How to Become a Neonatal Occupational Therapist

Neonatal therapists help treat newborns with medical complications.

A neonatal occupational therapist provides care for premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is a special unit in a hospital specifically designed for premature infants with medical complications, including respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. The neonatal occupational therapist monitors the development of the nervous system and provides therapy to infants with symptoms of developmental delays. You must have at least a master's degree to become an occupation therapist.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a college or university that offers a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. The program covers how to work with patients in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). If a school near you does not offer a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy, you can earn a degree in biology or biological anthropology, which will help prepare you for a master's degree program in neonatal occupational therapy.

2. Take as many courses as possible that are related to the occupational therapy field while you are earning your bachelor's degree.

3. Enroll in a graduate school that offers a master's degree in occupational therapy, public health or both. You can earn a master's degree in either occupational therapy or public health. At some schools, you can study for both both degrees simultaneously, combining courses such as treatment, psychology, advanced anatomy, child development and therapy.

4. Complete an internship program after you receive your master's degree by working as an occupational therapy assistant under the supervision of an occupational therapist. You must have at least two years of pediatric practice before you can work in the NICU.

5. Apply for a license from the state in which you plan to practice. Requirements for licensing vary from state to state. Many neonatal occupational therapists also choose to be certified through a national certification exam.

References

• Education Portal: Good Majors for Aspiring Occupational Therapists
• Education Portal: What Do Occupational Therapists Usually Major In?
• "Pedia Staff;" Neonatal Therapy: An Emerging Practice Area; Sandra Carroll, OTR Neonatal, March 24, 2011

Resources

• "Pedia Staff;" Neonatal Therapy: An Emerging Practice Area; Sandra Carroll, OTR Neonatal, March 24, 2011