Occupational Therapy
"Occupational therapists help people with physical, emotional, or other challenges fully participate in the job of living. Disease, injury, depression, or developmental problems can make it difficult for people to do everyday tasks or be active and independent. Occupational therapist make it possible for people to achieve independence and to enjoy life to its fullest. OTs work with a variety of people, from newborns to the very old, in a variety of setting (schools, hospitals, homes, community centers, rehabilitation enters, businesses, and nursing homes)."
(American Occupational Therapy Association)
There also are doctoral programs in OT that allow for additional training and specialization.
Programs
- There are over 150 accredited masters programs in the US
- A list of accredited schools can be found online
- Accredited programs in Florida are:
Admission Requirements
- Most programs look for at least a 2.75-3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Required courses vary by program but typically include:
- Biology with lab - 1 semester
- Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab - 1 semester
- General Physics with lab - 1 semester
- General Chemistry with lab 1 semester
- Abnormal Psychology - 1 semester
- Statistics - 1 semester
- Personal Communication - 1 semester
- Medical Terminology - 1 semester
- Graduate Records Exam (GRE) is required, 800-1000 minimum
- Letters of evaluation
- Experience with an OT (10-80 hours)
Timeline
- There is an Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service that 45 programs will use this year. It becomes available in August.
- For the other programs, typically an initial application goes through the graduate admissions office at the university and then there is a supplemental application specific to the OT program
- Deadlines vary but are between December and March for a summer start date
Resources
