A Study on the Current Status and Awareness of Occupational Therapy Students in Korea I: Motivation for Choosing the Major and Career Path Status

Objective: This study explored the demographic characteristics of occupational therapy students in Korea, focusing on reasons for major selection, areas of current interest, preferred client age groups, anxiety related to the national licensing examination, and career confidence. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to students from 12 four-year universities and 8 three-year colleges offering occupational therapy programs, totaling 3,051 students. Of these, 1,303 responses were included in the final analysis. Results: Among respondents, 48.81% had originally intended to pursue a different major, and 23.18% reported having considered switching majors after entering the program. Regarding how they chose occupational therapy, 46.35% indicated that they were influenced by recommendations—primarily from parents and high school teachers—who often emphasized job security and professional status. In contrast, 53.65% made the decision independently, with most (64.95%) obtaining information through Internet searches. Both current and future (10 years later) preferred employment settings were most commonly medical institutions. Students reported a moderate level of anxiety about the national licensing examination, with an average score of 3.13 out of 5. Conclusion: The findings highlight the factors influencing students' decisions to study occupational therapy and provide valuable insights for developing and improving educational strategies and career guidance in the field.