Specialty and Board Certifications

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As I progress through occupational therapy school and set my goals on becoming a practitioner, I know I want to position myself to be a lifelong learner.  I want to always provide the best care possible to my clients, so I desire to always be continuing my education so that I can be at an advanced-level of performance.  In the future when I am a practitioner, I want to continue my professional development and education by receiving a specialty or board certification. 

At the moment, I think the specific certification I will choose will be determined by the discipline of OT in which I am practicing.  If I am a pediatric occupational therapist, I know I would want to become board certified in pediatrics through the AOTA, or if I am working in a skilled nursing facility I would want to receive the board certification in gerontology.  I want my education and professional development to continue with regards to the population with whom I am working.  One specialty that interests me is the board certification in rehabilitation through the AOTA.  Rehabilitation therapy is fascinating to me and is a discipline of OT I think I would enjoy.  In the future, if I work with clients with needs with regards to rehabilitation I will most certainly seek out a certification in rehabilitation. 

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