Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or BOT Course is a 4-year undergraduate-level. Occupational therapy is a profession that enables physically or mentally challenged people to enjoy their daily lives. The course helps candidates to learn the science of preventing, treating and rehabilitating physically, emotionally, mentally and neurological disabilities, etc.
These enable patients to perform normal tasks of everyday life and return to work through sensory, motor, perceptual and cognitive activities after any serious injury or disease like Schizophrenia, Parkinson, depression etc.
Course Highlights
| Course name | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
| Short name | BOT Course |
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Degree | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Course Type | Occupational Therapy |
| Course Duration | 4.5 years (6-month Internship) |
| Mode | Regular |
| Average Fees | ₹ 20,000 – 80,000 per year |
Skills Required for BOT Course
- Communication
- Patience
- Determination
- Enthusiasm
- Management skills
- Interest
- Responsibility
- Sensitivity
Eligibility Criteria for BOT Course
Before applying for admission in BOT course, candidates need to check themselves for eligibility. Only those candidates can apply who have-
- Completed their 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 50% academic aggregate physics, chemistry and biology. (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
- Candidates must have studied science stream with Biology as a compulsory subject.
- Must be 17 years or more.
Admission Process for BOT Course
Admissions to this course are provided either through entrance exams or on the basis of marks obtained in 10+2. Some entrance exams providing admission to BOT Course are –
- AIIPMR (All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) Entrance Exam
- CMC Vellore Entrance Examination
- SVNIRTAR NIOH (Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research) Common Entrance Test
Apart from this, there are many colleges and Universities which conduct their own entrance exams for admissions in BOT along with other courses, followed by a personal interview.
BOT Specialization Courses
There are different specializations available in the BOT course. A Candidate can choose his/her area of interest during admission to the course. Various specialisations to choose from are Pediatrics, Hand Therapy Adult Rehabilitation, Vision Rehabilitation, Community Consultation, Assisted Living, and many more.
Top 5 Colleges For BOT in India
- CMC Vellore
- The Mumbai Institute of Management and Physical Education (MIMPE), Thane
- National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped (NIOH), Kolkata
- Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
Syllabus for BOT Course
1st Year
- Anatomy (Theory/ Practical)
- Occupational Therapy-1 (Theory/Practical)
- Physiology
- Psychology-1
- Biochemistry
2nd Year
- Pharmacology
- Occupational Therapy-2 (Theory/Practical)
- Biostatistics and Research Methodology
- Psychology-2 (Developmental and Organizational Psychology)
- Microbiology and Pathology
3rd Year
- Clinical Orthopedic & Rheumatology
- Occupational Therapy in Orthopedics (Theory/Practical)
- Bioengineering
- Occupational Therapy in Neurology (Theory/Practical)
- Clinical Neurology
- Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation (Theory/Practical)
4th Year
- Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry
- Occupational Therapy in Mental Health (Theory/Practical)
- General Medicine
- General Surgery
- Community Medicine and Sociology
- Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics and Developmental Disabilities (Theory Practical)
- Moreover, topics may differ according to specialization you choose.
Career Options and Salary after BOT
Occupational therapists have good career opportunities within our country. Patients who suffer from diseases related to orthopaedic, psychological or neurological problems can be treated by a medical doctor. Jobs can also be found in medical industry firms. There are many government organizations as well as NGOs to provide job opportunities for occupational therapists.
Few job profiles for Occupational Therapists are-
- Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant
- Community Mental Health Center
- OT Nurse
- OT In-charge
- Business Consultancy
- Sports teams
- Private Practitioner
The initial salary as a trainee in this profession starts from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per month. Further, years of experience will surely take you to the top position. Highly experienced therapists charge according to sessions and can make ₹1500 – 2000 per session.
A 2-year master degree program (MOT) is also available for this course which can boost your knowledge as well as salary packages for this profession.
BOT Course: FAQ’s
BOT is Bachelor if Occupational Therapy and BPT is Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Both are 4 year UG level course. The basic difference is that, physiotherapy is related to Physical problems only ( like any injury, disability or any other movement of body) while Occupational Therapy deals with both, mental (ability of a person to perform daily tasks or their mental state after any injury) as well as physical health.
As this profession needs to deal with mentally or physically disabled persons, you must possess patience and responsibility for others. You have to connect yourself with the patient by observing their behaviour and be sensitive to patient’s condition.
No, NEET is not required for BOT as well as BPT courses. Although, you have to appear for other exams that are mentioned above.
