Many vocational training and technical institutes offer occupational therapist training. Many of these are reasonably priced and may also offer some financial assistance. Some of these include ITT-Tech.edu, PennFoster.edu, Kaplan.edu and numerous others.
Finding occupational therapists online depends on if you are seeking local help or more generalized information. A good place to start is with The American Occupational Therapy Assocation, Inc located at http://www.aota.org/Practitioners.aspx; this website has good information about Occupational Therapy and has message boards, blogs and forums that you can join to start finding the right practitioner for you.
Occupational therapists help patients who have physically, mentally, or developmentally disabling health conditions. They help patients develop or maintain work and daily living skills. Most occupational therapists work in hospitals, but some work in schools, offices, and nursing care environments. In order to start a career as an occupational therapist, you must earn your master’s degree or a higher degree. College majors that are appropriate for occupational therapist students include biology, sociology, psychology, liberal arts, anthropology, and anatomy. Keep in mind that in order to work as an occupational therapist, you must be licensed. In order to acquire your license, you must complete an accredited program and pass a certification exam. So what kind of salaries do occupational therapists earn? On average, those who work in home health care services earn about $67,600. Occupational therapists who work in nursing care environments earn about $64,750. Occupational therapists who work in hospitals earn about $61,610. Occupational therapists who work in elementary and secondary schools earn about $54,260. So what else do occupational therapists do? They help clients perform all kinds of activities. They use exercise to help people increase their dexterity and strength. They use programs on computers to help patients improve problem solving skills, memory, coordination, perceptual skills, decision making skills and others. They may work with the elderly, children, mental health patients and such. Many schools offer occupational therapy courses. You can contact schools in your area to find out if they offer these kinds of courses. You can also search for schools online or in the Yellow Pages. You should gather information about each school and their occupational therapy courses and compare programs until you find a good school. Ask yourself the following questions when you are looking for a school. Do you want to relocate to attend college? Do you need a flexible schedule? What kind of financial assistance is available to you? Are the occupational therapy courses accredited? What are the tuition fees and educational costs for each school? If you compare many schools and inform yourself, you will have an easier time picking the best school for your education needs.
This site has a good list of the top occupational therapy schools in the country, depending on your location and whether you want a public or private school. http://www.univsource.com/ot.htm
Therapy involves helping the physically and mentally injured with the management and recovery from their conditions. There are several types of therapy, but the most prominent include physical and occupational therapy. Occupational therapists concentrate on helping patients with day to day skills such as eating, dressing, and using a computer. They also assist patients with skills necessary for obtaining and keeping a paying job. As the baby boom generation continues to age, more and more occupational therapists will be needed, meaning that this will be a good career track to enter for the next decade.Working ConditionsMost occupational therapists work in hospitals, clinics or nursing homes, although several therapists work with patients in their own homes. Although there are many full time jobs available in occupation therapy, one in three occupational therapists work part time. With the availability of part time jobs, many occupational therapists are able to split their time between raising a family and pursuing career goals. Job responsibilities vary depending on where the therapist works and the condition of his or her patients, but in general, occupational therapists must help patients perform a variety of daily activities and teach them to complete these activities independently, use physical and educational activities to improve physical and mental skills, and teach patients to use special equipment to help them make the most of each day.Education and TrainingOccupational therapists must have a thorough knowledge of the medical field and the practices most effective in aiding patients in their day to day lives. In almost every case, this means earning a post baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy. Additionally, occupational therapists must hold a certificate in occupational therapy in order to gain employment.Salary and Job OutlookJob outlook for occupational therapy is much better than that of most fields. The aging of the baby boom generation and an increasing life expectancy will inevitably bring more patients to nursing homes and hospitals. With a greater demand for occupational therapists, earning potential is also expected to increase. The average salary for occupational therapists ranges from $60,000 to $80,000, although many earn over $90,000.
