Education
In Ghana, the minimum accreditation one requires to practice as an Occupational Therapist is a Bachelor’s Degree or a Diploma as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).
It is a four (4) year program which involves both theory and clinical practice. After training, the individual undergoes a year mandatory National Service in an accredited setting approved by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) with a temporary practicing license. At the end of the mandatory National Service, eligible candidates are made to sit for licensure exam
conducted by the AHPC to acquire a permanent license to practice.
NB: Licensing requirements for foreign nationals may vary by country or state, so enquiries must be duly made at the AHPC website.
The only accredited institutions that trains Occupational therapy practitioners at the Bachelor’s degree level is the University of Ghana, Legon and at the diploma level is Accra School of Hygiene, Korle Bu. Naturally, the higher you climb on the academic ladder, the greater the salary. Your work experience also plays a major role. Occupational therapy also offers Master’s and Doctorate certification, which present the opportunity of specialization.
Career Options in Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy practice offers a wide range of practice areas and settings as occupation is varied.
Occupational therapy services covers all age groups and individuals requiring support in functional
independence
Specialized areas of practice in Occupational Therapy include;
1) Physical Settings: Occupational therapists work in varied physical settings (neurorehabilitation,
burns, orthopaedics etc.) to provide functional independence and support for persons temporal
or long-term illness.
2) Mental Health: Occupational Therapists also work in mental health institutions/ psychiatric
hospitals, aiding and teaching individuals with cognitive impairments to live meaningful and
fulfilling to them.
3) Pediatrics: Occupational Therapists work with children with disabilities, whether physical or
cognitive, focusing on identifying their strengths and difficulties and providing the needed
support to help them learn and develop their abilities and in performing various tasks through
play.
4) Environment Accessibility and Modifications: This involves modifying the immediate
environments in breaking down all barriers that prevents person with disabilities from accessing
pleases such as work, school, public places, etc. This also helps in falls prevention in persons
with disabilities.
5) Geriatrics: OT’s also work with the elderly who are having difficulty completing tasks, whether
for reasons of cognition, injury, ill-health or disability.
6) Community Based Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapists also work in community
rehabilitation settings, providing habitation and rehabilitation service for varied clientele,
integrating them in the communities, advocating for the rights and privileges of the marginalised
and providing assistive technology devices to aid in community mobility.
7) Academia: Occupational Therapists also work in training institutions to offer theological and
practical knowledge to students and to prepare them for the job market.
Occupational therapists can practice in both public or private settings, full time or part-time depending
on the agreement between the OT practitioner and institutions.
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OT GHANA
The purpose of the Association is to advance and support the occupational therapy profession and OT practitioners (OT (Occupational Therapist), OTA (Occupational Therapy Assistant) and COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) within Ghana.