2.  Occupational therapists assist patients in the “occupation” of daily life. This includes all the ways in which we spend our time. Independent living is the ultimate goal in occupational therapy.

3.  OTs assist those at various ages accomplish the tasks required for daily living and adapt to losses in skills.

4.  Master’s or Doctoral Degree from an accredited occupational therapy program  Knowledge in human growth and development, with specific influence on illness and injury  Great interpersonal communication skills  Creativity with problem solving!

5.  Job outlook for Occupational Therapists is great! Employment in OT is expected to grow much faster than the average job. › Between 2006-2016, the US Department of Labor projects a 23% increase in OT employment

6.  The median reported earnings for occupational therapy in May 2006 was $60,470, depending on the employment setting.

7.  Continuing education is vital for success as an occupational therapist.  Supervisor roles are becoming increasingly common, as more OT aides and assistants are being added to the workforce.  Specialties such as pediatrics, gerontology, or mental health also increase an OT’s opportunities.  OTs can also work in education and teach classes in occupational therapy programs.

8.  Hospitals  Acute care centers  Nursing homes  Rehabilitation centers  Home health practices  Private practice  School systems

9.  Regardless of the settings, occupational therapists interact with other disciplines to provide the best patient outcome possible.  Physical therapists, physicians, speech therapists and other professionals are just some of the people OTs regularly coordinate with.

10.  The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at MUSC offers a 26 month program in occupational therapy

11.  26 months, 7 semesters  The first year of the program focuses heavily on the sciences, including anatomy, neuroscience, and pathophysiology.  The second year focuses on more OT- specific curriculum and hands-on field work experience

12.  Prerequisite Courses › Human Anatomy and Physiology- 8 hours  4 hours completed with a final grade of B  4 hours currently in progress › Statistics- 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A › Lifespan human development- 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A › Abnormal Psychology- 3 hours  Planned enrollment in Fall 2009 › Sociology – 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A

13.  Academically qualified through experience in a rigorous academic program at Clemson University’s Department of Public Health Sciences. Overall GPA of 3.84  Passionate for helping others through especially difficult times, and enjoy making a difference.  Love to work with people ranging in age from infants to the elderly.

14.  As an occupational therapist, I hope to generate creative and simple ways to help people to live at the best possible standards they can.

15.  American Occupational Therapy Association › www.aota.org  United States Department of Labor › http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm  Medical University Of South Carolina- College of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy › www.musc.edu/chp/ot