The Daily Life of an Occupational Therapist

This video was created by an occupational therapy student following their internship. This video really captures the diversity of this field while giving you a look into the daily activities associated with this profession.

Is Occupational Therapy the Career for You?

Do you have what it takes?

Professional associations

The World Federation of Occupational Therapy was founded in 1952 and is the official international association aimed at uniting and promoting occupational therapy  around the world.

The American Association of Occupational Therapists is a national association which was established in 1917.  The AOTA regulates occupational therapy within the United States and currently has about 39,000 members. "AOTA educates the public and advances the profession by providing resources, setting standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care" (AOTA, 2010)

The Florida Occupational Therapy Association was established in 1977 and is an educational source proving information on state regulations, continuing education and state advocacy.

Click here for a complete list of state by state occupational therapy boards.

Client-centered & Evidence-Based Practice

In occupational therapy, client-centered and evidence-based practice are two important themes.

Client-Centered Practice

Occupational therapy is a client-centered practice that focuses on commitment to the individual person.  With this in mind, the therapist creates a specifically tailored intervention plan in collaboration with each and every client.  In order to be client-centered " practitioners must be willing to enter the client's world to create a relationship that encourages the other to enhance his or her life in ways that are most meaningful to that person"

(Crepeau, Cohn, Boyt-Schnell, 2009).  Practitioners must view their client as a person and must aim to understand them at a personal level, keeping their motivations, goals, and ideas in mind.

Evidence-Based Practice
Occupational therapy uses research to guide its practice. Research is essential in providing clients with the most up to date and effective intervention techniques available. Evidence-based practice "entails being able to integrate research evidence into the clinical-reasoning process to explain the rationale behind interventions and predict probable outcomes (Crepeau, Cohn, Boyt-Schnell, 2009, p 219).   After this research is obtain, OT's must be able to communicate findings to clients in a way in which they understand.

OT Supervision

Supervision for occupational therapists
Currently, there are no existing laws regulating the supervision of occupational therapists. However, Supervision is an extremely effective process that helps to improve deficiencies while supporting both professional growth and job performance. (Crepeau, Cohn, Boyt-Schnell, 2009). Occupational therapists who take on the role or who are appointed as supervisors take on a variety of tasks. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that a certain degree of quality care is being implemented. Supervisors are not only responsible for day to day management but are also responsible for setting expectations and making sure they are being met. Supervisors provide feedback as they continue to help their fellow OT’s in their professional development. Supervisors should also be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each OT under them and should promote team problem solving when issues are raised. Supervision is especially helpful for new OT’s and for OT’s who work alone. Supervisors often provide support and develop mentor like relationships with their supervisees'.

Supervision for occupational therapist assistants and aides
While supervision isn't mandatory for OT's, it is mandatory for occupational therapy assistants and aides.  Laws regulating the type and amount of supervision vary state by state and can be found on the American Occupational Therapy Association's website.

Click here for a list of state regulations for occupational therapy aides.

Practice areas and settings

Occupational therapists work in very diverse settings with people of all ages.  Some of the typical settings in which you may find an occupational therapist are: 

• rehabilitation centers
• hospitals 
• schools
• nursing homes
• hospice
• psychiatric hospitals
• universities as educators
• the workplace
• prisions
• in the community
• home care



National & State Licensing

In order to practice as an occupational therapist within the United States you must be licensed both nationally and within the state in which you are practicing. Each state has specific rules and regulations that must be followed in order to obtain licensure. First of all, the applicant must have graduated from an accredited occupational therapy program. After graduating, the student must pass the national certification exam (NBCOT). Once the exam has been successfully completed and passed, the title of Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) is given. There are specific state guidelines and regulations for licensure so it is recommended that you check your state’s licensing board for up to date information.

While it is mandatory to be licensed to practice as an occupational therapist, a certification is voluntary for occupational therapy assistants. Even thought the certification is voluntary, some states do require addition classes , registration and certificates. These additional requirements vary from state to state and therefore you must contact you local licensing board for more information.


