become an occupational therapist

What does a Occupational Therapist (OT) do?

Disclaimer: The information on our website is provided for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on our website for any purpose. Any reliance on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk and we are not liable for any damages or losses arising out of or resulting from your reliance on any information contained on our website.

An occupational therapist (OT) is a medical professional who helps individuals with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Additionally, OT is a holistic profession because it enhances a patient’s quality of life without medicinal intervention. Next, watch a video to learn what an occupational therapist does.

How to Become an Occupational Therapist

You must earn a bachelor’s degree in a field that includes biology, sociology, or psychology coursework. Next, you’ll apply for an occupational therapy master’s program. However, some universities offer a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Also, make sure you pick a school and program that is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. You can find a list of accredited programs on the American Occupational Therapy Association website. Accreditation is important as the program you attend must be accredited in order to sit for your exam.

Most master’s degree programs are 2-3 years long and include several weeks of fieldwork. Once you earn your OT master’s degree, you must pass the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists exam. Because of this, passing the exam certifies you and provides you the license to practice occupational therapy.

To maintain your licenses, you must complete continuing education throughout your career. You can also continue your education and specialize in other areas of interest such as hand therapy, pediatrics, technology, vision, or mental illnesses. Additionally, some OTs elect to earn their doctorate degree.

Occupational Therapist Interview

I became an Occupational Therapist after my mother had a stroke. My mother lives in Germany and I resided in the United States at the time. My mother’s recovery was long and on the phone she kept talking about how her OT was helping her so much. Then, I became curious and did some career exploration as to what exactly an OT did. As I started to think about the impact that OT’s had on people’s lives, I began to take steps in becoming one myself. I shadowed OT’s in various fields, took some basic medical classes, and looked for colleges that offered an occupational therapy degree. This is how I began my journey to becoming an OT.

As an OT, the thing I cherish the most in my job is the impact I have on helping my patients during recovery – whether it is getting them back to what they did before their illness or injury or finding different ways to accomplish those same tasks. When entering the occupational therapy career field, I was most surprised by the wide scope of practice. An occupational therapist can work in a variety of settings. They work in hospitals, mental health programs, schools, burn centers, acute rehabilitation, nursing homes, home health care, orthopedic, pediatrics, and even outpatient settings.

My biggest advice in becoming an occupational therapist (or for any career field for that matter), is shadowing someone that does that works in your chosen field to ensure it is a good fit! This is the best way to find out if it is the right career path prior to starting. If you like to help people, it is an amazing career field to go into and so rewarding!

Job Description of an Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist has a diverse job description. At the basic level, occupational therapists help a person with a condition inhibiting their activities of daily living (or ADLs). Holistic health care is integral to occupational therapy and they discuss work-related problems, family issues, and psychological or emotional concerns with their clients. Any problem that a person has with his or her health, personal and social life, profession, and leisure can be addressed by an occupational therapist.

Occupational therapists work with a variety of individuals ranging from infants to the elderly population. Their primary goal is to get their patients or clients back to what they were doing prior to an injury or illness if possible. An occupational therapist rehabilitates, teaches techniques to compensate for a condition, or finds new ways to complete tasks that are important to their patients or clients. They usually work full time and can be found in mental health facilities, schools, rehabilitation centers, vocational centers, burn units, hand clinics, skilled nursing homes, and hospitals.

Occupational Therapist Career Video Transcript

Being self-sufficient in everyday life contributes to a person’s confidence and self-esteem. Occupational therapists (also called OTs) help people develop, recover, and improve their self-sufficiency and the ability to enjoy work and daily activities more fully. Patients typically seek out the help of OTs due to disability, illness, injury, or mental health issues. They help patients with daily living activities such as feeding themselves, getting ready for work without assistance, using public transportation, and participating in school.

OTs work with their patients to identify goals for treatment, then create treatment plans to reach them. Occupational therapists evaluate patients’ homes and workplaces to find ways to better prepare the environment for their needs; for example, labeling cabinets or removing fall hazards. They often educate a patient’s family and employer about how to accommodate the person’s needs and document patients’ progress throughout the treatment.

These therapists work at hospitals, clinics, schools, and nursing homes. They spend a lot of time on their feet, and may lift or move patients. Many travel to meet patients in different settings, and may work evenings and weekends. Being supportive and enthusiastic are important personal qualities for OTs. A master’s degree and a license are required to enter the field; though some positions require a doctoral-level degree. Occupational therapy is often a demanding career, but it’s one that offers a rich reward, helping people lead more active and independent lives.

Article Citations

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists.

National Center for O*NET Development. 29-1122.00. O*NET OnLine.

The video is Public Domain from the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Scroll to Top