Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that is described as helping clients reach their goals and accomplishing activities of daily living. Occupational Therapists are Board certified professionals that require a Masters of Occupational Therapy for entry level positions.

1. There are Jobs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states a 27% job outlook. This is much higher than the national average. OT is a growing profession because there is a tremendous need nationwide in health care and school systems. Time after time, clients' lives are improved due to their hard work and completion of a therapy planned outlined by an OT. It's no wonder that the need for OTs grow as word spreads that this form of care really works. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports a median pay of about $80,000. They're clear quantitative values to this career.

2. The current OTs practicing

I fell in love with profession after my first day of shadowing. It was a mixture of client interaction, the challenge of knowing anatomy, the creativity of problem solving, and the woman who was making it all happen. The first OT I shadowed exemplified all I wanted to be as a professional and as a person. She was caring, outgoing, brilliant, disciplined, hardworking with a sense of humor. She worked long hours but took care of her health,family, and friends. The more OTs I got to know, the clearer it became, that creativity, compassion, intelligence, and tremendous work ethic are a common theme among these professionals. Not only am I excited to learn from these people and work alongside them, but they are the kind of people you hope to have at your neighborhood block parties, on your PTA committees, and certainly who you want to be helping you if you ever need occupational therapy.

3. The flexibility in Job options

OTs are needed worldwide and in dozens of different settings. There are endless opportunities for OTs to find their niche and find a venue that works best for their life. Occupational Therapy works in adult rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, hand therapy, pediatrics, school systems, geriatrics, and ergonomics. This means that you can find them working in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living facilities, community health centers, private clinics, prisons, and corporate settings. There's also an opportunity to teach in the growing number of universities establishing programs.

4. The chance to change lives

I recently saw a video of three wounded warriors that had been the recipients of extensive occupational therapy. They spoke of their experiences working in the occupation of eating and using the bathroom independently. They also relayed stories of relearning to drive. The beautiful part of Occupational Therapy is that every single day that an OT walks into their job, they spend their day working at making someone's life better. The client needed this form of therapy for any number of reasons, and the OT designed a treatment plan specific to their client and works day in and day out to help their client reach their goals. There are only a handful of careers that allow a person to work one-on-one with people with the sole purpose of helping them reach goals.

Occupational Therapy is the opportunity of a lifetime to have a career that has a purpose and allows a person to truly leave their mark on hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.