B.O.Th
Know all about B.O.Th (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy) overview & its scope in India. Get full details on courses, fees, admissions, careers options, reviews, exams and much more information on
About
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or B.O.Th is an undergraduate allied medical course that focuses on the treatment of physically and mentally challenged patients. The B.O.Th course focuses on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering from certain physical and mental health conditions. B.O.Th course also focuses on the usage of alternative medicine methods and usage of speech-language therapy, audiology, physical therapy, etc. Occupational Therapy professionals generally work for the rehabilitation of physical and mental health challenges, injuries and impairments. They work towards improving their motor skills and senses and aid them in carrying out day to day activities on their own such as movement of hands and limbs for taking bath, changing clothes, moving on their own, as well as rehabilitate and rejuvenate them mentally.
What is B.O.ThB.O.Th is a 4.5-year course with four years of study in college and six months of field training or internship. The curriculum of B.O.Th includes medical subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Psychology, Microbiology, to name a few.
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course teaches students to take care of the physical and emotional well being of the patients while integrating them within an environment that is conducive for them to lead a regular lifestyle. B.O.Th course also inculcates among the students different methods of creating awareness among people on prevention and dealing with people with special needs and abilities.
Eligibility Criteria for B.O.ThThe eligibility criteria for pursuing B.O.Th course are as follows:
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Candidates should pass the Class 12 Board exam in the Science stream with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate.
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Candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology as core subjects.
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Candidates appearing in the Class 12 Board exam is also eligible for pursuing B.O.Th course provided he/she meets the eligibility criterion within the stipulated schedule.
Admission to B.O.Th course is generally based on entrance exam and merit, depending on the institute. Institutes that conduct based on merit consider applicants’ scores in Class 12 Board exam followed by a document verification or interview round. On the other hand, institutes conducting entrance-based admission check test taker's aptitude and skills and shortlist candidates based on the cutoff marks and grant final admission based on counselling.
Top Entrance Exam for B.O.Th Admission
Some of the top entrance exams for B.O.Th course are as followsL
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NEET
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IPU CET
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JMI Entrance Exam
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BHU UET
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SVNIRTAR CET
Some of the top colleges offering B.O.Th courses in India are as follows:
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IMS, BHU
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Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan)
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Jamia Hamdard University
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CMC Vellore
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KMCH College of Occupational Therapy
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Manipal University
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All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The following table brings the course curriculum for B.O.Th spread across four years.
| First Year |
Second Year |
|---|---|
| Psychology & Sociology |
General Medicine, General surgery, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology |
| Anatomy |
Bio-Mechanics, Applied Anatomy and Applied Physiology |
| Physiology |
Fundamentals for Occupational Therapy practice |
| Basic Occupational Therapy |
Clinical Orthopaedics |
| -- |
Clinical Neurology |
| Third Year |
Fourth Year |
| Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry |
Rehabilitation Medicine |
| Occupational Therapy in Paediatrics |
Clinical Cardio Respiratory and Work Physiology |
| Occupational Therapy in Orthopaedics and Neurology |
Organization and Administration in Occupational Therapy |
| Health Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry |
Group Process in Occupational Therapy |
| Community Medicine, Basic Nursing and First Aid |
Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation |
The specialisation areas of B.O.Th students and professionals are as follows:
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Paediatric: Within this specialisation, professionals work with specially-abled children.
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Geriatric: In this specialisation, Occupational Therapy professionals work with senior citizens who already suffer from a disability or impairment, or are developing physical difficulties on account of old age.
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Adult Rehabilitation: Within this, therapists work with adults to rehabilitate them from different alcoholic or substance addiction or other mental health issues.
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Neurological: This specialisation works with people suffering from neurological problems such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, dementia, paralysis caused due to cardiac attacks, among others.
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Sports and Industrial Injury: Occupational Therapy professionals trained in this particular field are qualified to treat physical injuries caused by sports or industrial accidents and aid them through physiotherapy as well as psychiatric counselling to help them recover from the trauma induced by the injury.