If an occupational therapist assistant does decide to become certified, they can take the NBCOT for OTA’s. This is a national exam that sometimes meets state regulations for OTA’s as well. If the OTA or student passes this exam they can now be considered a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Some states require additional education-related classes and certificates for occupational therapy assistants.. A list of state licensure regulations for OT’s and OTA’s can be found by doing a simple search online. (BLS, 2009)
　
For information regarding state licensure in Florida visit: Florida Board of Occupational Therapy


For information regarding the NBCOT exam visit: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy



AOTA Certification
If you would like to improve your professional development as an OT you may choose to become specialized in an area of your choice.  With additional training you may earn a Board or Speciality Certification in one of eight areas.  These areas include:

• Gerontology 
• Mental Health
• Pediatrics
• Physical Rehabilitation
• Driving and Community Mobility
• Environmental Modification
• Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
• Low Vision

The bold areas are areas in which either OT's or OTA's may earn a Specialty Certification. Only OT's may earn Board Certifications for the first four items listed. (AOTA, 2010). Click here for more information about becoming competent in one of these areas.

In order for OT's to remain competent, they must participate in continuous professional development and education.  Continuing education allows OT's to remain up to date with the latest research and it's typically a requirement necessary to maintain licensure. Also, "Self-assessment is an important part of developing a professional development plan and continuing competence" as well (AOTA, 2010).

Academic preparation & School’s accreditation

Academic Requirements

                                         

Occupational Therapist (OT)

• Entry level is a master's degree in occupational therapy (MOT)
• Must attend an academic program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
• A minimum of 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork
• High school courses in biology, physics, health, art, social sciences, and chemistry are recommended
• Undergraduate degrees that are relevant to this field include liberal arts, psychology, biology, sociology, anatomy, and anthropology
• To see a sample of an OT program from an accredited school click here
• Must successfully pass the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapist's (NBCOT) exam
• Click here for a list of accredited Masters-Level Occupational Therapy Programs

• Some schools also offer doctorate-level degrees (DOT) and postprofessional programs in occupational therapy
• Click here to obtain a list of accredited Doctorate-Level Occupational Therapy Programs

Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)

• Associate's degree in occupational therapy from an ACOTE accredited school
• First year course load includes medical terminology, biology, anatomy and physiology and introduction to health care courses
• Second year course load includes occupational therapy courses related to physical disabilities, mental health, geriatrics, and pediatrics
• Must complete 16 weeks of supervised fieldwork
• Must successfully pass the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapist's (NBCOT) exam for OTA's
• Click here for a list of accredited OTA schools in the United States

Occupational Therapist Aide

• Majority of training is done on the job
• No occupational experience is needed
• High school diploma is required
• Are not eligable for certification or licensure

                                               (BLS, 2009)





School Accreditation

In order to be certified as an occupational therapist or occupational therapist assistant you must attend an accredited school.  The school must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE). Once a school has become accredited, the accreditation's will continue to be conducted every five to seven years. (AOTA, 2010).

To view current ACOTE accreditatin standards click here: Accreditation Standards

Type of Practitioners

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Occupational therapists are the practitioners of occupational therapy. The ultimate goal of any OT is to “help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives” (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2009). OT’s are responsible for doing assessments, evaluations, treatment plans, and monitoring outcomes. An occupational therapist supervises those who work under them and must ensure that treatment plans are being followed through. Occupational therapists help “patients improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments. They work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling condition”  (BLS, 2009).  

Task of an occupational therapists may include:

• Helping a stroke victim to regain independence by managing deficits
• Teaching clients how to used adaptive equipment
• Helping a client who has experienced a traumatic brain injury
• Teaching a client how to perform transfers
• Helping a client with an amputation return to their daily activities
• Teaching a developmentally disabled or physically impaired child how to play

Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)


Occupational therapist assistants work as a team with occupational therapists in implementing a client's treatment plan. A treatment plan outlines activities and exercises that will help a client to reach their goals. OTA’s document the progress of their clients and may suggest plan modifications. OTA’s also review treatment plans with clients while ensuring they follow all protocols and safety measures. If an intervention plan needs modifications, an OTA will collaborate with an OT in making changes.  Some of the duties likely to completed by an OTA are:

• " Helping injured patients to stretch and strengthen muscles
• Working with developmentally disabled patients to teach them skills that will help them work successfully in society
• Supervising patients to be sure that they are following treatment plans
• Recording patients' improvements for the occupational therapist to review”               

                                                  (All star directories, 2009)               

        

Occupational Therapist Aides

An occupational therapist aide works under the supervision of an OT and has no formal training in occupational therapy.  OT aides perform clerical tasks and help in assembling equipment and preparing materials. OT Aides do not directly work with patients.  (BLS, 2009).

