Careers in Occupational Therapy

As a para-medical science, occupational therapy is a kind of treatment of individuals having some physical or mental disabilities, for achieving best level of wellness and independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational Therapists help persons having physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabling conditions. They help patients to identify imbalances in their lives and suggest activities to deal with them. This type of therapy is patient specific which may involve recreational, creative and educational activities.

Course Details
Entry level course for Occupational Therapists is Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy (BOT). Basic eligibility for BOT course is 10+2 pass with PCB (physics, chemistry and biology). This is a 4-years course with 6 months of compulsory internship in various clinical setting. Most of the institutes conduct entrance exams for admission into these courses. Further higher studies like masters/doctoral degrees are also available in occupational therapy. After having a degree/diploma candidates must pass a national certification exam to get license to practice.

Career Prospects
Occupational Therapists have multiple career options in medical and fitness arenas. They can work in hospitals, private clinics, health centres, polyclinics, rehabilitation centers and psychiatric institutions. Special schools, community mental health centers, residential care facilities, adult daycare programs and sports teams are also preferred places for Occupational Therapists. NGOs are also a good option for these professionals. Occupational Therapists have ample opportunities for self-employment. They can work independently for providing health care facility to household and schools. They may also be involved in ergonomic consultations in industries and work places and architectural arenas for greater accessibility by the disabled.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Several institutes in India offer courses in occupational therapy. Some prominent among them are: Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, New Delhi; K.M.C.H. College Of Occupational Therapy, Coimbatore; All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai; Christian Medical College, Vellore; College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal; Institute Of Physically Handicapped, New Delhi; National Institute For the Orthopedically Handicapped, Kolkata; Occupation Therapy Training School, Mumbai and Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack (Orissa).

Remuneration
Occupational Therapists have very encouraging level of income. Fresh pass-outs can get a monthly salary of Rs 8,000-10,000. However, in private sector pay packages are quite higher, which may range from Rs 15,000 to 25,000 per month depending upon skill and experiences. Occupational Therapists working independently also can earn handsome amount, which can be something between 20,000 to 1 lac per month.