Occupational Therapy Courses in India

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Occupational Therapy Courses in India have been an important part of any medical institute for the past 3 decades from 2011. Occupational Therapy is a Medical Field which promotes the highest level of functioning and wellness among individuals with mental or physical illness/disabilities. It focuses on helping individuals with disabilities; achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational Therapy creates independence amongst individuals to the performance of normal day activities like work, leisure, self care, domestic, community activities etc. Occupational Therapists (OT's) work with people of all ages to improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They deal with patients suffering physically, mentally, developmentally, or emotionally disabling conditions. Occupational Therapists assist patients in performing activities of all types like dressing, cooking, eating, using a computer, physical exercises, communication, mobility etc.

Some of its specialized fields are -

  • Adult Rehabilitation.
  • Paediatrics.
  • Hand Therapy.
  • Ergonomics.
  • Vision Rehabilitation.
  • Community Consultation.
  • Driver Rehabilitation.
  • Assisted Living.
  • Home Health

Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

  1. Human Anatomy.
  2. Human Physiology.
  3. Biochemistry.
  4. Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy.
  5. Clinical Practice.

Objectives

  • To provide pre-vocational and vocational training to the patients.
  • To promote programmes aimed at early detection of disabilities and prevention of physical and mental handicap.
  • To bring into effect those practices which will bring quick and effective results.

Basic Requirements

Educational Qualification - Those pursuing career in OT need to have cleared 10+2 with physics, chemistry and biology as subjects, from a recognised institution. Some institutions opt for an entrance examination and may select candidates on the basis of performance in the entrance test. Occupational Therapists in India and the world, usually enter practice with a Bachelor's degree. In order to become licensed, one needs to earn this degree from an accredited program and must pass a national certification exam. 

In the U.S., most Occupational Therapists are entering the profession with a Master's degree, from 2007 onwards all colleges/ universities have been mandated to offer only Master's level degrees as the entry-level qualification to practice Occupational Therapy. There are also programs in the US that train Occupational Therapists at the doctoral level at the entry level for the profession. Those who complete an Associate Degree or Certificate program in Occupational Therapy can become an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) or aide to the Occupational Therapists. They get most of their training on the job. 

Occupational Therapy Colleges in India

Personal Attributes

A candidate needs to be empathic towards the pain of the patients and should have good communication skills to be able to build rapport with the patients to achieve better results. The ability to work hard is a must as this field requires lots of hard work. One should also possess an eye for detail, mentality of service, alertness of mind and be adapted to work even at odd hours.

Job Perspectives

There is a good demand for Occupational Therapists to work with the patients suffering with orthopaedic, neurological and psychological / psychiatric conditions. They can practice privately by opening their own clinics. Occupational Therapist jobs in India can be found in other medical specialities and various medical set-ups. They may also be involved in ergonomic consultations in industries/work places and architectural arenas for greater accessibility by the disabled. Various Government Organisations and NGO's also employ Occupational Therapists. 

Remuneration - Junior occupational therapists may initially draw salaries ranging between Rs. 8,500 and Rs. 11,500 per month. However, with rank and experience, remuneration increases. In the private sector, salaries are a lot higher.

Some Job Types

  • Teacher.
  • Consultant.
  • OT Nurse.
  • Occupational Therapy Technician.
  • Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant.
  • Speech and Language Therapist.
  • Private Practitioner.

Some Employment Areas

  • Polyclinics.
  • Hospitals.
  • Rehabilitation Centres.
  • Special Schools.
  • Psychiatric Institutions.
  • Community Mental Health Centres.
  • Adult Day care Programs.
  • Sports Teams.
  • Residential Care Facilities.
  • Prisons.
  • Detention Centres.