Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy incorporates the purposeful profession which enables the physically or mentally challenged people to enjoy their everyday lives. Occupational Therapy is the branch of science that deals with curing and rehabilitating the physically, emotionally and mentally disabled and challenged people. It focuses on adapting to the environment according to the patient, as well as teaching and educating them about the necessary skills needed in performing daily activities. This was also known as ‘Moral Treatment’ in the past.

A rise in occupational therapy started around 100 BC with a Greek physician named ‘Asclepiads. He treated the mentally impaired with the help of music, massage, exercise, and therapeutic bath. Since the onset of the 18th and 19th centuries, Occupational Therapy has been widely used in a number of countries as a measure of assessing and treating the mentally challenged, but the 20th century formally named it as ‘Occupational Therapy’.

A bachelor of Occupational Therapy, also known as BOT, is a bachelor’s degree programme in the field of medicine. The course has been structured to focus on practices of prevention and cure along with rehabilitation. It teaches the students to tackle the physical, emotional as well as mental problems of students and provide a universal cure for the problem or disease. In these programmes, students learn about means to cure patients by modifying the environment of the patient, educating them, and teaching them how to lead a regular life. Occupational Therapy also focuses on ergo-medicine to promote alternative medicine methods. BOT course has various specialisations to choose from such as Paediatrics, Hand Therapy Adult Rehabilitation, Vision Rehabilitation, Community Consultation, Assisted Living, etc.

BOT trains students to become skilled professional occupational therapists, capable of undertaking independent/supervised practice. Key skills drilled into students during the BOT course are- observation, clinical reasoning, treatment planning, and implementation of the same.

Eligibility for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy:

Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfil the following minimum eligibility criteria.

• 10+2, completed from a recognized educational Board.
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Mathematics as the main subjects of study at the 10+2 level.
• A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of graduation.
• Candidates appearing for their final 10+2 examination are also eligible to apply for the course on provisional basis.

BOT Admission Process:

In order to secure admission in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme, you will have to pass class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects. Some of the colleges offer admission on the basis of merit, i.e. candidates performance in the last qualifying exam. Whereas some institutes conducted an entrance exam for admission to the BOT course. Some of the popular exams for admission to the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course are:

• M.C.H. College of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exam
• CMC Vellore Entrance Exam
• Manipal University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exam
• SVNIRTAR NIOH Common Entrance Test
• All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR) Entrance Exam

Bachelors of Occupational Therapy (BOT) Career Options and Job Prospects:

B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy is one of the most promising courses offering job stability, good salary and a bright career, as the demand is this field is rapidly increasing and endless. The course prepares the candidates for professional practice including quality management of services, ethical issues and research and communication skills. After successful completion of the course, candidates can work in a school where they have to evaluate children’s abilities, recommend and provide therapy, and in general, help children participate as fully as possible in school activities and programs. They can also get a job in residential areas, where they can help elderly citizens to lead more active, productive and independent lives, through a variety of methods. Occupational therapists also find jobs in Hospitals, Private Clinics and Health Centre, Rehabilitation Centre and NGOs. Also more than one-third of occupational therapists work part time. With the rapid urbanization and development of India, the stress levels in the lives of citizens have also increased. People working in private sectors and corporate world constantly seek counselling and advice in order to lead a better life. Therefore, a BOT degree can help you become part of this quality life supply chain where you can medically, emotionally and mentally help students to do better. There is a lot of scope for people who seek a career as a private practitioner. Various corporate firms also hire therapists to maintain healthy standards within the organization. Following are some popular job profiles that you can seek after pursuing BOT:

• OT Technician
• Consultant
• OT Nurse
• Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant
• Private Practitioner
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Lab Technician
• Service Delivery Manager
• Medical Record Technician
• OT In-charge
• National Sales Manager
• Critical Care Nursing In-charge

Trainee therapists can start with salary packages of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 25,000 per annum after their graduation. Experience is of utmost importance in this field. Highly skilled therapists also charge Rs. 1500 to Rs. 3000 per session i.e. Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 90,000 per month. A master degree in the field is also a good investment in order to secure good salaries.