As a naturally linked issue, the Occupational Therapists are also involved with ergonomically designing the work places to take steps to avert the possible problems as much possible. Many take keen interest in the profession for its nobleness in helping the workers work healthily and keep a good quality of life.
The most motivating factor is your inherent interest in people and serving them in ways that takes another view of how to help active people remain active and not get disabled for their whole life even when meeting a hazardous situation while on work. This in another sense helps people be more understanding of the situation that disabled and old people face in their day to day life.
To give shape to your interest in this kind of career as an Occupational Therapist it is best if from the college life you go for subjects like human anatomy, human psychology, physics, and sociology. Voluntarily help people in need of help, specially the disabled and the old, the victims of accidents, and may be even those who are destitute. Tolerance is one of the main qualities of an occupational therapist to console such people who are normally in psychological distress.
An occupational therapist can be your best guide in helping you reach your goal. Be with someone in the profession, assist him or her, and take practical experience, which is going to be more valuable training than anything else. After you have gained some knowledge get support from that person to fix you up with a part time engagement in the local healthcare centers or hospitals that have more facilities and are helpful for you to gain acquaintance with the more advanced spread of instrumental and other mechanical aid.
These steps will prepare you for the angles of knowledge, exposure to aid, and make you prepared mentally and emotionally to learn about dealing with the people in distress situations. This could be the beginning of your career in the desired direction with acquired resources and ethical preparedness. Formal education is not all one needs in practical life, but what makes a good career is the preparation of doing things by hand ahead of entering into a profession, which imparts a lot of proactive sense.
In accordance to their preference, most of the healthcare institutions hiring an Occupational Therapist seek Master's degree holders in Occupational Therapy. The statutory provisions laid down calls for licensed therapists to operate in an area. For this a candidate has to complete an accredited therapist program with successful completion of scheduled examination in a state. Each state has a different set of criteria for qualification, which needs to be checked on with the state's health department.
The prospective earning for a professional Occupational Therapist is from $20,000 to $30,000 annually. However, this figure is expected to be on the higher side in the scenario of growing diverse occupational opportunities.