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Higher education institutions for occupational therapists
Higher education institutions for occupational therapists (Akademien für den ergotherapeutischen Dienst) provide vocational education and training and entitle their graduates to work as qualified occupational therapists (Ergotherapeutin/Ergotherapeut) (completion: diploma thesis and diploma examination). After the secondary school leaving examination (Reifeprüfung), the programme takes three years and is offered at several sites in Austria.
> Access
• physical fitness
• good character and standing
• a school-leaving certificate (Reifeprüfungszeugnis) issued by an academic secondary school, a vocational secondary school, a nursery teacher training college or a foreign higher education entry certificate or a diploma in nursing (Diplom im gehobenen Dienst für Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege) or a university entrance examination (Studienberechtigungsprüfung) for medical studies
• aptitude test
• a board decides on admission
> Programme
Theoretical instruction/subjects: first aid and wound dressing; anatomy; physiology; pathology; hygiene and environmental protection; internal medicine; surgery; orthopaedics; neurology; physical medicine; paediatrics; geriatrics; psychiatry and psychotherapeutic techniques; occupational physiology and medicine; psychology; rehabilitation and co-operation in a rehabilitation team; mechanotherapy; kinesiology; theory and practical exercises in occupational therapy, including nature of the profession and ethics; self-experience, communication and supervision; social sciences (sociology, pedagogy); IT, medical informatics; statistics and documentation; new developments and excursions; theoretical and practical introduction to the nursing profession; basic health, labour and social security legislation; introduction to operational management in hospitals; medical English.
Practical training: general nursing; practice of occupational therapy with reference to psychiatry, neurology, geriatrics, paediatrics, functional occupational and work therapy, including occupational therapy assessment, manufacture and fitting of splints and other aids; practical exercises (pottery, needlework; woodwork, bookbinding, graphic design, arts and craft techniques, leatherwork, metalwork).
> Job description / field of activities
Autonomous treatment of ill and handicapped persons on a doctor’s orders by means of creative and craft activities, training on self-help and manufacture, application and instructions on the use of aids, including splints, for the purpose of injury prevention, therapy and rehabilitation; counselling and training activities without a doctor’s orders in the fields of ergonomy and general joint protection for healthy persons.
> Career
Occupational therapists may work as self-employed persons or may be employed by hospitals, other establishments under medical management or supervision that specialise in the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of diseases or in the nursing of persons needing care, or by medical practitioners.
> Further opportunities for education and training
Following the basic programme in occupational therapy, some higher education institutions offer specialised courses for special, teaching, lecturing and managerial tasks.
Furthermore, there are the following opportunities for qualified occupational therapists:
• university courses
• university studies (e.g. medicine)
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