Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy or B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy is a 3-year undergraduate course divided into six semesters. In some institutions, the course duration may extend up to 4.5 years. Aspirants can apply for this course after completing their high school education with at least 50% marks.
Students who aspire to pursue B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, have to keep physics, chemistry, and biology as their core subjects in the 10+2 level. As part of the eligibility criterion, applicants need to pass entrance tests like MET and SVNIRTAR NIOH Common Entrance Test that are conducted every year. The entire coursework is conducted in offline mode.
Some of the top colleges in India offering B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy are Bihar College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Manipal University, and Rajiv Gandhi Paramedical Institute. The average course fee in India for B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy ranges between 50,000 to 8,00,000 INR. After completing the course, they can work as a Consultant, Occupational therapists, Speech Therapist, Lab technicians, etc. Graduates of this field are mostly hired in Multi-specialty Hospitals, Mental Hospitals, Old Age Homes, Rehabilitation Centres, etc.
B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Course Highlights
The major highlights of B.Sc. in Occupational therapy are mentioned below:-
| Course Name | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
|---|---|
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Type | Semester Wise |
| Eligibility | Higher Secondary education with 50% aggregate marks |
| Duration of Course | 3 years to 4.5 years |
| Designations | Occupational Therapy Nurse, Consultant, Lab Technician |
| Recruitment Areas | Multi-Specialty Hospitals, Non-governmental Organizations, Centers for Physically and Mentally Handicapped Children, Rehabilitation Centers |
| Course Fees | 50,000 to 8,00,000 INR |
Why Study B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Courses?
Occupational therapy aims to train patients to take care of themselves. If a course like B.Sc. Occupational Therapy is pursued, a candidate gets trained in giving support to physically challenged patients and helps them to learn self-care. The chief focus of this course is to prepare the candidates in a manner that can assist the patients to develop self-care skills. Individuals who wish to pursue a B.Sc. Occupational Therapy Courses want to come to this field for different reasons.
Treating physically challenged people requires a good understanding of psychology and science. Through B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, a candidate will get a chance to be adept at that. Apart from psychology and science, the candidates are taught about sociology as well.
The course helps the candidates to figure out how much support is needed for a patient and in what aspects of daily life they require assistance
After qualifying for the B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy courses, candidates are mainly hired in the health sector. However, the job opportunities are not restricted to one sector. Different NGOs and social welfare sectors also hire professionals having B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy courses.
If a candidate wants to start something at their level, that is possible too. The teaching imparted through this course empowers the candidates to be an entrepreneur in this field.
Another essential reason is that Occupational Therapy salary in India is decent and the jobs related to this field have a flexible schedule. The average salary of an Occupational Therapist is about INR 3.8 Lakhs which increases with experience.
Job satisfaction is also a crucial factor that the aspirants usually consider for pursuing B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy courses. The noble mission and the remuneration both persuade the candidates to opt for such courses.
B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Eligibility Criteria
The minimum requirement needed to apply for B.Sc. in Occupational therapy is discussed below
- Candidates interested in completing an occupational therapy course should have passed 10th and 12th or equivalent exams from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% marks for the general category and 45% for the SC / ST category.
- Students who have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology at the intermediate level and have completed their 10 + 2 in the science stream are only eligible for admission to B.Sc. in Occupational therapy courses.
B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Admission Process
The admission for the B.Sc. in Occupation Therapy is done on a merit basis depending on the candidate’s marks in the class 10+2 examination. But in some colleges/ universities, admission will be made on the basis of an entrance exam conducted by the institute. On the basis of these factors, the candidate merit list will be prepared for B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy admission. The B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy admission process is described below:
Type of Admission Process Merit-Based Admission - Candidates shortlisted the college
- Fill up the application form and submit it with the fees
- Based on the details of the application form, colleges prepare the merit list
- Once the merit list gets released, selected candidates are offered admission
Entrance-Based Admission - Candidates register for the entrance exam
- Fill up the application form and submit it along with the prescribed entrance exam fee
- Colleges assign admit cards only for the successful applications
- Candidates appear on the exam based on the date and venue mentioned on the admit card
- After the result declaration, qualified candidates are offered admission
- In some colleges/ universities, candidates are often called for further rounds of selection after the written exam
B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Career Options and Job Prospects
B.Sc in Occupational Therapy is one of the most promising courses for employment stability with good salaries and career options since the demand in this field is growing rapidly and endlessly. Candidates with B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy can also work at a school where they will need to evaluate the student’s abilities and encourage them to take part in school events and services as deeply as possible.B.Sc in Occupational Therapy graduates can also work in housing areas where elderly people may lead a more healthy, efficient and independent life through different methods.
Some of the well-known carrier options for a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy are listed below
- Consultant
- Lab Technician
- OT Technician
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy Future Scope
Occupational Therapy is an outstanding field of medical science that ensures a safe, secure, and bright career for the aspirants. There are wide scopes for B.Sc. Occupational therapy candidates. Those who want to advance in their career and gain more knowledge in the subject can pursue the M.Sc in Occupational Therapy course. In this 2-year post-graduate course, candidates learn about different specializations of health care and become able to treat various physical and mental problems. SRM University and Tamil Nadu M.G.R. Medical Universities are a few of the universities that offer Master’s degrees in Occupational Therapy. Like B.Sc. in Occupational therapy, admission is done either based on merit or by assessing entrance exam scores. If anyone is interested in attaining research-level skills in Occupational Therapy, then having a Ph.D. degree would be ideal for them. To pursue the course candidates should have a master’s degree in the relevant stream.
Apart from the educational scope, the job possibilities are also good here. B.Sc. Occupational therapy candidates are mostly hired in rehabilitation centers, NGOs, private and govt. clinics, hospitals, etc. The candidates having Master’s degrees get a chance of working abroad. In foreign countries like the USA, Occupational Therapists are in high demand and they pay high for such professionals.
B.Sc.in Occupational Therapy Job Profiles
After the completion of the B.Sc in Occupational Therapy, professionals are recruited for different job profiles. Varied job profiles in this field are described below:
Occupational Therapist- Treating disabled, and injured persons with therapeutic treatment and special equipment are the key job responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist. These medical professionals assist the patients in getting back to their normal lives by regaining and developing some life skills.
Speech and Language Therapist- A Speech Therapist treats an array of speech and related disorders. He/she diagnoses speech problems, treats them, and suggests preventive measures to the patients. Apart from speech issues, these professionals are adept at treating communication disorders. Rehabilitating physically and psychologically challenged people is performed by them. Educational institutions and health care recruit such professionals.
Lab Technician- Lab Technicians are liable for undertaking different laboratory procedures. The chief responsibility of a Lab Technician includes analyzing samples, performing tests, finding reports, etc.
OT Technician- An OT Technician assists the OT activities performed by surgeons, nurses, and other professionals associated with it. These professionals are skilled in handling high-end machinery with utmost care.
Consultant- A Consultant working in the field of Occupational Therapy is trained to understand the specific requirements of the patients and make the best treatment planning for them.
B.Sc in Occupational Therapy Salary in India
In India, the salary offered to B.Sc Occupational Therapy professionals is quite acceptable. B.Sc Occupational Therapy Salary may vary because organizations offer a different salary for different job profiles. Listed below is the annual average salary for different occupational therapy job profiles:
Job Profiles Annual Average Salary (Approx) Occupational Therapist 3,50,000 INR Speech and Language Therapist 3,00,000 INR Lab Technician 2,50,000 INR OT Technician 2,20,000 INR Consultant 7,00,000 INR