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.

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Selected Online Occupational Therapy Degree Programs

A.T. Still University - Online

• M.S. in Advanced Occupational Therapy Studies

Boston University

• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Quinnipiac University

• Post Professional Master in Occupational Therapy

Penn Foster

• Occupational Therapy Aide

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.

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.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The occupational therapy profession is expected to grow at more than twice the average rate of other professions with an aging baby boomer population. Opportunities for certified occupational therapy assistant positions are also expected to grow by 25T in the United States. Jobs will be more available in senior care facilities, hospitals, as well as schools. The annual median annual salary for occupational therapists is about $64,000. The median base salary for occupational therapy assistants in the U.S. is between $40,000 and $48,000, with the highest 10% making over $52,000. With these trends, online occupational therapy degree will continue to serve the growing profession.