Therapy taking place

About the Occupational Therapy Pre-Professional Program

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Occupational therapists help people who are challenged in their ability to participate with daily activities because of injuries, illnesses or disabilities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for everyday living and working.

After completing the requirements, career opportunities will be in hospitals, physician practices, mental health centers, nursing care facilities, public schools and home health agencies. Majoring in Pre-Occupational Therapy at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will prepare you for higher education in the field.

PROGRAM INFORMATION GUIDE

Responsibilities of an occupational therapist:

  • Observes and evaluates the patient’s condition and needs
  • Establishes a treatment plan including activities and goals
  • Helps people with various disabilities with different tasks
  • Demonstrates exercises that help relieve pain from chronic conditions
  • Evaluates a home or workplace with a patient’s health needs in mind
  • Educates a patient’s family and employer about accommodations for patient
  • Recommends special equipment and instruct patients how to use it
  • Assesses and records patient’s activities and progress for evaluating clients, billing, and reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers

Average Salary: $83,200 per year

24% Projected Employment Growth

from 2016 to 2026 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

PLACEMENT IN CLINICAL PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

Data based on cumulative placement data for the last 3 years

83% Accepted

83%
Accepted

Brooke Brown

"A psychology major interested me mainly because I was advised by my health science adviser, Liz Stout, that it was a common major chosen by pre-occupational therapy students. The major has really been helpful to me in my professional program, as it gave me a lot of background in research and a knowledge base that is very useful when working with patients in a rehabilitation setting."

Brooke Brown