Nebraska Occupational Therapist School

How to Become an Occupational Therapist in Nebraska

Occupational Therapy is one of those career paths that is set to explode in the near future, as the population swells, and the average age increases. If you're looking to start working towards becoming an Occupational Therapist in Nebraska, by following these steps you'll be well on your way.

1. It takes about seven years to become a full Occupational Therapist. There are lots of opportunities, along the way, to intern, to work as an assistant OT, and to be doing much the same sort of duties. But you might consider attempting to job shadow a full Occupational Therapist before you embark on this same path,
2. Eventually, you need to graduate with a master’s degree from either online or campus based Nebraska occupational therapy schools that have been accredited by the ACOTE. But first, you'll need to be awarded a bachelor’s degree in a similar subject- one that gives you lots of experience dealing with medical and science subjects. Biology and Psychology are two very common areas of focus for aspiring Occupational Therapists.
3. There are several options open to you as to where to get your BS. There are online schools that offer bachelors in health and wellness, and several colleges and universities in and around Nebraska that can satisfy your needs.
4. Wherever you go, you'll want to try and pursue any internship or work experience opportunity that comes your way. A lot of OT Masters programs are very competitive, and either have express requirements in this category, or are far more likely to take candidates who have worked in a clinic and have letters of recommendation from active allied health professionals.
5. Nebraska is home to one of the top rated Occupational Therapy Master programs in the country, at Creighton University. There aren't all that many in the US, but they are enough that you have quite a bit of choice. Research them, make sure you've met their requirements and found the one that suits you best, and apply.
6. After you've graduated, you'll need to take the NBCOT exam, which is nationally certifying exam that must be taken by all Occupational Therapists in order to work in the country. It costs about $500 dollars, can be retaken with slightly penalties, and is made up of both multiple choice questions, and sections in which you'll have a patient and situation described to you, and you'll need to decide the best course of action.
7. Once passed, you should receive your NBCOT card, and the credentials of Occupational Therapist Registered. You can now apply for a license from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. You'll need to provide positive proof of your identity, pay a licensing fee, have your school transcripts, and NBCOT scores sent in, and fill out the application.
8. When you've been accepted, you need only wait for confirmation to arrive in the mail and your name and status to be added to the book of registry. You are now a licensed occupational therapist in the state of Nebraska.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Occupational Therapists in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue and Grand Island, Nebraska may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Bryan LGH Medical Center, Lincoln Surgical Hospital, Alegent Healthcare and Blue Cross of Nebraska.