School-Based Occupational Therapy Jobs
As a school-based occupational therapist, you care deeply and want the best for all the students you service. School occupational therapy jobs demand a specific set of skills, and you rise to the challenge, delivering consistently positive results. By helping students develop and recover physical abilities, you are a critical member of the school-based professional team.
Read MoreRead LessSchool Occupational Therapist Job Responsibilities
School-based occupational therapy is dynamic and ever-changing. Students have different physical challenges, and the school-based OT designs individualized programs for each child. These specialists implement research-based activities to help students tackle different challenges, such as rehabilitating and recovering from physical or neurological injuries. OTs monitor progress closely and must be meticulous record-keepers. You work with a wide variety of students, so versatility is critical to school occupational therapists’ success.
Requirements for School-Based Occupational Therapist Jobs
The first step in your path to school-based occupational therapy is a bachelor’s degree, usually in a major such as biology, exercise science, health science, sociology, or psychology. You will then need to obtain a Master’s degree or doctorate in occupational therapy. Finally, you must acquire a license in the state where you plan to work. Depending on the state or region, you will need to pass the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam or an equivalent licensing exam to become certified. OTs can choose to specialize in their field; school-based occupational therapists commonly pursue pediatric occupational therapy.
School Occupational Therapist Salary & Job Outlook
School occupational therapists can expect salaries that are comfortably above the national average. Depending on any specializations you hold, your educational background, and specific certifications you have earned, you will see a significant range in salaries. Between 2018-2028, experts project school occupational therapists to maintain above-average job growth, with an expected growth rate of 18%. The demand is there for dedicated, committed, and skilled school-based OTs – just like you.
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