Occupational Therapy gives people the 'Skills for the Job of Living' they need to live satisfying lives. Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury. The occupational therapist enters the field with a, master's or doctoral degree. The occupational therapy assistant generally earns an associate's degree. Practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships in a variety of health care settings, and pass a national examination.
Most states also regulate occupational therapy practice.
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and are employed full or part time in private, public, government and community settings. The following are some examples. People with a wide variety of interests and talents who enjoy working with people enter Occupational Therapy. Printers, artists, teachers, fine arts majors, science majors, musicians, construction workers, designers, computer experts, exercise physiology, psychology, sociology and anthropology majors have become occupational therapy students. These types of backgrounds bring richness and new dimensions to the way the profession is practiced.