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1. Overview: Job Responsibilities, Salary, and Common Requirements
2. A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming an Occupational Therapist
3. What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
4. Signs You Should Consider Becoming an Occupational Therapist
5. How Do You Become an Occupational Therapist?
6. What are the Knowledge and Skills Needed to be an Occupational Therapist?
7. Popular Schools and Colleges in the U.S. for Aspiring Occupational Therapists
8. How to Get a Job as an Occupational Therapist
9. Learn About Geographic and Location Pay Differentials
10. Make Your Resume Stand Out
11. Ace Your Occupational Therapist Interview
12. Top Online Courses for Aspiring Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists made a median salary of $84,950 in 2019. The best-paid 10 percent made $121,490 that year, while the lowest paid 10 percent made $56,800.
Physical Therapists
Orthotic and Prosthetic Specialists
Speech-Language Pathologists
Rehabilitation Counselors
Physician Assistants
Recreational Therapists
Athletic Trainers
Music Therapists
Art Therapists
Nurse Anesthetists
Communication Skills
Listening Skills
Organization Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Physically Fit
Interpersonal Skills
Adaptability
Patience
Creative
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations).”
Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) are two careers that people often get confused with. Both careers deal with assisting patients who were injured or diagnosed with a disability and need help to perform daily activities through proper education and restoration of the body’s abilities to make movements.
Here are some comparisons between the job responsibilities of occupational therapists and physical therapists.
What are the job prospects for occupational therapists? Being an occupational therapist is not only a lucrative career, but a rewarding profession as well. You have a tremendous impact on your patients’ lives because you treat their injuries and give them the opportunity to get their lives back. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics published in May 2019 that the median annual wage for occupational therapists was $84,950. The highest 10 percent earned more than $121,490, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,800.
Aside from the ones that were previously mentioned, listed below are the most common responsibilities of an occupational therapist:
Occupational therapists work in different types of clinical environment like:
Do you have what it takes to be an occupational therapist? If you possess the qualities listed below, then you might want to consider entering the field of occupational therapy.
Because occupational therapists are problem solvers, they are genuinely helpful. They help and inspire their patients in almost all aspects of their lives. This is a profession that helps people perform daily activities throughout their lifespan through therapeutic treatments.
You will never get bored if you are an occupational therapist. You will be working with patients of all ages, each having different conditions — from helping toddlers improve their cognitive skills, their motor skills, and sensory processing to decrease the impending developmental delays to helping elderly patients with dementia through behavioral interventions. Every day is a different day for occupational therapists.
Occupational therapists need to be creative when developing programs for their patients. You have to think of different ideas to make your patients participate and engage in the programs that you have developed. You can help your patients, in your own unique and creative way, on how they can deal with their exhausting recovery. Also, you can solve problems that need immediate attention by exploring different solutions and ideas in treatment activities and using creativity.
Having patience in dealing with patients is one of the most important personal traits an occupational therapist should have. Some patients can become frustrated, moody, aggressive, pessimistic, and even suicidal after an injury, while some patients also deal with mental health problems. This causes a patient to be impatient and easily irritated during the therapy. It may sometimes take months or years for a patient to get into a routine.
Thinking about pursuing a career in occupational therapy? In this section, you will learn the process of becoming successful in the occupational therapy field.
Aspiring occupational therapists must earn a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and also take up coursework such as biology, psychology, sociology, kinesiology, health science, and physiology.
If you want to become a successful occupational therapist, you can pursue your master’s degree after completing your bachelor’s degree. Finishing a master’s degree usually takes 2 to 3 years and then you can proceed with the doctoral program that takes about 3 to 4 years.
There is an option where students can earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degree at the same time by enrolling in the dual-degree program that some schools offer. These dual-degree programs usually take 5 years. There are some courses in the program than you can attend on weekends and at night.
