Tips for Picking the Right Online Occupational Therapy Program

Prepare Yourself for a Rewarding Career

Becoming an occupational therapist will qualify you to work with individuals who struggle to complete daily tasks in a variety of settings — from school to their workplace to their home — due to pain, injury, illness or disability. Occupational therapists work with individuals to find ways to adapt and overcome the challenges they face, giving them back their independence and capability.

If helping others in this way is something that interests you, there are a variety of ways to earn an occupational therapy degree. In fact, doing so has never been easier with the availability of online programs.

While there are those who might prefer learning in a classroom setting, there are benefits to online learning. For one, there is greater flexibility in studying the course material. Rather than having to attend lectures at specific times, you can go over the lecture material at a time that works best for you. Often there will simply be a deadline by which you need to have completed the course material.

Taking courses online also means you will not miss any of the material presented and that you can revisit it as many times as you need to. This may allow for greater comprehension, which is essential if you want to be the best occupational therapist you can be.

If you're interested in getting your occupational therapy degree by taking online courses, read on to find out more.

Choosing an Online Occupational Therapy Program

While there are some bachelor's degrees available for occupational therapy, most programs are at the master's, associate's or doctoral level. Most individuals seeking to get an occupational therapy degree instead complete their undergraduate degree in a related field such as sociology or psychology before going to graduate school for a specific occupational therapy program.

If you choose to complete a post-grad occupational therapy program online, you should ensure that the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

For a list of ACOTE-accredited programs, visit this website. Some examples of schools that offer online occupational therapy programs are University of Indianapolis, New York University and California State University.

Where Can You Complete Online Occupational Therapy Courses?

Some examples of schools that offer online occupational therapy master's programs are:

• University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
• Belmont University
• Elmhurst University

Types of Jobs You Can Get

What type of job can you get once you have completed your occupational therapy degree online? Here are some careers you can apply your learning and expertise to:

• Advice worker
• Care manager
• Private practitioner
• In-house occupational therapist
• Traveling occupational therapist
• High-intensity therapist
• Health promotion specialist
• Art and sports therapist
• Ergonomist
• Special educational needs teacher
• Play therapist

Of course, these are only some of the many careers that can be sought after by someone with a degree in occupational therapy. Opening a practice as a private practitioner is another option for those who want to run their own business while also being able to take full advantage of their occupational therapy skills.

Online Options for All Walks of Life

It is not uncommon for those who seek to be an occupational therapist to strive for excellency and go above and beyond the basic requirements for study. Aside from earning a degree through online occupational therapy classes, individuals can take continuing education courses to specialize according to their particular field of interest.

For example, if you wish to work in pediatrics, you may be required to acquire your doctorate degree.