Are you looking for the best Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida, then you are at the right place.
In 1917, three men and three women created occupational therapy, three years before women had the right to vote.
Occupational therapists have been aiding children for more than a century, ever since they were first employed in the field of pediatrics in 1919.
Florida now has around approved Occupational Therapy programs with Ten ACOTE-accredited master’s programs and three doctoral programs are available at ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy colleges.
These Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida have the facilities and programs that train you to become the best at what you do and also provide you with an opportunty to pratice whether from home or on the job.
More so, this article will explain the top Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida, the benefits of OT in Florida, the Occupational Therapy facts you need to know and many more.
What does Occupational Therapy mean?
Occupational therapy is a health care profession that focuses on the well-being of its patients by assessing and intervening in their daily activities and vocations. In other words, it aims to improve people’s health and well-being while allowing them to work.
Occupational therapy (OT) aims to make people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities as self-sufficient as feasible.
A person’s everyday activities, whether done alone, with a family, or as part of a larger group, are considered occupations in occupational therapy.
It contains tasks that people must, desire, and are obligated to carry out on a daily basis. This profession is unique in that it enables people of all ages perform the things they want and need to do by using everyday activities as a therapeutic tool (occupations).
Who is an Occupational Therapist?
It is the job of an occupational therapist (OT) to help patients accomplish their goals of self-reliance, meaningful work, and functional capacity in their everyday lives by utilizing evidence-based practice, research, and scientific evidence.
Who is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Patients who work with an occupational therapy assistant are able to improve and keep the abilities they need to function in their day-to-day lives and jobs. They can be employed in occupational therapists’ offices, hospitals, and nursing homes.
How does the Occupational Therapy Treatment work?
After passing through any of the occupational therapy schools in Florida, one can help people to participate in occupational therapy treatment.
To help those who are unable to work or go to school, care for themselves, do their home tasks, move around or participate in activities due to physical or mental pain, illness or a disability, is what OT teaches.
Because of this, occupational therapists can assess children’s abilities to play, learn, and execute daily tasks, and compare those results to what is normal for the child’s age group.
More so, from 2018 to 2028, the BLS predicts that employment of occupational therapists will rise by 18%, substantially faster than the overall rate for all occupations.
People with a variety of illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s, cerebral palsy, autism, or the loss of a limb will continue to benefit from occupational therapy.
How long does it take to become an Occupational Therapist in Florida?
Both the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant perform treatments in occupational therapy.
There are two routes into the field of occupational therapy: formal education as an occupational therapist (OT) or as a certified assistant in the field of occupational therapy (OTA).
In Florida, the majority of occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs are offered at the master’s level, whereas the majority of OTA programs are offered at the associate’s level.
As a result, it normally takes five to six years to become a certified occupational therapist. An undergraduate degree is required prior to pursuing graduate study or undertaking fieldwork in order to earn the necessary experience.
How Much Does an Occupational Therapist Make in Florida?
According to US news, there was a median salary of $86,280 for occupational therapists in 2020.
The top 25% of earners took home $103,060, while the bottom 25 percent took home $70,880. In addition to location and degree, occupational therapists’ salaries are influenced by factors such as speciality, industry, and employer.
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Top 10 Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida | 2022
Occupational therapy will continue to play an essential role in the treatment of persons with a wide range of illnesses and disabilities in the future.
You may conclude that occupational therapy is a long-term career choice based on the provided data.
FOTA was incorporated as a state-based professional association and public voice for occupational therapy in Florida. It is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides its members with a professional network.
It is the primary function of the association to promote the occupational therapy profession, raise public awareness, support the therapist in continuing education, support the occupational therapy profession in Florida, and improve and preserve the occupational therapy profession in Florida.
The FOTA is an affiliate of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in its home state of Florida.
Thus, here are the top occupational therapy schools in Florida:
AdventHealth University:
AdventHealth University’s entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
Occupational therapists assist individuals with physical, developmental, and mental problems in rehabilitating. Therapy’s objective is to empower clients to function as independently as possible in areas such as self-care, job, and recreation.
The Master of Occupational Therapy program’s objective is to educate competent entry-level occupational therapy practitioners in the provision of holistic care to individuals and families.
The program is founded on Christian values, is progressive in nature, and is grounded in the arts and sciences.
AdventHealth University’s Occupational Therapy program is 27 months long, divided into five trimesters of on-campus work and two trimesters of full-time internship.
As one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida, students meet for classes two days per week over the five on-campus terms, which allows for group study, capstone work, and individual review time.
These terms conclude with a one-week clinical practicum focusing on the areas covered during that time period.
Barry University:
Barry University’s Occupational Therapy Program is one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida.
The school offers an innovative curriculum that leads to a Master of Science degree and prepares students for registration as an occupational therapist.
Each semester, on-campus weekend and online classes are organized to allow adults to continue working or raising families while training for a professional career.
After their first year of study, students take a 12-week full-time fieldwork placement at a general rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility, followed by another full-time fieldwork placement in the second year.
The initiative is designed to be finished in approximately two and a half years. Barry University’s faculty members work as occupational therapists during the week and teach on weekends.
Their commitment to alternative education for adult learners distinguishes them.
HRSA Scholarship funding have been provided to the MS Occupational Therapy Program to assist in strengthening the healthcare workforce by covering the educational tuition costs of qualifying students.
HRSA scholarships are available to students admitted to the Barry program.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University:
The Master of Science in occupational therapy curriculum is designed to give students with an educational experience that emphasizes a modified problem-based educational philosophy and fundamental notions regarding adult learners.
