What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Roles and Responsibilities

For anyone considering a future career in the healthcare industry, the options may seem endless. With
so many career paths available, it can be hard to evaluate which profession aligns best with your
personal and professional goals.

Occupational therapy is one such healthcare profession that has become popular in recent years. Due to
the compassionate nature of the work, many people are drawn to OT careers and the opportunities that
they provide to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

But, what does an occupational therapist actually do? Here’s a look at the roles and responsibilities of
occupational therapists, as well as the required skills and education, and career outlook.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapy (OT) is an allied health profession that involves the therapeutic use of everyday
activities, or occupations, to treat the physical, mental, developmental, and emotional ailments that
impact a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks.

Healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists are practitioners who use therapeutic
techniques to improve, rehabilitate, or maintain a patient’s motor skills and overall ability to perform
everyday activities.

Michael Roberts, associate professor and program director of the Master of Science in Occupational
Therapy program at Regis College, explains, “Our job as OTs is to help people be more independent,
have better quality of life, and live with as few restrictions as possible.”

Occupational therapy differs from other healthcare professions like physical therapy or nursing in its
focus on treating the whole patient, rather than treating a particular injury, ailment, or physical
disability. For example, after a surgery a nurse might assist a patient with pain management, dressing
changes, and care during recovery. An occupational therapist, on the other hand, will assess the types of
activities that are important to the patient and teach them how to become independent again following
the surgery, so that they can resume the roles that define who they are.
“What sets OTs apart is our focus on occupation as the tool we use to restore, rebuild, and enhance our
clients’ lives,” notes Roberts. “When we say ‘occupation’, we mean the activities that we do every day;
the roles, tasks, and goals that define who we are. Everyone has activities that define who they are,
whether it’s work tasks, artistic expressions, leisure pursuits, school responsibilities, or play activities.
Using those activities as therapeutic tools helps us build better lives for our patients.”

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As discussed above, occupational therapists work with their patients by taking a therapeutic approach to
everyday activities. Broadly, this means that occupational therapists are responsible for helping patients
develop, recover, improve in regards to a condition or injury, as well as maintain the skills needed to
execute daily activities. But, what does this actually entail?

In general, OTs are responsible for a wide range of duties and tasks related to patient care. Depending
on the setting in which they work, the roles of an OT often include:

Evaluating a patient’s condition and needs

Developing treatment plans to address a patient’s needs and help them meet specific goals

Assessing a patient’s home and/or work environment and recommending adaptations to fit the patient’s
needs and improve independence

Training patients and their caregivers to use special equipment

Assessing and documenting progress for evaluation, billing, and reporting purposes

And more

The day-to-day activities that occupational therapists take part in will also likely be influenced by the
settings in which they work. Many occupational therapists work in hospital or private practice settings,
however, there are many opportunities to work in other environments. For example, some practitioners
work in educational settings to assist in child development or with the elderly to lessen the struggles
that come along with aging. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit may even choose to open and manage
their own private practice.

Required Skills
While occupational therapists come from all backgrounds, there are several key skills and qualities that
lend themselves well to the nature of occupational therapy work. For instance, it is important for these
professionals to have a strong sense of compassion and empathy in order to work with their patients’
best interests in mind as they help improve their everyday lives. In fact, many occupational therapists
are drawn to this line of work from a desire to make a positive difference during a very difficult time in
the lives of their patients.

In addition to having a people-oriented mindset, there are several skills that OTs should have to be
successful in the field. Among these include:

Communication Skills: OTs must have strong written and verbal communication skills in order to
effectively understand the needs of their patients and explain the treatment process. Additionally, they
must be able to clearly document treatment plans and progress, as well as collaborate with other
healthcare professionals.

Problem Solving: Since no two cases will ever be the same, good OTs must demonstrate excellent
problem solving skills to determine the best course of action for each unique situation.

Patience and Flexibility: Oftentimes, occupational therapy is a long road to restoring a patient’s
independence. Good OTs must be patient and flexible when dealing with the high and low points
throughout this process.

Required Education

Like many healthcare professions, occupational therapy requires extensive education and training in
order to become a licensed practitioner. Most OTs enter the workforce with at least a master’s degree in
occupational therapy, while some also choose to pursue a doctoral degree to advance further in the
field.

In addition to earning a master’s degree from an accredited program, graduates must also take the
national exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
While the requirements vary by location, all states require practitioners to pass the NBCOT exam to earn
the title “Occupational Therapist, Registered” (OTR) and obtain state licensure.

For occupational therapists who wish to demonstrate their advanced skills in a particular area of
practice, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) also offers various board and specialty
certifications in areas such as:
Gerontology

Mental Health

Pediatrics

Physical Rehabilitation

Driving and Community Mobility

Environmental Modification

Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing

Low Vision

School Systems

Is an Occupational Therapy career worth it?

Occupational therapists and those looking to enter the field can expect generous compensation and job
growth over the coming years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for OTs is expected to grow by 14 percent
from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. This change equates to roughly
10,100 more jobs in the field through the next decade.

In 2021, the BLS also found that occupational therapists earned an average annual salary of $85,570. Of
course, compensation can vary substantially depending on the state in which they are employed.

The need for occupational therapists is predicted to rise in order to care for the aging baby-boom
generation, as OTs play a large role in the treatment of age related ailments like arthritis and stroke.
Furthermore, as patients continue to seek long-term treatment for disabilities and chronic illnesses, the
demand for skilled and compassionate practitioners will continue to grow.

Becoming an Occupational Therapist

Roberts explains, “The biggest difference between OT and many other health care professions is that
‘We do with people, not to people.’ We’re all about helping people live life to the fullest, regardless of
what their life is like or who they are.”

If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of others, occupational therapy might
be the right path for you. To get started on this path, earning a master’s in occupational therapy is the
first step in becoming a registered OT and making a difference.

it might be the right move for you.

Are you considering earning your master's degree in occupational therapy and becoming an
occupational therapist? Learn more about the different reasons it might be the right move for you.

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Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Earn a master’s in occupational therapy in just 2.5 years. Our hands-on fieldwork and curriculum will
prepare you for a fulfilling OT career.

Five reasons why I want to study Occupational Therapy

1. Something rewarding
Job satisfaction for occupational therapists is generally high, despite it being a potentially challenging
profession. This is because you are able to help others regain a lost ability to carry out the tasks they
want and need to do in everyday life.

2. Graduate prospects

Take a look at the Occupational Therapy subject table and you'll see that most universities have
outstanding graduate prospects score. The vast majority of institutions have at least 80% of their
students entering employment within six months of graduating.

3. Practical experiences

Degrees in this subject area have a strong practical focus. You’ll be able to apply what you learn in the
classroom into practice, as you spend a lot of time in clinical sessions and placements.

4. Work with people

Occupational Therapy, unlike many other areas, allows you to interact with people every day. Few
subjects will lead to a career with more opportunities to do so. You get to work as part of a supportive
and inspiring multidisciplinary team to provide the best care possible for patients.

5. Professional accreditation

After three or more years of study, you may not want or be ready to work towards another qualification.
The good news is that, with professional accreditation typically coming with most courses, Occupational
Therapy graduates are all set to enter a career working in the field.