This page covers one of the National Occupation Categories (NOC) developed by Economic and Social Development Canada: 31203 Occupational therapists.
“Occupational therapists develop individual and group programs with people affected by illness, injury, developmental disorders, emotional or psychological problems and aging to maintain, restore or increase their ability to care for themselves and to engage in work, school or leisure. They also develop and implement health promotion programs with individuals, community groups and employers. They are employed in health care facilities, in schools, and by private and social services agencies, or they may be self-employed.” (NOC 2021)
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts. {This text can be swapped to either column for balance.}
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
Explore related Master's Programs or other relevant avenues for further education.
Here are a few other categories that might interest you:
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Examining aging and health, provides insights into physical, psychological, and social challenges which are crucial when working with older adults.
Understanding the brain and nervous system’s effects on movement, cognition, and sensation helps in recognizing conditions that may impact a client’s ability to perform tasks.
A degree in Social Psychology helps address clients’ psychological and social challenges as an Occupational Therapist, allowing for holistic, client-centred interventions that enhance functionality and community interactions.
Sociology highlights factors like income, education, healthcare access, and environment affecting health, helping Occupational Therapists understand and address clients’ therapy barriers and work with them to overcome challenges.
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