                                                                      

Areas of Occupation

Occupational therapist's use the term "occupation" to refer to "everyday activities."  (OTPF, 2008) Many therapists even use the words activity and occupation interchangeably.  In order to classify the endless amount of activities someone can be involved in on a daily basis, occupational therapist's have categorized occupations into eight major areas. Individual differences play a key role in how someone categorizes their daily activity. For instance, while one person may consider walking a dog to be leisure, another person may consider the same activity to be work or play. Occupations are multidimensional and complex and " the client's perspective of how an occupation is categorized varies depending on that client's needs and interests" (OTPF, 2008).

 

 Areas of Occupation

• 
  
  Activities of Daily Living (ADL's)
• 
  
  Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL's)
• 
  
  Rest and Sleep
• 
  
  Education
• 
  
  Work
• 
  
  Play
• 
  
  Leisure

Occupation has also been defined as:


"Goal-directed pursuits that typically extend over time, have meaning to the performance, and involve multiple tasks" (Christiansen et al., 2005, p. 548).


"Chunks of daily activity that can be named in lexicon of the culture" (Zemke & Clark, 1996, p.vii)


"Activities that people engage in throughout their daily lives to fulfill their time and give life meaning. Occupations involve mental abilities and skills and may or may not have an observable physical dimension" (Hinojosa & Kramer, 1997, p. 865).

The Aspects of Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Many people have heard of occupational therapists or as they like to say "OT's."  While people have heard of this profession, they don't seem to fully understand this discipline and what being an occupational therapist entails. To start off with, Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health care profession that focuses on the relationship between humans and their "occupations." Occupations are considered to be the activities you participate in on a daily basis. Many people take their daily occupations for granted and don't realize the significance of them until a loss or deficit is experienced.  Our occupations give meaning to our lives and include everything from brushing your teeth to helping someone regain their independence after a traumatic event.  The ultimate goal of occupational therapy is to promote the "health and participation of people, organizations, and populations through engagement in occupation" (Occupatioanl Therapy Practice Framework [OTPF], 2008).  The practitioners responsible for promoting this engagement are called Occupational Therapists.

Occupational Therapy is a profession that utilizes information from the academic discipline of Occupational Science. Occupational Science focuses on the study of humans as occupational beings. "Occupational science addresses the centrality of engagement in occupations and in human life, particularly as they relate to health and well being, and social participation"  (Crepeau, Cohn, Boyt-Schnell, 2009).

Click on the link below to hear all about occupational therapy in an interview with two OT practitioners.

Interview Podcast



References

References

All Star Directories, Inc. (2009, April 22). Occupational therapy assistant job description. Retrieved from

AOTA. (2010). AOTA certification. http://www.aota.org/Practitio ners/ProfDev/Certification.aspx


AOTA. (2010). OT master‘s-level programs - accredited. http://www.aota.org/Educate /Schools/EntryLevelOT/38119.aspx 


Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009, December 17). Occupational therapy. Retrieved from

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(6), 625-683.

Christiansen, C., Baum, M. C., & Bass-Haugen, J. (Eds.). (2005). Occupational therapy: Performance, participation, and well-being. Thorofare, NJ: Slack.


Crepeau, E. B., Cohn. E. S. & Boyt-Shell, B. A. (Eds) (2009). Willard & Spackman's Occupational Therapy (11^th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.


Hinojosa, J., & Kramer, P. (1997). Fundamental con-cepts of occupational therapy: Occupation, pur-poseful activity, and function [Statement].American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51,864–866.


Zemke R., & Clark, F. (1996). Occupational science: An evolving discipline. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
　
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