Students are required to complete the fieldwork required for both master’s and doctoral programs. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) documents, there are 2 levels that govern the length and types of fieldwork.
For Level I Fieldwork, every program sets the length of time requirement for each student, thus, there is no minimum required number of hours. This is designed for students to have firsthand experience in the field as an occupational therapist and how they will deal with patients or clients.
For Level II Fieldwork, a 24-week of supervised fieldwork is required for full-time occupational therapy students in which they gain work experience. Also, a 16-week capstone experience is required for students taking doctoral programs. This is to help students develop advanced skills, focusing on the area of practice they want to hone in their professional careers.
The occupational therapist licensing requirements vary from state to state. Currently, all 50 states including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam require occupational therapists to obtain the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification to be able to perform their job.
Aspiring occupational therapists who want to take the NBCOT exam must have first earned an occupational therapy degree from an accredited educational program and completed all the fieldwork requirements. You will also have to pay a fee to apply for a license to the state or jurisdiction where you will acquire the license and practice.
Occupational therapists who passed the NBCOT exams will earn the title “Occupational Therapist, Registered” (OTR). However, the NBCOT certification is valid for only 3 years. One must submit a renewal application on the year you are up for renewal, preferably in the month of January to March. Failing to submit a renewal will prohibit you to continue your practice and your certification status will change from Active in Good Standing to Noncompliant-Inactive.
Visit the following pages of the American Occupational Therapy Association for further details about the licensure of occupational therapy:
State OT Statutes and Regulations
State Occupational Therapy Regulatory Authority Contact Information
Interstate Professional Licensing Compact
Having an AOTA Board Certification or Specialty Certification will help you advance in your career. This shows evidence of your commitment and dedication to your profession as an occupational therapist, specifically in your chosen certification area. Successful AOTA certification applicants are eligible to use this credential for 5 years and can be renewed.
There are nine (9) certification areas:
Board Certification:
Specialty Certification:
Occupational therapists possess unique extraordinary characteristics and skills that help them effectively perform their duties. Here are some of the essential skills that are needed in this profession.
Occupational therapists spend most of their time communicating and listening to their patients, caregivers, and patients’ family members. They need to explain thoroughly and clearly their patients’ condition and the procedures they need to go through. They should also know how to listen to their patients’ needs and concerns. They should be able to reflect on what their patients say in order to understand their needs, and then think critically on how to respond.
Lastly, they should also know how to speak confidently and professionally to doctors and other professionals in their team.
Occupational therapists must not only know how to manage their own schedule, but to also manage the schedule of their patients as well. This is in terms of scheduling and keeping track of assessments or progress notes to ensure that nothing is being overlooked and the patients are getting the highest service.
By being organized and having strong problem-solving skills, occupation therapists are able to develop well-planned treatments. Being an occupational therapist involves constant solving of patients’ problems such as organizing their schedules, changing their clothes, helping them navigate the stairs, or even assisting them to sit down and stand up on their own.
Part of the job of occupational therapists is to assist their patients in moving from one place to another. They perform a variety of physical tasks such as lifting and transferring their patient. Physical strength and endurance is the benchmark for occupational therapists.
Occupational therapists need people skills to effectively interact and communicate with their clients. This skill is essential in their field because they are dealing with people of all ages, injuries and disabilities. They also need to know how to deal with the mental and emotional state of their patients to help them stay calm under stress.
The NBCOT requires the students to graduate from an ACOTE-accredited program in order to become eligible in taking the NBCOT certification examination.
