The first step to a career in occupational therapy is learning how to become an occupational therapist, including the education, certification and job hunt. Your duties as an occupational therapist may include rehabilitating disabled workers, retraining individuals to improve their quality of life and advising offices and work sites on ergonomics and workplace design. This is a rewarding career where you’ll work with people hands on to make their lives better. If you have a caring nature and a strong work ethic, this might be the ideal job for you.

If you’re thinking of becoming an occupational therapist, you’ll need to start by taking classes in anatomy, anthropology, human development, physics, psychology, sociology and other related subjects. You may also want to volunteer to work with an occupational therapist to see if you like the job. A part time job at a hospital will also give you good experience that will help when you begin your career. Then if you still feel that occupational therapy is right for you, it is time to look at local programs to begin your education and training.

You must make sure that the program you choose is accredited; otherwise, it will be of little or no value in the job market or if you decide to continue your education later on. Occupational therapists in the United States must have a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. During your education, you will be better off if you assume you can’t get all of your experience out of books. You must be proactive about internships, volunteer jobs and part-time work that provide relevant experience for your future career.

Once you are a registered occupational therapist, then you can decide what kind of environment you want to work in. There are occupational therapy jobs everywhere from hospitals and clinics to private offices and physical therapy centers. The pay is good, with a median salary of about $67,000 for this profession. If you have what it takes to finish the schooling and you work well with people, this could be your future career.

Find detailed information about top health care schools and best health care degree programs to become an occupational therapy technician at HealthDegreesU.com. Choose the best health care school in your prefered location and start your path to a rewarding career.