Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, also known as BOT, is a bachelor\’s degree in allied science, in the field of medicine. The course has been structured to focus on practices of prevention and cure along with rehabilitation. It teaches the students to tackle the physical, emotional as well as mental problems of students and provide a universal cure for the problem or disease. In these programmes, students learn about means to cure patients by modifying the environment of the patient, educating them, and teaching them how to lead a regular life. Occupational Therapy also focuses on ergo-medicine to promote alternative medicine methods. BOT course has various specializations to choose from such as Pediatrics, Hand Therapy Adult Rehabilitation, Vision Rehabilitation, Community Consultation, Assisted Living, etc.
Students completing their Bachelors in Occupational Therapy often work with people with mental health problems, disabilities, injuries, or impairments by providing them support in the form of rehabilitation. The course duration of BOT is 4.5 years, with 4 years of college coursework and 6 months of field internship experience. Students of BOT are primarily taught subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, General Medicine and Surgery , Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry.
Students who are interested in taking admission to Bachelors in Occupational Therapy can apply for the same after completing their 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised board. Candidates, then, are required to secure at least 50% in their qualifying examination, with the combination of the following as their primary subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. BOT Course admissions are conducted through both entrance examinations and direct admissions to colleges and universities. Aspirants may check out the details of the course mentioned below to gain a clear perspective of the course subjects in detail, and prepare for the entrance examinations for admission to different institutes.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) Highlights
Here are quick highlights regarding the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree course:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Course Fee | INR 15,000 to INR 80,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,50,000 to INR 6,00,000 PA |
| Exam Type | Semester |
| Minimum Qualification | 10+2 |
| Specializations | Sports Injury, Psychiatric, Neurologica, etc. |
| Selection Process | Merit Base/ Entrance Exam |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, NEET, BHU UET, etc. |
| Employment Sectors | Rehabilitation Centers, Multi-Specialty Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc |
Why Choose Bachelors of Occupational Therapy?
Deciding on whether to pursue a Bachelors of Occupational Therapy is totally up to a student\’s personal choice. Here are some important points that can help students to decided whether they should choose BOT or not:
- It is one of the most popular courses in the medical field of study, with a huge scope in career building and lucrative packages.
- BOT is a course program designed for students who want to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. Therefore,
- The course deals with providing medical aid and rehabilitation support to individuals suffering from functional disabilities, employing various exercises, both physical and mental activities, for improving and developing a patient\’s motor and sensory perception.
- An occupational therapist must possess a set of important skills such as judgment, problem-solving skills, cognition, hand functions and hand eye coordination, etc. in order to become successful in their career.
- BOT graduates find employment in both the private and public sectors of the country
- BOT graduates can pursue their careers as well as higher studies in foreign countries as well.
Bachelors of Occupational Therapy (BOT) Specializations
While studying the BOT degree programme, candidates are required to learn a variety of specializations. Some of the popular specializations under the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy are as follows:
- Pediatric specialization
- Sports Injury
- Psychiatric
- Geriatric
- Industrial specialization’
- Adult rehabilitation
- Neurologica
- Special child needs
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Courses
There are several students who choose to complete their higher studies in BOT degree courses by pursuing a certificate course or a diploma degree. These degree courses are offered in online, offline, full time as well as part time modes. Some of the popular bachelor’s degree courses under BOT are listed below:
- B.P.T. (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) Occupational Therapy
- B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) Occupational Therapy
- B.R.S. (Bachelor of Rehabilitation Science) Occupational Therapy
Bachelors of Occupational Therapy Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to pursue a Bachelor\’s degree in Occupational Therapy, all aspirants have to keep in mind the following eligibility criteria required to get admission to their desired institutions. While the basic eligibility for BOT includes a 10+2 qualification, a minimum age of 17 years and Science as the core subject in the qualifying examination, mentioned below is the comprehensive list of eligibility criteria for the Bachelors in Occupational Therapy admission:
- Students who want to pursue a BOT course and belong to General/SC/ST/OBC categories have to pass their 10+2 or equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics as their core subjects.
- Aspirants must secure a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their 10+2 to be eligible for BOT admission.
- Candidates belonging to reserved categories must secure at least 50% in their 10+2 or equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics as their main subjects.
- Candidates should be at least 17 years of age on or before December 31 of the particular year they are applying for BOT admission.
- It is one of the most popular courses in the medical field of study, with a huge scope in career building and lucrative packages.
- BOT is a course program designed for students who want to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. Therefore,
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exams
In order to secure admission in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme, all candidates must qualify their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects. While some of the colleges offer admission on the basis of merit, other institutes conduct entrance examinations for admission to the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course. Some of the major exams for admission to the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course are:
- NEET: National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test
- IPU CET: Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test
- BHU UET: Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test
- AIIPMR EE: All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Entrance Exam
- K.M.C.H. College of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exam
- CMC Vellore Entrance Exam
- Manipal University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exam
- SVNIRTAR NIOH Common Entrance Test
- All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR) Entrance Exam
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) Course Fee
The average fee structure of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy ranges from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 for the entire course. Pursuing the respective course from a central or state university will cost less than pursuing it from a private university. The fee structure for BOT will vary from institution to institution.
Bachelors of Occupational Therapy (BOT) Career Options and Job Prospects
With the rapid urbanization and development of India, the stress level in the lives of citizens have also increased. People working in private sectors and corporate world constantly seek counselling and advice in order to lead a better life. Therefore, a BOT degree can help you become part of this quality life supply chain where you can medically, emotionally and mentally help students to do better. There is a lot of scope for people who seek a career as a private practitioner. Various corporate firms also hire therapists to maintain healthy standards within the organization. Following are some popular job profiles that you can seek after pursuing BOT:
| OT Technician | INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 |
|---|---|
| Consultant | INR 3,50,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| OT Nurse | INR 1,75,000 to INR 3,60,000 |
| Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant | INR 2,70,000 to INR 4,50,000 |
| Private Practitioner | INR 2,00,000 to INR 3,75,000 |
| Speech and Language Therapist | INR 1,20,000 to INR 3,50,000 |
| Occupational Therapist | INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Lab Technician | INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 |
| Service Delivery Manager | INR 1,50,000 to INR 3,75,000 |
| Medical Record Technician | INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 |