Continue your education at a place where passion becomes possibility. Founded in 1940, New England Institute of Technology is a private, technical university located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. New England Tech offers over 50 hands-on degree...
If you think it would be fun and rewarding to help people live more independently and improve their overall quality of life, consider a career in the field of occupational therapy. Occupational therapists treat, observe, evaluate, and assist patients with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities through therapeutic, everyday activities. They help their patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily life. For example, an occupational therapist might help people with disabilities or ailments learn how to perform basic tasks enabling them to become more independent, provide recommendations for improving classroom equipment for children with disabilities, help facilitate functional work environments, or work with elderly people to help them be more active and independent. Occupational therapists work with individuals in many different settings, including educational, healthcare, and corporate. Many occupational therapists work with patients suffering from permanent disabilities and mental health illnesses. Occupational therapy majors take courses in biology, kinesiology, anatomy, and health and wellness to name a few. In addition to traditional classroom learning, occupational therapy programs involve clinical and fieldwork experiences where students work at clinics, hospitals, or private practices. The work allows students to apply what they learned in the classroom to real-world situations and helps them gain a better understanding of what occupational therapists do on a daily basis. Students can expect to get lots of hands-on experience assisting occupational therapists during their practices and helping patients with their treatment and movements. Occupational therapists are required to have at least a master's degree, though some have a doctoral degree. They are also required to be licensed or registered in order to practice.