Listed below are the institution accredited by ACOTE which offer entry-level doctoral programs in the US:
Arizona:
A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences Mesa, AZ
Northern Arizona University Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas:
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Jonesboro, AR
California:
Samuel Merritt University Oakland, CA
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus San Marcos, CA
West Coast University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
Florida:
Gannon University – Florida Campus Ruskin, FL
Nova Southeastern University-Tampa Tampa, FL
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Florida Campus St. Augustine, FL
Indiana:
Huntington University Fort Wayne, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN
University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
Iowa:
Drake University Des Moines, IA
St. Ambrose University Davenport, IA
Massachusetts:
Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College) Boston, MA
MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, MA
Missouri:
Washington University St. Louis, MO
Nebraska:
Creighton University Omaha, NE
Nevada:
Touro University Nevada Henderson, NV
Ohio:
Kettering College Beavercreek, OH
Ohio State University Columbus, OH
The University of Toledo Toledo, OH
Oregon:
Pacific University Hillsboro, OR
Pennsylvania:
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus Philadelphia, PA
University of the Sciences Philadelphia, PA
South Dakota:
University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
Tennessee:
Belmont University Nashville, TN
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN
Texas:
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Austin Campus Austin, TX
Virginia:
Mary Baldwin University, Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences Fishersville, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
Listed below are the institution accredited by ACOTE which offer entry-level master’s programs in the US:
Alabama
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL
Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL
University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
Arizona:
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Health Sciences Mesa, AZ
Midwestern University-Glendale Campus Glendale, AZ
Arkansas:
University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
California:
California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA
Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda, CA
Samuel Merritt University Oakland, CA
San Jose State University San Jose, CA
Stanbridge University Irvine, CA
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus San Marcos, CA
West Coast University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
Colorado:
Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
Connecticut:
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
Delaware:
Wesley College Dover, DE
District of Columbia:
Howard University Washington, DC
Trinity Washington University Washington, DC
Florida:
AdventHealth University Orlando, FL
Barry University Miami Shores, FL
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FL
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
Florida International University Miami, FL
Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale Campus Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Nova Southeastern University Ft. Lauderdale, FL
University of Florida Gainesville, FL
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Florida Campus St. Augustine, FL
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Miami Campus Coral Gables, FL
Georgia:
Augusta University Augusta, GA
Brenau University Gainesville, GA
Brenau University, North Atlanta-Norcross Campus Norcross, GA
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
Idaho:
Idaho State University Pocatello, ID
Illinois:
Chicago State University Chicago, IL
Elmhurst College Elmhurst, IL
Governors State University University Park, IL
Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus Downers Grove, IL
Rush University Chicago, IL
University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
Indiana:
Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
Indiana University Indianapolis, IN
University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
Iowa:
Allen College Waterloo, IA
Kansas:
University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, KS
Kentucky:
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY
Spalding University Louisville, KY
Louisiana:
Louisiana State University Health New Orleans New Orleans, LA
Louisiana State University Health Shreveport Shreveport, LA
University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA
Maine:
Husson University Bangor, ME
University of New England Portland, ME
University of Southern Maine at Lewiston-Auburn College Lewiston, ME
Maryland:
Towson University Towson, MD
Massachusetts:
American International College Springfield, MA
Bay Path University-East Longmeadow Campus East Longmeadow, MA
Regis College Weston, MA
Salem State University Salem, MA
Springfield College Springfield, MA
Tufts University Medford, MA
Worcester State University Worcester, MA
Michigan:
Baker College Center for Graduate Studies Flint, MI
Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI
Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI
Wayne State University Detroit, MI
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
Western Michigan University, Grand Rapids Campus Grand Rapids, MI
Minnesota:
College of St. Scholastica Duluth, MN
St. Catherine University St. Paul, MN
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota, Rochester Campus Rochester, MN
Mississippi:
