Online Occupational Therapy Degree Programs

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on developing functional skills related to sensory-motor integration, coordination of movement, fine motor skills, self-help skills. Occupational therapy is can also be used to help restore functions impaired or lost through illness, injury. Occupational therapists teach their patients to use specialized equipment for example eating equipment, wheelchairs, and dressing aids so as to give their patient as much autonomy and independence as possible. There are some similarities between occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT). The main difference however is that occupational therapy focuses on improving skills for daily living. This includes using adaptive tools to allow a patient to live and work while physical therapy focuses on treating and preventing injury. Each U.S. state has different regulations and licensing requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

Online Occupational Therapy Degree Programs

A.T. Still University

• M.S. in Advanced Occupational Therapy Studies

Quinnipiac University

• Post Professional Master in Occupational Therapy

Penn Foster Schools

• Occupational Therapy Aide

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Occupational Therapy Education and Training

Online occupational therapy assistant programs and occupational therapy programs generally require students to take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, human anatomy, human physiology, psychology as well as more specific occupational therapy courses for example foundations of occupational therapy, neuroscience, pathology, medical ethics, evaluation and intervention in occupational therapy, and applied kinesiology in occupational therapy.

Most occupational therapy assistants take the national certification to become a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) which is offered through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). To take the COTA certification, students are required to complete an occupational therapy assistant certification program from an accredited occupational therapy program. Depending on the level of study, online occupational therapy degree courses might include:

• Human Occupation
• Life Span Growth Development for Occupational Therapy
• Gerontology
• Therapeutic Materials and Processes
• Applied Kinesiology and Biomechanics
• Theory and Practice in Psychosocial Dysfunction
• Community, Occupation and Health

In the online occupational therapy degree program, students are also required to complete an internship with at least six months of fieldwork where they work with a licensed occupational therapist. Most accredited programs in the United States offer a combined bachelor's and master's degree program which allows students to complete their online occupational therapy masters degree in five to six years.

Some students go on to earn an occupational therapy PhD. The occupational therapy masters degree requires graduate student to take advanced courses in occupational therapy theory and application, and the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences. Most states also require licensed occupational therapists to take continuing education courses.

Occupational Therapy Careers

Occupational therapists work with patients to help them increase or recover their motor, reasoning and living skills. With an accredited online occupational therapy degree, occupational therapy assistants work with occupational therapists, physicians, and other health care providers in patients' rehabilitation. They work in various settings that include nursing homes, clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, private care, home health care, etc. Other physical therapists work sports medicine clinics.

Online occupational therapy degree programs prepare professional to work with patients to overcome obstacles which can include developmental programs for fine motor skills, audio or visual perception, autism or Down Syndrome, working with patients who are recovering from a stroke or heart attacks, elderly patients, patients with spinal code injuries, degenerative diseases for example cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Occupational therapist assistants work with clients in rehabilitative activities and exercises that are provided in a treatment plan that is developed by an occupational therapist for example range of motion exercises.

On the other hand, occupational therapist aides usually prepare materials and equipment that are used during treatment. They are also responsible for a clerical tasks like scheduling appointments and filling out insurance forms. Another difference is that aides are not regulated by states, therefore the law does not allow them to perform occupational therapist assistants tasks.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the following data. In 2008, the median annual income for occupational therapists was $66,780. The middle 50% made between $55,090 and $81,290. The lowest 10% earned below $42,820 while the highest 10% made over $98,310.

For occupational therapist assistants for the same period, the median annual income was $48,230. The middle 50% earned between $39,240 and $57,810. The lowest 10% earned below $31,150, and the highest 10% earned more than $65,160. Occupational therapist aides earned $26,960 in 2008. The middle 50% earned between $21,930 and $33,340. The lowest 10% earned less than $17,850, and the highest 10% earned more than $46,910.

According to the BLS, the employment of occupational therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow by 30% from 2008 to 2018. This is a rate that is much faster than the average for other occupations. Likewise, the employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase by 26% during the same time period. Jobs will be more available in senior care facilities, hospitals, as well as schools. With these trends, online occupational therapy degree will continue to serve the growing profession.