What Is Pre-Occupational Therapy?

Many people don’t fully understand what an occupational therapist does. In many ways, that fact speaks to the immense versatility of occupational therapists! Occupational therapy is a form of health care that can benefit all ages, and it’s always tailored to the needs of the patient. If you’re interested in a career that combines problem-solving, empathy, and the health sciences, then look no further. A career in occupational therapy may be the perfect fit for you!

Not sure how you can become an occupational therapist? If you are already a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, then your next step is earning a bachelor’s degree in pre-occupational therapy.

Key Takeaways:

• Pre-occupational therapy is a pre-professional program that prepares students to pursue further education in occupational therapy.
• Occupational therapists help their patients develop and/or regain their independence through individualized therapeutic plans and daily activities.
• The work of occupational therapists occurs in a variety of settings, including health care facilities, schools, and in-home.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists (OTs) utilize daily activities, also known as occupations, to build their clients’ independence and autonomy. This form of care can be especially impactful for individuals recovering from an injury or managing a chronic condition or disability. To ensure effective treatment, OTs evaluate both their patients’ mental and physical health to grasp their full situation. From there, the OT develops a therapeutic plan to help the patient overcome the daily functional challenges they face.

For a child with autism spectrum disorder, this may include building sensory processing and social skills that improve their independence. An adult recovering from a stroke may regain their autonomy by learning to use an assistance device through occupational therapy.

These are just two examples of interventions that an OT may perform. A less obvious case may be a child who struggles to hold scissors or write by hand, which may require working with them to improve their fine motor skills. There are truly no limits to the work of an OT. It all depends on the client and what their everyday activities look like!

What Does Pre-Occupational Therapy Mean?

To become an occupational therapist, you must earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Admittance into OTD programs can be selective and often requires that applicants meet several criteria, such as observation hours within an OT setting or a certain GPA. It may come as a surprise, then, that many graduate programs will accept students regardless of their undergraduate major.

Even so, many students who see a future in this field choose to earn their bachelor’s degree in pre-occupational therapy. Pre-occupational therapy programs allow students to prepare for OT school while still studying at the undergraduate level. Prior to beginning a master’s program, occupational therapy students typically must have already completed prerequisite coursework in biology and physiology. Since a pre-occupational therapy program is geared toward meeting this need, its graduates are prepared for success and have a leg up in the application process.

Pre-Occupational Therapy Program Coursework

As previously mentioned, pre-occupational therapy coursework provides a foundation upon which an OT’s practice is built. It covers both physiology and mental health, ensuring that OTs can develop human-centric and individualized treatment plans. These programs also instill the skills that are crucial to a career as an OT, such as interpersonal communication and empathy.

While coursework will vary between programs, a typical pre-occupational therapy curriculum may include:

• Health Care Ethics
• Medical Terminology
• Motor Learning and Movement Control
• Developmental Psychology
• Biomechanics and Kinesiology
• Sociology/Anthropology
• Statistics

What Can You Do with a Pre-Occupational Therapy Bachelor’s Degree?

A bachelor’s degree in pre-occupational therapy is the first step toward becoming a full-fledged occupational therapist. However, there’s more than one path available to pre-OT graduates.

Graduate School

Having your pre-occupational therapy degree will typically check many boxes when you’re applying for graduate OT school. For one thing, it demonstrates your commitment to a career in occupational therapy. If you completed observation hours or worked as an occupational therapy assistant while earning your degree, these experiences are also valuable when crafting a compelling personal statement.

Additionally, a pre-OT degree will often cover most, if not all, of the courses required to gain admission to graduate school. Admissions requirements vary between occupational therapy schools, however, so it’s important to double check that you’ve taken the necessary courses for your master’s program of choice!

Career Advancement

Not sure if a master’s degree in occupational therapy is right for you? There’s still an abundance of opportunities available to you with a pre-occupational therapy degree. You can become an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) with either an associate or bachelor’s degree. If you’re already working as an OTA without an undergraduate degree, then finishing your degree in pre-OT can help you secure a salary increase.

Pre-occupational therapy is often a concentration within health science or a related degree; therefore, you can also leverage your pre-OT degree into a career in a different aspect of health care after graduation. From health administration to exercise physiology, the skills you develop in a pre-OT program are applicable to numerous careers.

Why Choose a Pre-OT Program? 3 Reasons It’s Worthwhile

Now that you understand what exactly a pre-occupational therapy degree entails, the question becomes: what do I have to gain from earning this degree? And why would I want to pursue a career in occupational therapy?

In the case of pre-OT, there are three selling points to consider: 

1. High earning potential. In 2024, the median salary for occupational therapists was $98,340, with the highest 10% of earners in the field earning over $129,830 annually. They are typically paid the highest wages in nursing care facilities, as well as when providing home health care services.
2. Rapidly growing field. Employment for OTs is expected to grow 11% by 2033, which is much faster than the average across all occupations. Much of this projected growth is due to a desire for noninvasive care for aging populations, as well as those with disabilities and chronic illness.
3. Rewarding, patient-focused career. Given the human-centered nature of their work, occupational therapists get to watch first-hand as their patients achieve their goals. For this reason, occupational therapy is a deeply fulfilling career for its practitioners.

How Can UC Help Your Professional Career?

Take advantage of all the University of Cincinnati has to offer through our 100% online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences – Pre-Occupational Therapy program. This program is ideal for OTAs who already hold an associate degree and want to finish their undergraduate education. Best of all, its entirely online and asynchronous format allows you to balance your career alongside your education.

To meet the admissions requirements for UC’s Pre-Occupational Therapy program, you must have:

• an occupational therapy assistant associate degree from an ACOTE-accredited program
• passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) OTA exam or have a plan in place to take the NBCOT exam
• a minimum GPA of 2.5

Contact UC Today to Consult with Your Own Enrollment Advisor!

At UC, we want your education to enhance your professional career, not distract from it. Judging by our student testimonials, that’s been their exact experience in the pre-occupational therapy program—and it can be yours, too. Our online programs are structured with your hectic schedule in mind, ensuring that you can balance working full-time with your degree program.

If you look forward to making a positive impact in your career, then your future as an occupational therapist is just around the corner. It’s normal to still have questions, though. That’s where contacting your Enrollment Advisor can help. As a member of UC’s dedicated online staff, your Enrollment Advisor is here to provide answers and help you determine your next steps!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is occupational therapy used for?

Occupational therapy is used to help people of all ages with a wide variety of daily needs. These might include taking care of yourself and others, working, or going to school.

What is the best major to prepare for an MS in OT or OTD?

While there isn’t one best major to prepare you for OT school, many choose to earn their bachelor’s in health science, biology, psychology, or kinesiology. This is due to the coursework overlapping with commonly required courses for OT.

Why would someone see an occupational therapist?

An individual may need occupational therapy to regain use of their hand after surgery. A child with sensory issues may develop motor skills through play (an occupation) with an OT. The reasons individuals seek out occupational therapy are endless!