The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS
Missouri:
Cox College Springfield, MO
Maryville University St. Louis, MO
Missouri State University Springfield, MO
Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO
Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO
University of Missouri Columbia, MO
Washington University St. Louis, MO
Nebraska
College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE
Nebraska Methodist College Omaha, NE
Nevada:
Touro University Nevada Henderson, NV
New Hampshire:
MCPHS University-Manchester Campus Manchester, NH
University of New Hampshire Durham, NH
New Jersey:
Kean University Hillside, NJ
Seton Hall University Nutley, NJ
Stockton University Galloway, NJ
New Mexico:
University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
New York:
Clarkson University Potsdam, NY
Columbia University New York, NY
Dominican College Orangeburg, NY
D’Youville College Buffalo, NY
Hofstra University Hempstead, NY
Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
Keuka College Keuka Park, NY
Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus Brooklyn, NY
Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY
Nazareth College Rochester, NY
New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY
New York University New York, NY
Sage Colleges Troy, NY
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center Brooklyn, NY
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
Stony Brook University-Southampton Southampton, NY
Touro College Bay Shore, NY
Touro College-Manhattan New York, NY
University at Buffalo, State University of New York Buffalo, NY
Utica College Utica, NY
York College, The City University of New York Jamaica, NY
North Carolina Concord, NC
East Carolina University Greenville, NC
Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
Winston Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC
North Dakota:
University of Mary Bismarck, ND
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
Ohio:
Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH
University of Findlay Findlay, OH
Walsh University North Canton, OH
Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
Oklahoma:
Northeastern State University Muskogee Campus Muskogee, OK
University of Oklahoma at Schusterman Health Sciences Center Tulsa, OK
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OK
Pennsylvania:
Alvernia University Reading, PA
Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA
Gannon University Erie, PA
Messiah College Mechanicsburg, PA
Misericordia University Dallas, PA
Saint Francis University Loretto, PA
Salus University Elkins Park, PA
Temple University Philadelphia, PA
Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus Philadelphia, PA
Thomas Jefferson University-East Falls Campus Philadelphia, PA
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
University of Scranton Scranton, PA
University of the Sciences Philadelphia, PA
Puerto Rico:
University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus San Juan, PR
Rhode Island:
New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI
South Carolina:
Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC
Tennessee:
Belmont University Nashville, TN
Milligan College Milligan College, TN
Occupational Therapy Department Nashville, TN
University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TN
Texas:
Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock, TX
Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Austin Campus Austin, TX
University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX
Utah:
The University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
Virginia:
Emory and Henry College-Marion Campus Marion, VA
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
Radford University Radford, VA
Radford University Carilion (formerly Jefferson College of Health Sciences) Roanoke, VA
Shenandoah University Winchester, VA
Shenandoah University-Scholar Plaza Campus Leesburg, VA
Washington:
Eastern Washington University Spokane, WA
University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA
University of Washington Seattle, WA
West Virginia:
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
Wisconsin:
Carroll University Waukesha, WI
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, WI
Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI
University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse LaCrosse, WI
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
Wyoming:
University of North Dakota at Casper College Casper, WY
Occupational therapists can work in different settings. You can find them in hospitals, offices of occupational therapy, community centers, home health services, nursing homes, residentiary homes, general practice (GP) surgeries, and in daycare and health centers— the job is out there.
The easiest and fastest way of finding occupational therapist job openings is through online job postings. You can find job postings in job search websites and also in social media groups. Here are some:
The AOTA is the national professional association of occupational therapy practitioners and students. You can use their OTJobLink to find job listings and employers that are currently hiring occupational therapists.
The people in your same network in the occupational therapy field can also be a big help for you to land a job. Build your network by joining professional associations like American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
You can also find groups in social media websites like Facebook:
Geographic areas often have location pay differentials, making a huge impact on your potential earnings. There are some states that offer a higher salary and some with lower salary to occupational therapists.