As such, the program is meant to communicate pertinent information and foster a creative and critical graduate experience.
This two-and-a-half-year professional program prepares occupational therapy practitioners to work in a range of contexts, have a broad base of knowledge, and can critically appraise health science literature.
Additionally, they will be able to apply pertinent principles and methods to the processes of evaluation, interpretation, and intervention.
They will display understanding of and sensitivity to culturally diverse communities and their attitudes on health care.
FAMU is one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida.
Florida Gulf Coast University:
The field of occupational therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University is one that offers a wide range of opportunities for those interested in a career in health care.
This includes taking care of oneself and one’s loved ones as well as having fun doing the activities they enjoy as well as making a positive impact on one’s neighbors and community.
As a means of reaching therapeutic ends, occupational therapists employ occupation (or the activities and duties connected with a client’s valued occupations).
As one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida, individuals and organizations with a wide range of needs are served by these services, including the elderly, those with mental illness or substance misuse, those with physical impairments, and those with developmental delays.
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Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale Campus:
Keiser University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Bridge Program is designed to educate health care workers who already hold COTA qualifications and help them build on their previous professional experience.
Students in the MSOT graduate program will acquire managerial, program evaluation, and client evaluation abilities while increasing their leadership responsibilities in the profession of occupational therapy.
Keiser University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program will offer both campus-based and hybrid training.
The curriculum mixes didactic, face-to-face, and clinical experiences to prepare students for success on the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) examination and for professional practice as a generalist occupational therapist.
Florida International University:
The entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS-OT) program at FIU Occupational Therapy prepares graduates by emphasizing evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaborative learning, research, cultural awareness, fieldwork engagement, and cutting-edge technology, all of which prepare graduates to develop effective solutions that facilitate participation for the people we serve.
Whether they are researching senior mobility concerns, assisting patients in regaining skills following injury, or assisting the development of children with impairments, their faculty and alumni are on the cutting edge of practice and research to help restore people’s ways of life.
FLorida Internation Univeristy is one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida.
Nova Southeastern University:
Nova Southeastern University’s Occupational Therapy program prepares future therapists to make a difference in people’s lives by providing them with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to help others regain their independence and quality of life.
A wide range of illnesses, injuries, and impairments are treated using occupational therapy, including Alzheimer’s disease, sensory processing disorders such as autism and limb loss, as well as mental health difficulties such as depression.
Professional, masters and doctorate occupational therapy programs at Nova Southeastern University teach you to assess and treat each patient in a manner that best meets their needs.
Learn how to effectively treat patients in a wide range of settings—from community-based settings to schools to private practices to community-based programs to nursing homes to hospitals to outpatient clinics to disability insurance companies—so that you can confidently work with patients in any of these settings.
University of Florida:
According to ACOTE, the University of Florida’s Occupational Therapy (OT) program has been continuously accredited since 1961.
A new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program will commence in the fall of 2018 at the UF Department of Occupational Therapy. The ACOTE just awarded the program Candidacy Status.
As one of the best occupational therapy schools in Florida, the ACOTE accredits the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program.
To ensure a smooth transition to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree, the MOT program has ceased admitting new students (OTD).
Current students and UF Pre-OT Health Science students, on the other hand, are allowed to complete their degree programs.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Florida Campus:
The occupational therapy (OT) university at USAHS is on a mission to produce great OT practitioners and leaders who can positively impact patient lives in this rapidly expanding discipline.
For people with physical, developmental, and social problems, occupational therapy can help them improve their lives by engaging in meaningful daily activities.
OTs are used in a wide range of healthcare settings, from pediatrics to geriatrics, from clinics to enterprises.
Athletes with disabilities, toddlers with learning problems, and older persons with physical and cognitive issues all benefit from the efforts of adaptive technology developers.
Miami Dade College:
Miami Dade College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares students for jobs in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and nursing homes.
If an ongoing health issue or a recent injury has impairing your ability to function, Miami Dade College’s physical and occupational therapists can assist you in living your life to the fullest.
They assist you in enhancing your function and acquiring fresh techniques for performing the hobbies you adore. More so, Miami Dade College is one of the occupational therapy schools in Florida.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Best Occupational Therapy Programs in Florida:
Q: How many OT schools are in Florida?
A: There are roughly 24 OT programs in Florida that are currently accredited. Ten ACOTE-accredited master’s programs and three doctoral programs are available at ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy colleges.
In addition, there are eleven ACOTE-accredited schools for occupational therapy assistants that grant associate degrees.
Q: Can you get a temporary OT license in Florida?
A: Occupational therapists who hold temporary permits can work under the guidance of a certified supervisor while they prepare for and take the certification exam. It is not possible to prolong or renew a temporary permit.
Q: How long does it take to earn a masters of occupational therapy degree?
A: A master’s degree is required to work as an occupational therapist, and getting into one of the several master’s degree programs in the field is difficult. A typical master’s degree program lasts two to three years for a full-time student, on average.
Q: What do occupational therapists do?
A: Occupational therapists employ ordinary activities as a therapy tool to help patients who have been injured, ill, or incapacitated in some way.
They assist these patients in acquiring, recovering, enhancing, and preserving the abilities necessary for their day-to-day activities and employment.
Q: What skills are needed for occupational therapy?
A: Flexibility, Interpersonal skills, Patience, Writing skills.
Conclusion:
Once you’ve gone through the list of Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida, It is rewarding to work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant since you are able to help individuals and build relationships with your patients.
When you work as an OTA, you have the opportunity to serve others and expand the healthcare industry.
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