Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Occupational therapists not only help clients improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also compensate for permanent loss of function. Their goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
In a word, this occupation focuses on helping people participate in the meaningful activities of life. Whether the clients are children, adults or the elderly, Occupational Therapists work to both diagnose and rehabilitate their clients. Like many other allied health professions, the licensure in this field is in the throes of change. By January, 2007 all OT training will be at the masters level. Due to the decreasing OT applicant pool and the aging of the population, this occupation is expected to be underserved by as much as 30 - 35% in the coming decade.
Admission Requirements for Graduate-Level Programs
Students are required to complete the GRE exam for entry into graduate schools. For more information, visit ourGRE FAQ Sheet.
Undergraduate pre-requisites for graduate-level training in OT vary by academic institution, and students interested in the field of OT are encouraged to research individual requirements for programs of interest. That said, most programs are quite similar in what they require of their applicants, and for that reason the undergraduate pre-requisites for a representative program are described in the next paragraph.
The prerequisite requirements for entry into the Entry-Level Master's in Occupational Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University (http://www.jefferson.edu/jchp/ot/prog.cfm) include the following courses:
Human Life Sciences (including lab)*
Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)
(*Strongly recommend Anatomy & Physiology. Other acceptable science courses include Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology)
Psychology
Developmental or Lifespan (not one specific age level) (3 credits)
Abnormal (3 credits)
Social Sciences
Sociology (3 credits)
Cultural and/or ethnic diversity course (3 credits)
English
Composition (strongly recommended) (3 credits)
English elective (3 credits)
Mathematics
Statistics (3 credits)
An Overview of Graduate-Level Training in the Field of OT
Graduate-Level training in the field of OT varies by institution. In the case of Jefferson College, the Entry-Level Master's program is for students who have (or expect to complete) a bachelor's degree in a field other than Occupational Therapy. The full-time program joins entry-level education with the graduate program and requires 28 consecutive months of accelerated course work. Students can apply to the program if they have a bachelor's degree, have fulfilled prerequisite requirements, and meet other admission criteria. This full-time option is accelerated and competitive. Combining didactic course work and extensive clinical fieldwork, the program prepares students for clinical practice, selected specialty practice in older adults, community health, early intervention and school age practice, and sensory integration, as well as professional leadership and research. Students start in fall semester and take 17 or 18 credits per semester, including summers. There is also a part-time option available for students. Part-time students start in the fall semester and take 8 to 10 credits per semester. For more information and application, contact the Office of Admissions at 215.503.8890 .
