How to Become an Occupational Therapist in Ohio

An occupational therapist mostly works with patients whose muscles or limbs need rehabilitation. For example, an occupational therapist would help a man who just had surgery on his leg to try and walk again. Being an occupational therapist can be an extremely rewarding career, and the process to become one in Ohio is standard to most other states.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Apply to a graduate program. Ohio State University has one of the top 25 programs in the United States for occupational therapy. Decide if you want a master's degree or Ph.D and then choose a program that is therapy based, rather than just research based. Only apply to schools that are accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

2. Take the GRE (Graduate Records Examination). The GRE is the graduate school equivalent of the SAT. The general exam measures verbal, math and writing skills. The test provides a score that is very similar in scale to that of the SAT. Register for the GRE online, by phone or mail. Be sure to locate a testing center near you.

3. Complete an internship. Complete a required internship program, working with patients in an occupational therapy setting to gain practical experience.

4. Pass the NBCOT certification exam. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the organization that administers the exam. Students are eligible to take the test after receiving a Master's degree. Practice tests are available on the NBCOT website.

5. Take the state license exam. This is different than the NBCOT test and is required by most states. In Ohio, it's enforced by the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers board. To take the state license exam, you'll need to fill out a registration form, pay a fee and then choose a test date.

6. Start looking for occupational therapy jobs as soon as you obtain your Ohio state license. Occupational therapists often work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices and other health care facilities.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply to a number of different occupational therapy graduate programs. Grad school is harder to get into and has fewer slots to fill. You'll want options because you may not get into the program you want the most.

Resources

• Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
• Board for Occupational Therapy in Ohio
• NBCOT Official Website

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