Occupational Therapist Job
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a health profession that helps people lead a more productive, satisfying and independent life. Fundamental to the practice of Occupational Therapy is a person’s occupations. Occupation is defined as the tasks and activities (occupations) that occupy a person’s time and energy throughout the day. This can include things like getting dressed, preparing a meal, working at a job, attending school, and enjoying time with family or friends. From infancy to old age, each one of us engages in occupations. Occupational Therapy helps individuals and communities to perform the occupations they need to do with the aim of increasing their overall health and well-being.
What do Occupational Therapists do?
Working as part of a health care team, the Occupational Therapist considers the client’s abilities (physical, affective and cognitive), their environment and their specific needs and goals. Once a thorough assessment has been completed, the Occupational Therapist may use therapeutic methods or devices to assist function, and/or suggest modifications to the home, school or workplace to help the client fulfill his or her roles as a parent, spouse, student, worker, team player, etc.
An Occupational Therapist is an expert at analyzing the effects of the client’s environment and functional limitations on his or her ability to perform their day-to-day tasks and activities (occupations). An Occupational Therapist can also play a vital role in health promotion. He or she may work with a variety of individuals, groups, agencies or communities promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Where do Occupational Therapists work?
Occupational Therapists work in a wide variety of settings in the private and public sectors. For example: home care programs, schools, health boards, community groups, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, private clinics, community health centres, hospices, worker’s compensation boards, insurance companies, construction and architectural firms, large industry, rehabilitation companies, and universities. The Occupational Therapist may hold a position as a clinician, an educator, a consultant, a researcher and/or a manager.
Career Opportunities?
Occupational Therapy is a fast-growing profession. Employment growth is resulting from increasing attention to the needs of people with disabilities, and acceptance of home and community care as preferred alternatives to institutional care. The needs of a rising elderly population are also increasing the demand for Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapy offers a wide range of employment possibilities world-wide. Occupational therapy is an exciting profession worth looking into!
How do I license as an Occupational Therapist
The CAOT Certification Examination is one of three requirements for individual membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. The three requirements for CAOT membership are as follows:
- Graduation from an occupational therapy educational program in Canada accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) or a non-Canadian occupational therapy educational program recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) or equivalent.
- Successful completion of the CAOT Certification Examination.
- Canadian citizenship or official authorization to practice occupational therapy in Canada with payment of appropriate CAOT membership fees.
Eligibility to write the exam
Occupational therapists wishing to become full individual members with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, including:
- Graduates from accredited occupational therapy education programs in Canada
- Graduates from occupational therapy programs recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) or CAOT-approved equivalent
For more information please visit www.caot.ca
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Call: 1 (877) 670-3426
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