As a Biology major, my career options are plentiful. I have always known that I wanted to help people, and I have always been interested in the medical field. I could never become a doctor or a nurse, because of my fear of blood and needles; therefore, I am seriously considering occupational therapy. Because choosing a career is a life changing issue, thousands of questions arise. Will I like being a therapist? Is there/will there be a demand for occupational therapists? Will the salary be enough to pay my bills? I believe that I will like being an occupational therapist for lots of reasons. Some of those reasons include helping people with disabilities, great salary, and job security. .
Occupational therapy is a health profession that contributes to the function and performance of the individual after illness or injury, an also birth defects. Occupational therapists help people with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities learn to perform the tasks of daily living. This characteristic is very important to me, because I have always wanted to work with and help those who have fragile X syndrome, like my brother. .
According to the GACIS online, occupational therapists will make between 30,850-86,540 per year. This salary will allow me to pay my bills and live comfortably also. .
To become an occupational therapist, a Bachelor of Science degree, an occupational therapy degree, internships, and many, many hours of volunteer experience are required. After I have completed those requirements, obtaining a job should be a piece of cake. Being that Augusta is a "medical town," the need for occupational therapists is always abundant. According to the GACIS online, employment is projected to increase over the 2001-2008 period faster than average, at almost 45%. Due to the effects of federal limits on reimbursement for therapy services; however, the majority of expected employment growth is expected to occur during the second half of the projection period.