The Department of Health and Human Services recently decided to bestow $96 million in grants to approximately 30 occupational therapy schools around the U.S. This money is meant to increase ethnic diversity in this profession. It is their hope that more people will be motivated to serve in economically disadvantaged areas in the country. The government hopes this will lead to a more diverse workforce. Occupational therapy schools train students to help improve the quality of life of people. There are many reasons why a patient might require the services of an occupational therapist. Accidents, illness, or birth defects might make it necessary to receive these services. Occupational therapists are trained to assist these individuals with daily tasks and work related tasks. These professionals can suggest resources that will make it easier for the patient. This profession is hands on. Oftentimes, the occupational therapist will come into the home and make necessary changes to the environment. Or this professional may work with the employer to suggest needed adjustments to the work environment. Furthermore, more and more occupational therapists will be needed in the near future. Some of these professionals work exclusively with the elderly. And the growing population of older Americans will open more doors of opportunity for successful graduates of occupational therapy schools. A master’s degree is the minimum amount of education needed to practice as a licensed occupational therapist. Most states will require this credential and certification. Students of occupational therapy schools will be trained to work with a diverse population. People of all ages need the services of a qualified occupational therapist. The future looks very good for those who graduate from an accredited occupational therapy school. Salaries for the average therapist start at around $55,000. This is an entry level position. More experience increases the ability to earn higher salaries. And there are advancement opportunities available also. Some professionals may choose to work towards a doctoral degree in the field. These professionals can teach at occupational therapy schools after completion of their degree. Others will be more interested in research. The government hires PhD graduates to work in Health and Human Services Agencies. There are numerous job opportunities available and the future is secure for qualified occupational therapists.
The following is written by and according to the U.S. Department of Labor and particular to the job outlook for occuptional therapists.Employment is expected to grow much faster than average. Job opportunities should be good, especially for occupational therapists treating the elderly.Employment change. Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase by 26 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing elderly population will drive growth in the demand for occupational therapy services. The demand for occupational therapists should continue to rise as a result of the increasing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function who require therapy services. Older persons have an increased incidence of heart attack and stroke, which will spur demand for therapeutic services. Growth in the population 75 years and older-an age group that suffers from high incidences of disabling conditions-also will increase demand for therapeutic services. In addition, medical advances now enable more patients with critical problems to survive-patients who ultimately may need extensive therapy. However, growth may be dampened by the impact of Federal legislation imposing limits on reimbursement for therapy services.Hospitals will continue to employ a large number of occupational therapists to provide therapy services to acutely ill inpatients. Hospitals also will need occupational therapists to staff their outpatient rehabilitation programs.Employment growth in schools will result from the expansion of the school-age population and the federally funded extension of services for disabled students. Therapists will be needed to help children with disabilities prepare to enter special education programs.Job prospects. Job opportunities should be good for licensed occupational therapists in all settings, particularly in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings because the elderly receive most of their treatment in these settings. Occupational therapists with specialized knowledge in a treatment area also will have increased job prospects. Driver rehabilitation, training for the elderly, and ergonomic consulting are emerging practice areas for occupational therapy.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated directly below this answer section.
If you are looking for occupational therapy schools, I suggest you check out your local University, where you may be able to find a course on occupational therapy. Good luck looking for some courses!
Well according to http://www.gradschools.com/search-programs/online-programs/occupational-therapy some schools include Adler School Of Professional Psychology and A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Many things can happen in a person’s life and cause an injury. This injury or illness can limit the daily activities of this person. All of a sudden simple things are difficult to accomplish. Occupational therapists work with people to restore some of their ability to accomplish everyday tasks. These health care professionals also adjust work environments to make it possible for the person to continue to work. Occupational therapy school has become more popular recently. More and more people are needing the services of an occupational therapist. Disabled persons work with this specialist. The occupational therapist can go into a work environment and make adjustments to make the work space more conducive to the limitations of the person. Occupational therapy schools teach students how to work with patients with permanent disabilities. Those with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries are all patients that require occupational therapy. The therapist may have to teach the patients how to do things that they were once able to do. Special equipment can be used to help with this process. The majority of occupational therapist must possess a master’s degree in the field. Graduation from an accredited occupational therapy school is critical. This is the minimum standard to gain entry into this career field. The average salary of an occupational therapist is $66,000. The range of the middle 50% of the professionals is between $55,000 to $81,000. Furthermore, occupational therapists work with the elderly, so the growing population of senior citizens will increase the need for more occupational therapists. States require that these professionals be licensed and certified. It is important to check with your specific state to determine the standards. Health care is an industry that remains stable in all types of economic situations. Thus, those who attend occupational therapy schools will have invested in a career that can provide stability and security. Job growth is projected to increase in the next 10 years. Job positions can grow by as much as 20%. Those who enjoy working with the public and have a desire to help others may be a good fit for this career. There are many accredited occupational therapy schools across the country. Prospective students can use the web to research the school before enrolling.
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Occupational therapists can be found in various areas, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, medical offices, and the homes of their clients. They are often found wherever it is they are needed, even if the location seems odd for a professional to be in.