When researching healthcare careers, it’s important to fully research each field you may be considering. Ask yourself, “will I be able to find a job with this degree?” “Should I go into occupational therapy?”

You’re an occupational therapist; does that mean you are going to help me find a job?” ”I don’t need a job, I’m retired.” These are just of few of the common misconceptions of my profession as an occupational therapist. True, we can help you find a job or return to work, but that doesn’t describe the whole profession.

Occupational therapists, as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).” So after an individual has experienced physical and cognitive changes, an occupational therapist is an integral part in helping them return to their daily activities.

OT is a diverse field:
Occupational therapy as a field is very diverse; for almost every setting you can think of there is a need for an occupational therapist. Occupational therapist can be found working in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, and even in prisons. They can teach people how to resume their roles as a worker, parent, caregiver, lover, homemaker etc. How OTs re-educate people on resuming their roles is also very diverse; they can help a mother gain strength in her arms to be able to hold her baby, they can use a driving simulator computer program to assist someone in returning to driving, or help someone set up their home to adapt for low-vision. The possibilities in occupational therapy are endless.

OTs are creative problem solvers:
Occupational therapist have to be extremely creative to be able to help an individual return to whatever occupation that individual needs or is interested in returning to.

Job outlook and salary expectations for occupational therapists:
An increase in demand for occupational therapists of 53% was seen from 2006 to 2019. Increasingly, OTs are developing new practice areas including school violence reduction, driver rehabilitation, ergonomics consulting, wellness, and welfare to work programs. Salary for occupational therapists in the Western and Eupropean countries is excellent. In India salary would go up to Rs 20,000 for freshers. OTs with above 5 years of experience are likely to get much decent package.

Working as an Occupational therapist:
Occupational therapy is a licensed health profession I’m India and world wide. In India an Occupational therapist has to register with the All India Occupational therapists’ Association first and then with the respective State Council. E.g., in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State OTPT councilnis responsible for overlooking the credibility of the Occupational therapists working in Maharashtra. Similarly, every country has their regulatory body and eligibility criteria for registration with them.

The D Y Patil school of Occupational Therapy is registered with the All India Occupational Therapists Association and the World Federation of Occupational therapists.