Occupational therapists are licensed health professionals who assess and plan rehabilitative programs for disabled persons. They work with clients who have mental, physical, developmental or emotional impairments after an illness or injury. Occupational therapists help people learn or relearn vocational and daily living skills to achieve greater independence, such as bathing, dressing or eating.
Education
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists must graduate from an accredited occupational therapy program at a college or university. Most students enter a master's degree or entry-level doctoral program with an undergraduate degree in life, health or social science.
Licensure
Occupational therapists take a national certification exam to be licensed and to earn the designation OTR, or Occupational Therapist Registered.
Training
A typical occupational therapy curriculum includes behavioral, biological and physical science. Most programs also have a six-month fieldwork component. High school students who want a career in occupational therapy should prepare for college by taking courses in biology, chemistry and physics and should do some volunteer work in a health-care setting.
Physical Requirements
Occupational therapists must have the manual dexterity to work with objects and tools, according to "Best Jobs of the 21st Century." Since much of the work involves teaching people to do exercises and activities, occupational therapists should be able to lift, bend and twist their bodies and to stand for long periods.
Personality
Occupational therapists are service-oriented people who like to help others. They are also social people who enjoy working with a wide variety of clients from all age groups. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists other qualities occupational therapists must have: patience, ingenuity and imagination.
Skills
Occupational therapists rely on assessment, planning, intervention and cooperative skills to do their work, according to The World Federation of Occupational Therapists. For instance, a therapist must be able to assess a client's mental and physical abilities in relation to their daily living challenges. In some cases, occupational therapists must be able to design or adapt special equipment and devices.
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