Alaina has been interested in occupational therapy since shadowing an occupational therapist during her freshman year of college. She has continued shadowing in various environments like inpatient, outpatient, and pediatrics. The document provides information on the history of occupational therapy, career facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, work environments, annual wages, employment numbers, the O*Net profile, and requirements and details on graduate programs at schools like the Medical University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and James Madison University. Alaina believes she is a good fit for occupational therapy based on her passion for helping others and experiences shadowing different occupational therapists.

1. S
Research on Career:
Occupational Therapy
Alaina Belser

2. Introduction
S I have been interested in a career in Occupational
Therapy since the end of my freshman year of college
when I first shadowed an Occupational Therapist. Since
then my passionate for helping people has grown and I
have continued to shadow in several different
environments including inpatient, outpatient, and
pediatrics.
S The following slides include information on occupational
therapy, O*Net summary for occupational therapists, and
information on several graduate programs.

3. History of Occupational Therapy
S In the 1700’s, during the “Age of Enlightenment”, Occupational Therapy began to
emerge.
S Occupational Therapy was originally known as “Occupational work” and was used
to treat mentally ill patients
S On March 15, 1917, the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy
was founded. Today, this organization is known as the American Occupational
Therapy Association.
S During the 1920’s and 1930’s until the Great Depression, Occupational Therapy
become more closely aligned with organized medicine, thus creating a more
“scientific approach” to this field of study.
S During the 1960’s, Occupational Therapists were called upon to treat in the fields of
pediatrics and developmental disabilities.
S During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Occupational Therapy began to focus more on a
person’s quality of life.
S Today, occupation is the main focus of the profession. (History of Occupational
Therapy)

4. Occupational Therapy Career
Facts
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Job Description Occupational Therapists treat injured, ill, or
disabled patients through the therapeutic use of
everyday activities. They help patients develop,
recover, and improve the skills needed for daily
living and working. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Growth Potential Employment of occupational therapists is
projected to grow 29 percent from 2012-2022.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Salary Range The median range for occupational therapists was
$75,400 in May 2012. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Entry Level
Education
Master’s degree

5. Work Environments
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Hospitals: state, local, and private 28%
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists,
and audiologists
22%
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private 12%
Nursing Care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 9%
Home health care services 9%

6. Annual Mean Wage, May 2013
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

7. Employment, May 2013
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

8. O*Net Profile for Occupational
Therapists
S Skills- monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself,
other individuals, or organizations; service orientation
S Abilities- deductive and inductive reasoning, problem
sensitivity, and written expression
S Work Activities- assisting and caring for others, making
decisions and solving problems,
S Interest Code- SI (Social, Investigative)

9. O*Net results
S My O*Net results indicated that my strongest scores were
Social then followed by Investigative which matches up
perfectly to the interest code for occupational therapy (SI).
S I also connected with the skills, abilities, work styles, and
values listed in the O*Net profile for occupational therapists
S I have good communication, organization, and time
management skills, I enjoy helping others and building
relationships with others which are all highlighted as being
important for an occupational therapy.
S Based on my past experience from shadowing several
occupational therapists, I feel like I have developed these
valuable skills. Also, by shadowing I have gained first hand
experience with the daily work environment for an occupational
therapist.

10. Requirements
S Common prerequisites for occupational therapy schools include:
anatomy, physiology, abnormal psychology, lifespan psychology,
sociology, and medical terminology
S Most graduate schools require a B or higher in these classes
S Certifications that are required: Basic Life Support and First Aid
Certified
S Volunteer experience, it it crucial to shadow in several different
environments (inpatient, outpatient, school system are some
examples)
S Most applications are due late summer/ early fall

11. Medical University of South
Carolina
S Prerequisites: Anatomy, physiology, statistics, lifespan human
development, abnormal psychology, sociology/anthropology, First Aid and
CPR certification
S Shadow/work experience: 30 hours compulsory
S References: one from the occupational therapy practitioner who
supervised shadow experience, second and third should be provided by
major advisors or professors
S GPA: minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
S Application deadlines: Early: October 15, regular: January 15,
acceptance: early: December, regular: February/March

12. University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill
S Prerequisites: anatomy, physiology, abnormal psychology,
statistics, human development/behavior, social institutions and
systems, modes of reasoning
S Shadow/Work Experience:
S References: 3 references given in the application
S Statement of purpose: submitted with the online application
S Application Deadline: available early to mid August, due
December 1st, 2015 for enrollment in the fall of 2016

13. University of Alabama at
Birmingham
S Prerequisites: Biology with lab, Human
Anatomy/Physiology with lab, physics, abnormal
psychology, Lifespan psychology, Statistics, Sociology,
Anthropology
S GPA: a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
S Application deadline: February 1st with interviews
typically held in January or February

14. James Madison University
S Prerequisites: Human anatomy and physiology, anthropology,
Physics, Statistics, Lifespan Human Development, Medical
terminology, research methods, Abnormal psychology
S GPA: overall 3.43
S GRE Scores: Verbal 140-159, Quantitative 140-159, Writing
4.04
S Shadowing Experience: in at least 2 different environments
S Application Deadline: December 1st

15. Conclusion
S After researching occupational therapy schools and
shadowing in several different environments, I am
extremely excited to pursue this career. Shadowing in
several different environments from nursing homes to
pediatrics has given me an idea of what it is like to in the
daily life of an occupational therapist and how each
environment is unique. I believe I have gained many
valuable skills that will help me excel in the field. I am a
good fit because I have a passion for helping others,
solving problems, and I work well with others. To prepare
for graduate schools, I need to excel in my classes,
continue to build teacher relationships, and prep for the
GRE. I plan to apply to graduate schools in hopes that I
get accepted so I can pursue my passions.

16. Works Cited
S “Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. “Prerequisites -.
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, n.d. Web 27 Jan. 2015
S “History of Occupational Therapy. “The History of Occupational Therapy. N.p., n.d.
Web 25 Jan. 2015
S “Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy –Department of Health Sciences.
“Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. James Madison University, n.d. Web. 27
Jan. 2015.
S “Prerequisites.” Prerequisites. Medical University of South Carolina, n.d. Web 27
Jan. 2015
S “29-1122.00 –Occupational Therapists.” Occupational Therapists. O*Net Online, n.d.
Web. 27 Jan 2015
S “29-1122 Occupational Therapist.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015
S “UAB-SHP-Department of Occupational Therapy– OTCAS.” UAB-SHP- Department
of Occupational Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2015