A college in Louisiana is working toward creating an advanced degree program that will give more people the opportunity to earn occupational therapy jobs, according to a published report.
The master's program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe would offer studies for a master's degree to occupational therapy assistants who are interested in taking the next step in career development, according to The News Star. The school presently offers only an associate degree program.
"Currently there is a huge shortage of registered occupational therapists in this area, in Louisiana and nationally," occupational therapy department head Patti Calk with ULM told the news source. "There are more and more people with needs, and there just aren't enough registered occupational therapists to go around."
She said the program would set a precedent in Louisiana as the state's first and it would join less than 20 throughout the nation that are geared toward occupational therapy assistants who are looking to fulfill academic work in a master's program.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of occupational therapists in the nation work in physical, occupational and speech therapy offices.