Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Pediatric occupational therapists are qualified occupational therapists who work with children and infants with problems in cognitive functions, movement and coordination. These young patients could be suffering from a wide range of conditions such as neurological complaints, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord damage, muscular dystrophy or other motor disorders.

The work of a pediatric occupational therapist involves analyzing and treating skeletal, neuromuscular or cognitive restrictions of their young patients. It also includes helping them in developing their interaction and communication skills, refinement of motor skills and educating them in self-care abilities, especially for the older children.

As the therapist is dealing with children, patience and persistence are important traits. Most of the patients are too young to understand verbal instructions, so games are often incorporated in the therapy. This will help to engage their interest and cooperation. It is imperative to have the commitment and support of the family as well.

To qualify as a pediatric occupational therapist, the minimum requirement is a Master degree in Occupational Therapy. As pediatric occupational therapy is a specialized field, most programs require the candidate to possess a minimum of 3-5 years of working experience in occupational therapy. Furthermore a licence from the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy) is mandatory before the individual is allowed to work in pediatric occupational therapy.

Pediatric occupational therapist jobs are available in nursing homes, healthcare organizations, hospitals, educational institutions, schools and the government.

They can work in the roles of consultants, trainers or therapists. For those who wish to work before completing their master degree courses, they can train in a shorter program of 1 to 2 years for a certificate or associate degree. These certifications qualify them to work as a pediatric occupational therapist assistant or aide.

A typical pediatric occupational therapist salary ranges from USD 50,000 to USD 70,000. An experienced pediatric occupational therapist can earn as high as USD 75,000 in some areas. Entry level positions earn from USD 25,000 to USD 45,000 depending on the company, location and job responsibilities.

Information and knowledge on occupational therapy in the Asian/Pacific Area, through AAPOTA.