How do I Choose the Best Occupational Therapy Continuing Education?

There are four items to consider when looking for the best occupational therapy continuing education program: course relevance, certification, course schedule and fees. Occupational therapy is a field related to health services and that is widely recognized as an essential part of helping people overcome physical or mental issues through work-related activities. In order to become an occupational therapist, a university degree in occupational therapy from a recognized school is required. Most occupational therapists are required to join a certification agency. These agencies monitor the profession and often include a continuing education requirement for members to maintain their certification to work as occupational therapists. Although the details vary by region, a specific number of course hours per year is a very common requirement.

The best occupational therapy continuing education course or program offers training in a subject matter or area that is specifically relevant to work in which you currently are working or into which you would like to transition. Look for courses that are highly focused on a specific aspect of occupational therapy. Read the course outline or description with care. Avoid any course where the description is vague and no reference materials will be used.

Ask specifically if the occupational therapy continuing education course or program is accredited or recognized by the certification organization for your region. This is very important, because unrecognized courses cannot be used to meet continuing education requirements. In addition, this additional process requires the course instructions to provide a detailed course outline, syllabus and lesson plan to the certification organization. A biography of the course instructor also is required by many certification agencies, to ensure that the course is taught by someone with the appropriate expertise.

The fees for a professional occupational therapy continuing education course vary widely, but they play an important part in the course selection process. Explore the options for tuition reimbursement available from your employer as well as any discounts available for professional occupational therapists. When calculating the total cost of the course, don’t forget to include any transportation costs, additional books or materials that might be required to complete the coursework.

Look at the dates, times and locations that the course is being offered. Take the time to investigate the commute from your workplace to the course and look at your schedule of both work and personal commitments to ensure that you have sufficient time available to attend the course and complete the course work. Think about the weather during the length of the course, and make sure that you have reliable transportation available.