Occupational therapy is a highly demanding and challenging field. Occupational therapy deals with the helping of disabled people, both physically and mentally. This therapy helps them to obtain certain level of independence for all the aspects of their daily lives and also in their day-to-day functioning. The disability problems dealt with in this field includes mental, physical, developmental or emotional disabilities.

Occupational Therapy Courses

In India, various courses are offered in the field of occupational therapy. Listed below are some of them.

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
• Master of Occupational Therapy
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Occupational Therapy
• M.Sc. Physical and Occupational Therapy
• B.Sc. Occupational Therapy
• Diploma in Occupational Therapist

Qualification Criteria

If a candidate wishes to become a degree holder in occupational therapy, then he/she must have pursued 12th from a recognized university. The 12th study should include biology, chemistry, and physics. The candidates aspiring for master’s degree course should have completed bachelor degree in occupational therapy.

Colleges providing Occupational Therapy courses

The following list shows some of the best colleges in India to purse various occupational therapy courses.

• College of Advance Studies, Maharashtra
• L.T. College, Mumbai
• National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Kolkata
• All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai
• Christian Medical College, Tamil Nadu
• College of Allied Health Sciences, Karnataka
• Government Medical College, Maharashtra
• K.M.C.H. College of Occupational Therapy, Tamil Nadu
• Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, New Delhi

Career scope after the Occupational Therapy courses

The therapists can find various job openings in fitness centers and hospitals. They can also do private practice. A few other areas where these candidates can find jobs are Community Mental Health Centers, Special Schools, Psychiatric Institutions, Adult Daycare Centers, Rehabilitation Centers, etc.

Duties of an Occupational Therapist

The occupational therapists are of great help in providing the disabled people the exact solution to overcome the imbalances with which they are suffering. The treatment starts after having a complete knowledge regarding the background, interests, and previous experiences of the patient. The healing can take the help of any method including creative, educational or recreational means. An occupational therapist is expected to perform functions such as evaluating home and work environment, recommendations for specific problems, customized treatment programs, assessing and recording the patient’s progress, guiding the family members the way a patient should be taken care of and many more.

Sufferers of various problems, like redundant stress injuries due to hectic work schedule, lower back troubles, developmental disabilities, mental problems including post traumatic stress, schizophrenia, cognitive problems etc, learning difficulties and an endless list of troubles, can be highly benefited with the treatments received from an occupational therapist. The demand for experts in this particular field is rapidly increasing all over the world in a number of sectors. The disabled people can lead a life of dignity in a more independent, productive and active manner after receiving the help from an occupational therapist.