Physical and Occupational Therapy Degrees

What is a Physical and Occupational Therapy Degree?

When you hear the word therapist, you probably think of someone lying on a couch telling an older man with a pad of paper about their childhood. Well there are other kinds of therapists. Two of which are physical therapists and occupational therapists. If you enjoy fitness and helping people, then physical therapy might be for you. Alternatively, if you like helping people and enabling better quality of life for others, occupational therapy is your choice.

Physical therapy is the act of treating people who have medically related conditions that limit their ability to move and do the things they need to do to function in their day-to-day lives. Using treatment techniques learning while getting their degree, physical therapists restore mobility and flexibility in their patients while also reducing pain and preventing disability. Patients are people of all ages, from athletes to the elderly to children or even babies. Physical therapists frequently work with doctors or occupational therapists to provide the best care for their patients.

Occupational therapists perform a similar duty as to physical therapists, except their duty is to help people perform their job. Their patients include the mentally ill, the physically injured, the developmentally challenged, or the emotionally disabled. The job consists of using treatments to improve the weaknesses of their patients to enable them to go back to work or to better perform their job. For example, a person who has trouble with coordination will be given exercises to improve their dexterity, or a patient with memory issues might be encouraged to use lists to help remember important things.

No matter if you choose to study physical therapy or occupational therapy, should you find a job in your desired field, you will most likely be working in a hospital or rehabilitation center. The work may be tiring as physical therapists and occupational therapists work on their feet most of the day. They sometimes must lift patients or assist them with activities. Mostly, people employed in these positions work forty hours a week and have a master's degree in their field.

How can I get a Physical and Occupational Therapy Degree?

In order to become a physical or occupational therapist you will need to earn at least a masters degree. You will need to attend a college or university that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy. While earning this degree you will take many science courses. These courses will include behavioral, physical, and biological classes that will give you a solid foundation of knowledge in order to begin your career in physical and occupational therapy. Once you've completed you're college degree in physical and occupational therapy you will have to become licenced. In order to become licenced you will need to make sure you attend an accredited school and then you must pass the national examination that will test the skills you've learned throughout your schooling.

Apply now to become a physical or occupational therapist and improve the quality of life for yourself and others!