An occupational therapy degree can be earned after attending a program at a college that offers degrees in occupational therapy. There are several degree options to consider, depending on the level at which someone wishes to practice, and there are also some alternative paths that can be pursued, such as online and low residency degree programs. In all cases, the goal of getting a degree in occupational therapy is to prepare for certification and satisfy training requirements.
The most basic occupation therapy degree is an associate's degree, which will allow someone to assist a practicing occupational therapist. Associate's programs take two years, and they can be used to determine whether or not someone is interested in occupational therapy as a career before committing to more lengthy and expensive training. Bachelor's degrees in occupational therapy are also available.
To practice, a master's in occupational therapy is usually the minimum degree requirement for certification. To get a master's degree, a student will need to complete undergraduate coursework in a biology, pre-med, or similar program. Students should make sure that they have physics, organic chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, psychology, and statistics courses on their transcripts, as these are often prerequisites for a master's programs. It is also a good idea to get work experience in an occupational therapist's office, as candidates for a degree need to demonstrate genuine interest, and they will need letters of recommendation from practicing occupational therapists, along with good test scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Getting an occupational therapy degree requires a great deal of clinical experience. For this reason, online and low residency programs are primarily aimed at students who hold a bachelor's in the field already and who have completed the bulk of their clinical work. Students who are interested in these options should find out what the clinical requirements for practicing as an occupational therapist are, and make sure that they will satisfy them. It is also important to attend an accredited and recognized program.
While pursuing a degree, students should keep their grades up and get as much clinical experience as possible. Exceeding clinical requirements will only provide a student with a great deal of valuable experience that will come in useful during clinical practice and the certification process. Work experience also allows students to start networking and exploring job possibilities before they graduate so that they will be ready to seek work once they become licensed.
