Occupational therapy is a growing field that helps patients participate in daily activities. The document traces the history of OT from the 18th century to today. It also discusses requirements and opportunities for becoming an OT, including through the Masters in OT program at Augusta University. The author's interests and qualifications align well with OT and the Augusta University program.

1. {
Occupational
Therapy Career
Research
HLTH 419
Karen Wortham
Clemson University
Spring 2016

2. • Occupational Therapy (OT) is a field of allied health
which helps patients participate in activities of daily
living through the therapeutic use of everyday activities
(American Occupational Therapy Association, 2016a).
• An occupational therapist may work in a variety of
settings including, but not limited to:
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Schools
• Workplaces
• Home Health
• Rehabilitation Hospitals
Introduction

3. • 18th century- Occupational therapy begins in the roots of the
humanist movement, treating mentally ill patients previously
thought to be possessed by demons. These patients often suffered
inhumane treatment, however, and were commonly imprisoned
for life (Missouri College, 2014).
• Early 19th century- Benjamin Rush and Dorothy Dix pushed for
the humane treatment of the mentally ill (Missouri College, 2014).
• 1917- Occupational therapy was first recognized as a profession
with the founding of the National Society for Promotion of
Occupational Therapy.
• 1921- The National Society for Promotion of Occupational
Therapy became the American Occupational Therapy Association
• 1923- Standards for education and training of occupational
therapists were developed and AOTA makes program
accreditation a stated function of the organization
• 1999- Post-baccalaureate degree required for an accredited
occupational therapy degree (American Occupational Therapy
Association, 2016b).
History of OT

4. • As of 1999, post-baccalaureate work (master’s or
doctorate) is required for an accredited occupational
therapy degree (American Occupational Therapy
Association, 2016b).
• The field of occupational therapy continues to grow and
shift with advancements in the medical field
• Growth in the field will be driven by an aging Baby-
boomer population and as people remain active later in
life (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
• Autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and various
other illnesses and disabilities will continue to create a
demand for OT (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
OT Today

5. • The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) cites that
occupational therapists earns an average of $80,000 per
year
• The 10th percentile earns $52,670
• The 90th percentile earns $112, 950
Salary Ranges

6. {
Image: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014). Occupational employment statistics.
Retreived January 19, 2016 from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291122.htm#(3)
Salary Ranges by State

7. • Occupational therapy is a field with a lot of potential for
growth (American Occupational Therapy Association,
2016c).
• U.S. News (2014) Ranked OT as #13 on its list of The 100
Best Jobs with 29% employment growth expected between
2012-2022.
• TIME magazine listed occupational therapy in its January
2014 article entitled, “These Are the 5 Most In-Demand Jobs
Right Now” (Matthews, 2014).
• Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates occupational therapy to
grow 27% between 2014-2024, creating over 30,000 new jobs
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
Growth Potential

8. • In order to become an occupational therapist, a bachelors
degree is generally required prior to graduate school.
• Some programs may make exceptions for especially
qualified applicants with 90+ hours of collegiate work
completed (Augusta University, 2015a).
• No particular degree is required, but each graduate
school has a list of requisites (including pre-requisite
coursework) for entry into the graduate programs.
• I am particularly interested in the Master’s of Science in
Occupational Therapy program at Augusta University.
How to Become an OT

9. • Augusta University (formerly known as Georgia Regents
University) offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
• Augusta University has a well-established program, and is
currently accredited (Augusta University, 2015a).
• Augusta University’s program includes an on-campus low vision
clinic, allowing students to gain experience working with low
vision patients during their master’s program (Augusta
University, 2015c).
• Tuition costs per semester are included below (Augusta
University, 2015b):
Augusta University: A
Local Graduate Program
Residential Status Full Time Student
(12+ Hours)
Part Time Student (1-
11 Hours)
In-State $4,548.00 $484.00
Out of State $14,220.00 $1,185.00

10. • For the entry level degree of a Masters in Occupational Therapy at
Augusta University, there are prerequisite materials listed on the
Website (Augusta University, 2015a):
• An overall GPA of a 3.0 or higher
• A 2.8 (or higher) math and science GPA
• GRE score of 290+ (verbal and reasoning scores combined) and a GRE
Writing Score of a 3.5+
• Extensive shadowing hours or life experience within the field of OT
• Three letters of recommendation: references from two occupational
therapists and a third reference from a professor or mentor
• Completed pre-requisite courses
• Anatomy with lab
• Kinesiology or Anatomy II
• Human Growth and Development
• Introduction to Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Statistics
• Physics with lab
• Ethics, Philosophy, or Religion
• Medical Terminology
Requirements for Entry at
Augusta University