Here’s a list of the average mean of annual earnings of occupational therapists in every state according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics dated 2019:
| State | 2019 Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $101,600 |
| California | $99,310 |
| New Jersey | $96,000 |
| Oregon | $92,690 |
| Alaska | $92,150 |
| Connecticut | $91,520 |
| Arizona | $90,730 |
| Virginia | $90,560 |
| Hawaii | $89,860 |
| Maryland | $89,630 |
| Colorado | $88,500 |
| Oklahoma | $87,350 |
| Louisiana | $87,150 |
| Massachusetts | $86,600 |
| Idaho | $86,550 |
| Florida | $86,210 |
| Rhode Island | $85,920 |
| Georgia | $85,200 |
| Alabama | $84,900 |
| Utah | $84,820 |
| Washington | $84,670 |
| Illinois | $84,440 |
| Ohio | $84,320 |
| Tennessee | $84,020 |
| Arkansas | $83,130 |
| State | 2019 Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $83,120 |
| Indiana | $82,990 |
| Texas | $82,990 |
| Kansas | $82,820 |
| North Carolina | $82,750 |
| New York | $81,720 |
| New Mexico | $81,600 |
| New Hampshire | $81,530 |
| West Virginia | $81,440 |
| Delaware | $80,900 |
| Wyoming | $80,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,480 |
| Missouri | $80,390 |
| Iowa | $80,150 |
| Vermont | $77,900 |
| South Carolina | $77,520 |
| Kentucky | $77,440 |
| Wisconsin | $76,720 |
| Nebraska | $76,280 |
| Montana | $76,010 |
| Michigan | $75,840 |
| Minnesota | $75,470 |
| South Dakota | $71,880 |
| North Dakota | $70,840 |
| Maine | $70,720 |
Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Each employer is looking for unique attributes in an occupational therapist. That is why customizing your resume will increase your chance of getting noticed by potential employers. Here are some tips to make your resume stand out and look professionally created.
Your resume should be no more than 2 pages and should be brief yet informative. In general, your resume should be traditional (reverse chronological) using easy to read font like Arial, Garamond, Cambria, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, and Verdana.
For new graduate applicants, you should list your education at the start of your resume, followed by work or training experience/s.
There’s nothing wrong with showing off your accomplishments in your resume because you deserve it and it is something that is valuable, not only to you but also to the company that you will be part of. Accomplishments are also the voluntary work/tasks where you have shown your leadership, problem-solving skills, initiative, etc.
Keywords are used by the recruiters to help them narrow down the hundreds of applications they are receiving. That’s why it is important that you review the job postings carefully, taking down notes of keywords the recruiter or employer is using in the job posting, and applying those keywords to your resume.
A cover letter should state your objective to their company and why you are interested to become an occupational therapist. You should also describe your unique qualifications and why you are a good fit for the position. Discuss how you meet their requirements and emphasize how they will benefit from you. Take note that a cover letter is different from your resume.
Getting interviewed for a job is not something most people enjoy, especially if it is their first time or if they had an awful experience prior. However, it is something that you need to face because the interview process is the way an employer connects with an applicant. It is a chance for them to examine if the candidate is the right person for the job.
Before you go to an interview, it is important that you do these following assignments:
Here are some of the most common interview questions:
Why do you want to pursue a career in occupational therapy? The interviewer wants to hear a detailed reason why you decided to pursue an occupational therapy career, as well as who or what inspired you.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What the interviewer wants to know are your personal goals and drive for growth, and how you will relate those to the role of an occupational therapist.
How would you handle a patient who complains a lot? The interviewer wants to know your patience in dealing with moody or irate patients since most of them are experiencing stress and pain because of their injuries or disabilities. You can share your experience on how you dealt with these kind of patients and how you handled the situation smoothly and remained calm under the situation.
How do you handle pressure? What the interviewer wants to know is how you manage your workload. It is important that you show your interviewer that you approached this kind of situation positively and that you remained calm, composed, and able to complete your tasks despite of your workload.
Why should I hire you? This is usually the finale question and the perfect opportunity to impress the interviewer by highlighting your skills and goals.
The interviewer will usually ask their candidate if they have any questions at the end of the interview. This is the time that you can show to your employer your interest by asking questions related to the job responsibilities or the work setting.
Sharpen your skills in occupational therapy by taking these top online courses
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