Students planning to pursue B.O.Th course should possess the following skillsets:
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Subject knowledge
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Clinical reasoning
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Treatment planning and implementation
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Cognitive skills
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Empathy
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Communication skills
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Interpersonal skills
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Problem-solving skills
After completing B.O.Th course, students can work as professional Occupation Therapists and Occupation Therapy Assistants. The key role of Occupation Therapists is to provide support through physical and cognitive treatments. Occupational Therapists work closely with professionals in Audiology, Speech-Language Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, Educationists, etc.
Occupational Therapists help people with disability or differently-abled to help participate in daily and regular activities and occupations. The Occupation Therapists or Occupation Therapy Assistants use treatment methods like counselling sessions, exercises, functional training, ergonomic training, among others which help them integrate within regular lifestyle activities and environment.
Job Titles Offered to Occupational Therapists
The various job titles or designations offered to Occupational Therapists or Occupational Therapy Assistants are as follows:
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Occupational Therapy Consultant
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Occupational Therapy Technician
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Occupational Therapy Supervisor
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Occupational Therapy Nurse
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Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant
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Speech and Language Therapist
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Medical Record Technician
Top Recruiters for B.O.Th Students
The sectors or organisations that recruit Occupational Therapists or B.O.Th students are as follows:
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Hospitals and clinics
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Educational institutes and special schools
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NGOs
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Rehabilitation centres
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Sports and fitness centres
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Old age homes
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Industry for rehabilitation of Injured workers
Q: What is the duration of B.O.Th?
A: The duration of B.O.Th course is 4.5 years including four years of classroom course and six months of internship.Q: Is B.O.Th a medical course?
A: B.O.Th is an allied medical course, but not a core medical course wherein students treat patients for their physical or mental maladies. B.O.Th students are are not qualified doctors, but therapists who aid patients with their physical and mental disabilities and impairments.Q: Can qualified B.O.Th students be called as doctors?
A: No, B.O.Th qualified students are not eligible to be called doctors as the course curriculum is not the same as that required for practicing medicine. However, Occupational Therapists will be eligible to be prefix Doctor upon completing PhD.Q: Can B.O.Th students perform surgery?
A: No, B.O.Th professionals or students are not allowed to perform surgery. However, they are trained to carry out physical exercises and therapies as part of their course.Q: Which are some of the top colleges offering B.O.Th course?
A: Some of the top colleges offering B.O.Th courses include IMS BHU, Manipal University, CMC Vellore, Jamia Hamdard University, to name a few.Q: Is it mandatory to study Mathematics for B.O.Th?
A: No, Mathematics is not required to be studied to be eligible for admission to B.O.Th course, or as part of the course curriculum. However, a sound knowledge of Mathematics will be helpful in understanding certain practical subjects as well as in their career in general.Q: What is the average fee of B.O.Th course?
A: The fee of B.O.Th course ranges from INR 15,000 to INR 80,000.Q: What are some of the subjects taught in B.O.Th course?
A: Some of the major subjects taught in B.O.Th course are Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Psychology, Occupational Theory, Rehabilitation Medicine, to name a few.Q: Is it mandatory to do internship to successfully complete B.O.Th course?
A: Yes, an internship of six months duration is compulsory to successfully complete B.O.Th course.Q: What is the average salary offered to B.O.Th graduates?
A: The average salary offered to B.O.Th graduates range from INR 2 lakh to INR 6 lakh depending on their experience and recruiting organisation.Q: What are the higher education scopes after completing B.O.Th?
A: After completing B.O.Th, students can go for Master in Occupational Therapy, MPhil in Occupational Therapy and PhD in Occupational Therapy.| Course Level | Degree |
| Course Type | entry |
| Course Entry Level | UG |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Total Seats | 0 |
| Min Fees | 0 |
| Max Fees | 0 |
| Paid Course | Not Available |