11. • I have decided to become an occupational therapist because it
allows for connection and healing between people.
• As a child, I was raised to believe that every sphere of wellness
(physical, mental, occupational, emotional, spiritual, social,
and environmental) needs therapy every now and then
because people are not perfect.
• I am passionate about the field of occupational therapy, and I
hope to one day work in a pediatric neurological rehabilitation
setting.
• I think Augusta University’s program would help me achieve
these goals.
• I meet the requirements for admission to the program. My
overall GPA (3.94), math/science GPA (3.80), GRE Scores
(verbal reasoning 159, quantitative reasoning 153, and writing
4.5), shadowing hours, letters of recommendation, and
prerequisite courses fulfill the requirements of admission.
My Goals to Be an OT

12. • During my O*Net Interest Profiler Evaluation, the three
characteristics topped my interest list, showing what I
would enjoy in a career. Descriptions of the
characteristics are included from the O*Net website
(“O*Net interest profiler: Score report,” n.d)
• Social- people with a social career interests enjoy things like
giving advice, teaching, and helping and being of service to
others. I scored a 36 in this interest.
• Investigative- people with investigative interests enjoy
searching for facts and figuring out problems. I scored a 16
in this interest.
• Artistic- people with artistic career interests enjoy creative
work that can be done without a set of rules. I scored a 15
in this interest.
• On the career matching section of the evaluation, I was
matched to Occupational therapy as “Best Match” career
(“O*Net interest profiler: Career list,” n.d )
O*Net Interest Profiler
Results

13. • Below are some examples of how the three
characteristics have been demonstrated in my life:
• Social- I have taught and tutored many middle and high
school students through college. Most predominantly, I
have served as a coach to my local speech and debate team.
I enjoy seeing others learn and watching information
“click” in their minds.
• Investigative- During my first shadow experience in a
therapy setting, I had to problem-solve rapidly while
working with a patient. The patient was a young Hispanic
who had suffered a stroke and needed a translator. Unable
to wait for the hospital’s translator due to other hospital
schedules, I stepped in to translate the commands the
therapist gave.
• Artistic- I have always enjoyed artistic opportunities. When
I was shadowing in a pediatric occupational therapy clinic,
my favorite part of the day was doing arts and crafts with
the children.
O*Net Lived Out

14. • The history of occupational therapy shows how the
career has grown and changed since it was first
recognized almost 100 years ago.
• Today, the future looks bright for OT and new
innovations bring further opportunities for growth in the
field.
• I think I would fit Augusta University well because my
academic qualifications qualify me for the program. In
addition, I am interested in neurological rehabilitation,
and I believe the low vision clinic would offer a new
experience and perspective to my understanding of how
the brain and senses work in unison.
Conclusion

15. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016a). About occupational therapy. Retrieved January 20,
2016, from http://www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy.aspx
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016b). History of AOTA accreditation. Retrieved January
20, 2016, from http://www.aota.org/education-careers/accreditation/overview/history.aspx
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016c). The job outlook for occupational therapy.
Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Considering-OT-
Career/JobOutlook.aspx
Augusta University. (2015a). Admissions and curriculum information. Retrieved January 19, 2016 from
http://www.gru.edu/alliedhealth/ot/prospaddcurr.php
Augusta University. (2015b). Graduate programs tuition. Retrieved January 22, 2016 from
http://www.augusta.edu/tuition/graduate.php
Augusta University. (2015c). Occupational therapy low vision rehab clinic. Retrieved January 19, 2016
from http://www.gru.edu/alliedhealth/ot/lowvision.php
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). Occupational Therapists. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-1
Matthews, C. (2014). These are the 5 most in demand jobs right now. TIME. Retrieved January 19, 2016
from http://time.com/404/5-most-in-demand-jobs-right-now/
Missouri College (2014). A brief history of occupational therapy. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
O*Net interest profiler: Score report. (n.d). Retrieved January 19, 2016 from
http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip-print?t=i&z=0&i=061615341406
O*Net interest profiler: Career list. (n.d). Retrieved January 19, 2016 from
http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip-print?t=o&z=5&i=061615341406
U.S. News and World Report (2014). Occupational Therapist. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/occupational-therapist
References