Therapy taking place

About the Pre-Occupational Therapy Program

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Occupational therapists help people who are challenged in their ability to participate in 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 program 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

Median Pay: $93,180 per year

12% Projected Employment Growth

from 2022 to 2032 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

100% Placement Rate in Clinical Programs and Graduate Schools

Statistic based on cumulative placement data for the last 3 years

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

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