There are different things to learn about the Occupational Therapy Programs in Arizona. Occupational therapy (OT) is a worldwide medical profession.
It entails the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain individuals’, groups’, or communities’ meaningful activities or occupations.
It is a separate health profession that is sometimes referred to as an allied health profession and is made up of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants (OTA).
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Overview of Occupational Therapy Programs in Arizona
An occupational therapist (OT) is a health professional who assists patients in developing, recovering and improving the skills required for daily living and working.
Their patients have typically lost these abilities due to mental, physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities.
Occupational therapists commonly perform the following tasks:
- examine a patient’s medical history, question the patient, and observe them performing tasks
- assess a patient’s condition and requirements
- create a treatment plan
- assist people with various disabilities with various tasks
- Use physical exercises to assist patients in increasing their strength and dexterity.
- Use activities to help patients improve their visual acuity and pattern recognition.
- Utilize computer programs to assist clients in improving their decision-making, abstract reasoning, problem-solving, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills.
- assess and record patients’ activities and progress for patient evaluations, billing, and reporting to physicians and other health care providers.
- educate a patient’s family and employer on how to accommodate and care for the patient
- Recommend and instruct patients on how to use special equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids.
Arizona is the country’s sixth-largest and fourteenth-most populous state. Arizona is a large state with excellent educational institutions and medical facilities.
The state of Arizona provides quality rehabilitation education through various universities. After obtaining a license, an occupational therapist is free to practice.
In Arizona, occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including pediatrics, schools, mental health, and home health.
Except for the early intervention, no additional certification is required. If a therapist is working on an early intervention setup, he or she must complete a certification process through AzEIP to comply with the “Standards of Practice in Early Intervention” (Arizona Early Intervention Program).
Check also: Best Occupational Therapy Programs in Colorado
The Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ARIZOTA) and the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners regulate the occupational therapy profession in the state of Arizona (ABOTE).
They each play a unique role in the state. The ARIZOTA’s mission and purpose are to promote and support occupational therapy practitioners’ excellence and professionalism.
Furthermore, the organization collaborates with members of the community, health care providers, educators, and legislators, for the advancement of the profession and the benefit of patients.
Schools that offer Occupational Therapy Programs in Arizona
There are three occupational therapy schools in Arizona that offer entry-level degrees (OT). One OT school offers an entry-level master’s degree program (M.S.OT or MOT), and two OT schools offer an entry-level doctoral program (OTD). ACOTE has accredited all of the entry-level programs.
- 1. Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is the state’s first public university to offer a fully accredited Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.
This intensive, entry-level OTD program includes up to six months of fieldwork as well as an individualized 16-week residency to prepare students for advanced positions in occupational therapy.
After graduation, a candidate will be prepared to work with clients at all stages of their lives in a variety of settings.
Occupational therapy career opportunities are expanding all the time. Northern Arizona University’s fully accredited Occupational Therapy (OT) Program will help you develop the critical skills you’ll need to enter this expanding healthcare profession (NAU).
The NAU OT program is ranked #93 in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The accredited NAU Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree is the Southwest’s only public and non-profit graduate program.
This intensive program includes six months of fieldwork rotations as well as an individualized semester-long capstone experience to prepare students for advanced roles in occupational therapy. After graduation, you’ll be ready to work with clients at all stages of life in a variety of settings.
As occupational therapy professionals, our graduates are prepared to assume leadership and scholarly roles.
Check also: 11 best Occupational therapy programs in Massachusetts
The Department of Occupational Therapy will provide contemporary practice content and instructional approaches to prepare graduates to be leading, competent occupational therapy practitioners as practice scholars, as well as advance the profession’s knowledge and practice to improve the quality of life by supporting individual self-efficacy and sustainable communities across a wide range of health conditions and contexts.
Contact: +1 928-523-9011
Address: S San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States
- 2. Midwestern University
The Occupational Therapy Program at the College of Health Sciences is designed to prepare you for a career as a thoughtful, self-directed, and caring professional therapist.
You will be providing important therapy services to clients in home, community, and clinical practice settings to help them regain their independence, and their faculty will work with you to develop the independent judgment, leadership, and self-directed practical skills needed to provide patient-focused, compassionate care.
As a member of tomorrow’s healthcare team, they will assist you in making meaningful, ongoing contributions to society.
For qualified students, the Occupational Therapy Program offers a curriculum leading to the Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) degree.
The full-time, entry-level master’s curriculum is intended to provide students with the academic and clinical education needed to prepare them for their professional roles as key members of the healthcare team and integral practitioners in the healthcare delivery system.
Also, the Master of Occupational Therapy program is a continuous, full-time program that lasts 27 months from matriculation to graduation.
This program has a maximum completion time of 40.5 months. All Level II fieldwork must also be completed within 18 months of completing the didactic portion of the program.
Occupational therapists’ general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development uniquely prepare them to respond to the needs of individuals who face challenges participating in their daily lives.
Contact: (623) 572-3200
Address: 19555 N 59th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85308
- 3. Arizona School Of Health Sciences
A.T. Still University (ATSU) of Health Sciences was founded in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still, DO as the first osteopathic healthcare institution.
ATSU is a leading health sciences university with three campuses (Mesa, Arizona; Santa Maria, California; and Kirksville, Missouri) and seven prestigious schools spread across more than 200 acres.
Residential and online healthcare-related graduate degrees, as well as community-based partnerships worldwide, are examples of culturally rich learning environments.
ATSU employs over 1,300 people dedicated to its non-profit mission and has an annual enrollment of over 3,900 students from 20 countries.
The occupational therapy profession combines a holistic approach with evidence-based practice to improve patients’ and families’ quality of life in their daily activities at home, work, and in the community.
Students at A.T. Still University (ATSU) are immersed in the Occupational Therapy Department’s comprehensive curriculum from the first day of class, which is infused with the professional philosophy of occupational therapy as well as osteopathic medicine’s tenets of whole-person healthcare that integrates the body, mind, and spirit.
This well-known method improves health, well-being, and participation in meaningful activity. The Arizona School of Health Sciences has two entry-level occupational therapy programs.
These are the Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) (OTD). The OTD program is in the final stages of ACOTE accreditation but can accept students.
This occupational therapy school also provides post-professional courses for occupational therapists.
Contact: +1 877-469-2878
Address: 5850 E Still Cir, Mesa, AZ 85206, United States
Conclusion on the Occupational Therapy Programs in Arizona
Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and OT aides can find work in Arizona.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,350 occupational therapists employed in Arizona as of May 2015.
Occupational therapist job opportunities are also expected to grow significantly between 2012 and 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How long does it take to get a degree in occupational therapy?
four (4) years
The program requires four years of full-time study. It is intended to elicit active participation and learning from the student.
Students complete clinical practicums at various clinics, bodies, and hospitals, as well as in the community.
- In Arizona, how do I become an occupational therapist?
You must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from a school accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (AOTE).
At least 928 hours of occupational therapy work experience are required. A criminal background check is required and must be taken
- Do Occupational Therapists Wear Scrubs?
Yes. Certain rehabilitation centers and hospitals require occupational therapists to wear scrubs. If scrubs are not required, the OT will typically wear a polo shirt with either dark-colored pants or scrub pants.
- Is math required to study occupational therapy?
A full-time occupational therapy degree course usually requires two or three A levels, as well as five GCSEs (grades A-C) in English language, maths, and science.
You can pursue a postgraduate Masters’s in occupational therapy if you already have a relevant degree and healthcare experience
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.