire your services if you have not passed this exam.
Occupational therapy schools – Another Factor to Consider
There are some really good schools that offer plenty of research opportunities, and perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to work in an intern position. These opportunities are like gold mines for the student because they can work in a center or clinic along with a practicing therapist. Since they work with live patients with the practicing therapist, they get real-life experience about the everyday challenges a professional faces, and learns how best they can be solved. No matter how good the theoretical teaching is, there cannot really be any replacement of practical on-the-job training. You should thus certainly look for the occupational therapy schools that will let you work in the field so that you can pick up your lessons from there.
Never be hasty when you are selecting your school. Take your time to arrive at the right decision. Your entire life is ahead of you.