Occupational therapist

JOB

Health services| Teaching, recreation and pedagogy

The job of an occupational therapist is to train, guide and rehabilitate people as well as performing preventive work. The work involves factors such as mobility, muscle strength, coordination, concentration, endurance, expression and social interaction, with the aim of increasing people’s skills in terms of ability to work, household chores, self-care and other activities of daily life. Occupational therapy is a certified healthcare profession.

As an occupational therapist, you could work in hospitals, specialized institutions, homes for the disabled or in schools. Some places have specially equipped occupational therapy departments with facilities to provide training and guide people in various tasks related to daily life. Occupational therapists can also work outside institutions, for example in a client’s home.

Main tasks

• assessing the client’s ability, situation and interest in taking care of themselves in daily life
• setting goals in consultation with the client
• organizing and supervising individual or group therapy
• recording treatment progress
• education and counseling about changing lifestyles, such as due to workload or stress

Competence requirements

Occupational therapists receive an operating license from the Director of Health and must have completed a BS degree in occupational therapy. It is important to have a good knowledge of the structure and function of the human body, psychology, sociology and human developmental processes. Furthermore, knowledge of the nature of diseases and other things that can threaten people’s health is essential.

An occupational therapist needs to be responsible for prevention, counseling, diagnosis and the treatment provided. In the work of occupational therapists, it is important to know professional restrictions and respect confidentiality when appropriate.

Study

Occupational therapy is a four-year university study program that ends with a BS degree. The program is offered at the University of Akureyri, both as a two-year study program for a BS degree and one year of postgraduate studies at the master’s level.

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