HealthCareMatch Careers

Do you need a new career as an Occupational Therapist? You're in the right place! The HealthcareMatch Job Board has plenty of unique, open positions for you to look at, so hopefully you can advance on your journey soon!

In your valuable career as an Occupational Therapist, you can expect to work alongside physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, teachers and more. Occupational Therapists generally prepare rehabilitative programs to assist disabled patients in restoring essential functions needed daily. You may also work with individuals that suffer from short- and long-term impairments to improve conditions and advance their quality of life.

The minimum education required for an Occupational Therapist is a Bachelors degree, although most Occupational Therapists enter the occupation with a Masters degree. Occupational Therapists typically study Occupational Therapy, Psychology, or Health Sciences and Services. Prior to entering a graduate program in Occupational Therapy, you will need a Bachelors degree and specific coursework in topics such as biology and physiology.

The two certifications that you will need to obtain to become an Occupational Therapist are Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). The degree breakdown for Occupational Therapists in the United States can be found below.

• 55% hold Bachelors degrees
• 37% hold Masters degrees
• 5% hold Associate degrees

Doctorates, Diplomas, Licenses, High School Diplomas and Certificates make up the other 2% of education had by Occupational Therapists across the United States.

Occupational Therapists should hold qualities and skills such as compassion, flexibility, writing skills, patience, interpersonal skills and communication skills. Some Occupational Therapists choose to seek additional certification through the American Occupational Therapy Association in order to show their motivation and interest in the field. They may seek advanced or specialized knowledge in pediatrics, mental health, or low vision.

Job growth for Occupational Therapists is at 18%, and on average, an Occupational Therapist makes a salary of over $76,000 per year. Depending on your skill level and your location, you could make up to $94,000 per year, with some cities having even higher average salaries based on cost of living and expertise.

Occupational Therapists tend to work in the following practice settings:

• hospitals
• private practice
• schools
• physicians' offices
• home health

Some benefits you can expect to enjoy as a Physical Therapist include many areas for specialization, job satisfaction of seeing patient progress, career advancement, and more.

Check out the positions on our job board and join the 140,000+ Occupational Therapists in the United States!