Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals participate in meaningful occupations so they can live their lives with the highest possible functional performance.
Occupational therapists provide highly skilled, individualized evaluations of clients and provide holistic care to help improve their daily function so they can live life to the fullest. Occupational therapists work with clients to understand what is most important to them, to prioritize intervention, and promote health and wellness physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Occupational therapy works on functional deficits and uses daily activities as therapy. Functional deficits include experiencing difficulties doing the things you want to do. The cause of the deficit could be emotional, behavioral, environmental, etc.
Occupational therapists can work in several specialties, including pediatrics, geriatrics, behavioral health, community-based, and more. Occupational therapists can also receive certifications in stroke, behavioral rehab, driving rehab, hand therapy, animal therapy, and more.
Occupational therapists can work in hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, outpatient, community-based nonprofits, behavioral health settings, in the client’s home, and in schools.
It depends on the region and area of practice, but the general range for an occupational therapist’s salary is between $70,000-$105,000. Salaries are closer to $70,000 after graduation but will increase with more experience in the field.
Occupational therapists in Nevada make the highest hourly and annual mean wages of any state in the country, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Complete your undergraduate prerequisites concurrent with observing different occupational therapy settings which will help you get accepted into an accredited Occupational Therapy program. For additional information on Touro University Nevada’s OTD program, please contact the Office of Admissions.
In the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), students have the chance to learn several advanced skills, including program development, fiscal management, leadership, and research. These skills are more advanced with an OTD than through the Master’s program. Practitioners with an OTD have more opportunities to take on leadership roles, pursue academia, and research opportunities.
The OTD also offers more opportunities for faster upward mobility in the profession.
Touro University Nevada’s School of Occupational Therapy uses a holistic admissions process that looks at students’ undergraduate degrees, community engagement, and varied life experiences. For specifics on the OT program's application and admission requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.
Touro Nevada is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University System (WSCUS) and Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
The Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is 36 months.
