What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?  

When exploring career opportunities, it is important to evaluate not just the central tenets and educational requirements for the career but also the daily requirements expected to complete the job. Occupational therapists can work in a variety of settings and with a wide range of patient populations, but the daily tasks of an occupational therapist tend to be similar across the spectrum.  

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that is concerned with the activities of daily, independent living. Unlike the closely related specialty of physical therapy, which treats physical health more broadly, OT focuses specifically on helping patients perform daily tasks. The first occupational therapy training program started enrolling students in 1915 at the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy in Chicago, Illinois. The program was founded by the social worker Eleanor Clarke Slagle, who is often considered the “mother” of occupational therapy. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupational therapists “evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.” Let’s start with a broad career overview of occupational therapy.  

The role of an occupational therapist is unique as far as healthcare providers are concerned. Although many healthcare providers, including physical therapists and primary care physicians, primarily focus on diagnosing and treating specific injuries or illnesses, occupational therapists are more interested in helping people make it safely through their daily routines and participate in the activities that bring them purpose and joy. Occupational therapists can help people recover from physical trauma while also helping them overcome emotional and social blocks that prevent them from enjoying their daily lives.  

As with any healthcare profession, occupational therapy job responsibilities vary from day to day and person to person. In general, the answer to what does an occupational therapist do is that OTs will spend their days assessing patients, developing treatment plans, and working with them to implement those plans, in addition to performing required administrative tasks.  

Initial patient assessment is a key task for occupational therapists. Upon first interacting with a new patient, an OT will work with the patient to determine their current condition, which activities are important to them, and what is currently preventing them from fully or safely participating in those activities. An initial assessment may occur over one or more in-person or virtual sessions.  

Every patient who visits an occupational therapist will have individual needs. After conducting initial assessments, OTs create individualized treatment plans for their patients, which may include at-home exercises and regular office visits for one-on-one work.  

Therapy sessions with an OT are critical to patient progress. While many occupational therapists work in-person, some offer virtual sessions through video chat applications. Therapy sessions include demonstrating and teaching the patient the occupational tools needed to aid in their recovery, sharing useful health resources, communicating with patient caregivers, and reviewing a patient’s overall progress.  

Although occupational therapists will draw on their education and experience to develop effective treatment plans, it frequently takes time to land on the right interventions to make significant progress toward the patient’s goal. Additionally, as patients make progress with their therapy, their therapeutic needs will likely change.  

As with many healthcare professions, occupational therapists may choose to specialize in a specific area of rehabilitation or a specific patient population.    

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pediatric occupational therapists “provide treatment to help children meet developmental milestones, overcome sensory challenges, and improve self-care, play, and self-regulation skills.” OT can be a valuable resource for children with developmental delays or neurological conditions, helping them better interact with their peers and participate in school and other activities.  

Geriatric occupational therapists work with older adults to help them continue to live independently as they age. OT can help patients regain lost strength and learn how to accomplish the tasks of daily living as their bodies age and don’t work in the same way they once did.  

Many people can benefit from OT, even if they have not undergone a significant trauma or injury, but some therapists do specialize in rehabilitation and methods to aid with disabilities. Patients who commonly benefit from OT include those who have experienced a stroke, loss of limb, or spinal injury as well as those with degenerative physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  

Occupational therapy is also critical in many mental health care frameworks. Occupational therapists can help patients with mental health diagnoses work on emotional regulation, life management, and more general independent living skills, depending on what the patient needs.  

Occupational therapists can work in a range of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and private practice clinics.  

In hospitals, occupational therapists work in collaboration with other healthcare providers as part of a comprehensive team. Hospital OTs may represent a patient’s first contact with an OT after a traumatic injury or other diagnosis. According to the BLS, about 29% of OTs in the United States work in hospitals. 

Patients needing long-term rehabilitation, such as those with a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, may need outpatient or inpatient care at a rehabilitation facility. Rehab facilities typically have access to a wide range of occupational therapy tools and may also employ other healthcare providers, such as nurses or physical therapists.  

Occupational therapists may also work in private clinics, either as self-employed practitioners or as part of a partnership or collective. OTs in private practice often have more flexibility in terms of the types of patients they choose to work with and may decide to work outside of the private insurance system, which can be more financially rewarding.  

According to the BLS, about 12% of occupational therapists in the U.S. work in an elementary or secondary school. OTs in schools work alongside special education teachers, nurses, and social workers to help children participate in school activities to the best of their abilities.  

About 8% of occupational therapists work in home healthcare, while another 7% work in skilled nursing facilities. OTs who work in community and home health settings often work with patients who are unable to travel to private clinics for regular therapy sessions but can still benefit from OT services.  

No matter what patient population an OT decides to focus on, the best occupational therapists have certain skills and personality traits in common.  

The most frequently cited professional skill necessary to become a successful OT is the ability to communicate clearly. OTs are in constant communication with patients as well as caregivers, and they must be able to give clear instructions, provide thorough progress reviews, and collaborate with other healthcare providers effectively. Both written and spoken communication are critical in the OT profession. Other essential professional skills for an OT include organizational skills and problem-solving skills, in addition to the requisite educational foundation.  

Certain personal attributes are beneficial for OTs to have or to cultivate as they begin their professional practices, including:  

Not every occupational therapist takes the same pathway to launch this career, but there are certain educational and certification requirements that all aspiring OTs must meet before working with patients. 

To earn an OT certification, prospective OTs must earn either a master’s in occupational therapy or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Both master’s and doctorate-level programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission. Graduates of either type of program are eligible to sit for the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination, which is required for OTs in all states. In addition to passing the NBCOT, state licensure requirements vary and may include background checks and other continuing education courses.  

High school graduates who want to pursue careers in OT may choose to start with an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) associate’s degree program and then complete a bridge program that allows OTAs to earn a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree at the same time.  

In New York, licensed occupational therapists and OTAs are required to complete 36 hours of continuing competency learning activities during every three-year registration cycle. Continuing education courses can be related to professional subjects specific to occupational therapy services or related subjects (e.g., legal, regulatory, business practices), although at least 24 hours per cycle must focus on professional studies.  

All careers come with both challenges and rewards, and occupational therapy is no different.  

One of the most challenging times for an occupational therapist is when they move from their work as a student to an independent professional practitioner. One recent academic assessment indicated that “new graduates often do not feel fully prepared for all aspects of occupational therapy practice,” causing them to struggle with self-confidence as they learn to manage and prioritize their caseloads.  

As with any healthcare profession, the emotional toll of working as an occupational therapist can be significant. OTs who work with patients with significant impairments or physical or emotional traumas are particularly susceptible to struggling. Learning how to compartmentalize work and your personal life effectively is key for a long and successful career.  

Occupational therapists help their patients live happier, healthier, more independent lives. Without the intervention of a therapist, many patients could end up forced out of their homes into assisted living facilities or find themselves unable to participate fully in school or engage in their favorite activities. OT can help many patients learn or relearn how to safely engage in what matters to them most, whether it is playing a sport or caring for their grandchildren, which makes occupational therapy an exceptionally rewarding career.  

Russell Sage College offers a range of options for applicants interested in pursuing an occupational therapy degree, including:  

Reach out today to find the right program for you and start the application process.