Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. With a bachelors degree, you can become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), but you need a masters degree to become a full occupational therapist (OTR). COTA's earn 1/2-2/3 as much, and are more hands-on than OTR's.

Make a Difference

A Typical Day

  • Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
  • Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
  • Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
 

Recommended Credentials

Master's Degree and professional certification by NBCOT.

Education & Training

Regional employers often hire graduates of these programs.

 

Northwest Lower Michigan

 

Investigate transfer courses at NMC for Bachelor's Degree program

Elsewhere in Michigan

 

Bachelors in (Pre) Occupational Therapy

Masters in Occupational Therapy

Other Occupational Therapy Schools in Michigan

Explore This Career

Try it before you buy it!

Ask an Occupational Therapist for a Job Shadow Opportunity

Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD) Career Tech Center - Allied Health

The Local Advantage Learning Pathway

Pathway 1

Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD) Career Tech Center - Allied Health

Pathway 2

Take classes at NMC, and transfer to a bachelors program in Michigan, like at Baker.

Pathway 3

Complete a Masters program in Michigan, then look into specialty certification, in an area such as:

  • Assistive Technology

  • Sensory Integration & Praxis

  • Pediatrics

  • Lymphedema

     

 

Sample Employers in Our Region

Click the logos below to learn more.

TIP

Contact one of these companies and ask for an informational interview, to see if you can job shadow, or to find out if they hire interns.

 

Sample Job Titles...

  • Assistive Technology Trainer
  • Early Intervention Occupational Therapist
  • Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant
  • Pediatric Occupational Therapist
  • Rehabilitation Supervisor
  • Staff Occupational Therapist
 

Hear It From The Pros

10-Year Job Growth Projections

10%
10-County Region
8%
Michigan
16%
U.S.

Employed Regionally

100
In 2021 (10-County Region)

Wage Range & Median 10-County Region

$57,680
$75,490 
$120,030

Annual Hires Regionally

10
In 2021

Other Regional Career Resources

Learn more about Occupational Therapists at O*NET Online.

If you're interested, take a look at this blog post. It goes over much of the same information that's here, but also goes into more detail.

Real World Career Pathways

It doesn't have to be a straight shot! Hear from people who have taken unique pathways.