Occupational Therapy Degree Programs

Are you interested in an online occupational therapy degree? What does an occupational therapist do? What does an occupational therapy aide do?

Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of occupational therapists to help rehabilitate patients with physical and psychological ailments. The occupational therapy assistant degree is design to prepare students work to improve patient quality of life and their ability to function normally. Occupational therapy assistants work with their patients or clients in the rehabilitative activities that are outlined in the patients treatment plans. These plans are created by an occupational therapists, with a goal to improve the mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that clients may have You would learn more about medical terminology, including anatomical positioning and therapeutic terms, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) therapy, adaptive equipment, and workplace health and safety. A master's degree is the minimum requirement for becoming a practicing occupational therapist. To become an occupational therapy assistant one can enroll in an associate degree program.

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Selected Occupational Therapy Degree Programs with Online Options

• Occupational Therapy (M.S.)
• Advanced Occupational Therapy (M.S.)

• Occupational Therapy Aide Diploma

Occupational Therapy Education and Training

As an occupational therapist, you would be trained on therapeutic modalities, pain management, sports and hand injuries, ethics for professionals, psychology in occupational therapy, and best practices. Students at A.T. Still University learn to assist clients and patients in relearning daily activities such as grooming and feeding and computer use. They use physical exercise to increase client strength, mobility, and dexterity. Many programs of study are available at the master degree level. Programs at Penn Foster are aimed at meeting the needs of practicing clinicians who wish to improve and advance their skills and knowledge.

Occupational Therapy Careers

Responsibilities for occupational therapists include developing rehabilitation plans for patients and providing ongoing evaluations of their activities and progress and training those with permanent disabilities to use adaptive equipment. As an occupational therapy you can work in clinics, public and private educational services, nursing care facilities, home health agencies, outpatient care and community care centers, government agencies, and private practice. You may also work closely with physical therapists and other physical rehabilitation staff.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

According to recent statistics, the middle 50% of occupational therapists earn about $56,770 and $68,000 per year and the top 10% earn $75,688 or more a year. One of the largest areas of job growth for occupational therapists is in working in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and private health agencies. With an online occupational therapy degree, you can specialize in providing specific kinds of care, for example to children or adult patients, or with specific kinds of therapies or working with specific conditions such as multiple sclerosis .