An occupational therapist helps people recover or improve their ability to perform activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and other everyday skills. Their patients could have chronic mental or physical impairments, or have lost abilities suddenly through an accident or sudden illness. Read on to learn how to become an occupational therapist.

Occupational therapists are health professionals who help people master the daily skills they need to live independent and productive lives. In order to become an occupational therapist, you need to determine if you have the personal characteristics that make occupational therapy a good career choice for you, get an undergraduate degree, and then earn a master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy.

Occupational therapists work with people who are impaired, either physically or mentally. Occupational therapists need patience and persistence as the work with clients to help them learn how to do tasks which most people do without thinking. Progress may be slow. Occupational therapists should also be compassionate and understanding, and have a passion for helping people.

Although there are 300 accredited programs in occupational therapy in the United States, your undergraduate degree need not be in occupational therapy, but you'll need to make sure that you have satisfied the prerequisites of the graduate program in occupational therapy that you are applying to. Courses in biology, psychology, and sociology will be helpful.

Before 2007, occupational therapists only need a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy to practice. Since January 1, 2007 the American Academy of Occupational Therapists have required a master's or doctoral degree for certification.

Most states require occupational therapists to be licensed. Licensing requirements differ from state to state, but general include graduating from an approved program, completing a minimum period of supervised fieldwork, and passing a licensing exam.