An Occupational Therapist is a health professional that is concerned with the everyday activities of clients. An Occupational Therapist examines that daily activities of patients and suggests ways to modify them to improve health. According to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, the overall goal of an Occupational Therapist is to allow clients to participate in activieties that bring meaning and enjoyment to their lives.
Duties of an Occupational Therapist:
- Assessment of clients' everyday activities to determine which may be detrimental.
- Prescribe different activities or modificatoins in existing activities to minimize health risks and maximize overall functioning of clients.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of changes to determine of plan was right for client.
- Make changes to plans that are not working for certain clients.
Work Requirements:
Occupational Therapist need to be good problem solvers in order to come up with innovative ways in which to make daily activities easier for their clients. This also requires good listening and interprative skills in order to determine what the concerns of the client are.
Types of Work Environments:
- Privately owned practice
- Public clinics
- Hospitals
Personality Requirements:
- Be a good listener
- Attention to detail
- Be kind and empathetic
- Patient
- Critical thinker and good problem solver
Education: 6 Years Post-Secondary Education
4 year undergraduate degree in a health-related science.
2 year master's degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited Canadian university.
Successful completiong of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists licensing exam.
Courses taken during high school which will assist you in a career as an Occupational Therapist:
- Sciences
- Math
- English
- Anatomy
Job placement – after 6 years of post-secondary education your chances of finding a job are considered - Good
With an aging population, the need for Occupational Therapist who can help older adults function within their own homes is on the rise.
Wages:
Occupational Therapists can make more than $70,000 per year.
Links:
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists
