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Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science

Occupational Therapist

by Simone Isadora Flynn

Category: Careers

Specialties and related fields: Occupational therapy

Definition: a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life

KEY TERMS

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): the national professional association was established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners and students and improve the quality of occupational therapy service

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT): a professional organization that administers the national exam for occupational therapy certification

occupational therapy programs: certified training programs at high learning institutes that train students to work as licensed occupational therapists

physical ailment: a physical disorder or illness, especially of a minor or chronic nature

therapeutic treatments: therapeutics, treatment, and care of a patient for both preventing and combating disease or alleviating pain or injury

OVERVIEW

Sphere of work. Occupational therapists provide therapeutic services aimed at helping variously disabled people perform everyday tasks in their life and work. Occupational therapists treat people with temporary and chronic motor function impairments caused by mental, physical, developmental, or emotional issues. An occupational therapist may help patients with skills such as self-care (dressing, eating), household care (cleaning, cooking), communication devices such as telephones and computers, and basic activities such as writing, problem-solving, memory, and coordination. Occupational therapists develop patient treatment plans that attempt to maintain, develop, or recover a patient’s daily functioning, productivity, and quality of life.

Work environment. Occupational therapists work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, occupational therapy clinics, and schools. In medical environments, occupational therapists generally partner with medical and social service professionals, such as doctors and social workers, to increase patients’ physical and mental abilities and overall independence. In school settings, occupational therapists partner with educational professionals such as teachers and special education coordinators to address the physical or mental issues of students with special needs. Occupational therapy is a common component of a special needs child’s individualized education plan (IEP). Occupational therapists generally work a standard forty-hour week, and scheduled appointments are the norm.

Profile

  • Working Conditions: Work Indoors

  • Physical Strength: Medium Work

  • Education Needs: Master’s Degree

  • Licensure/Certification: Required

  • Physical Abilities Not Required: No Heavy Labor

Occupation interest. Individuals attracted to occupational therapy tend to be physically capable people who enjoy hands-on work and close interaction with others. Individuals who excel as occupational therapists exhibit intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, a desire to help, patience, and caring. Occupational therapists must be good at science and able to work as part of a team to meet patient needs.

A DAY IN THE LIFE—DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

An occupational therapist’s daily duties and responsibilities include full days of hands-on patient interaction and treatment and administrative duties. Patients seen by occupational therapists include those experiencing physical limitations caused by accident or injury, stroke, or congenital conditions such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy; other patients may require services due to developmental delays, learning disabilities, or mental retardation.

Occupational therapists interact with patients or clients daily as medical or therapeutic professionals. Daily work responsibilities may include conducting patient assessments; developing patient treatment plans; providing patients with special instruction in life skills; advising patients on the use of adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs or orthopedic aids; providing early intervention services to young children with physical and social delays and limitations; building adaptive equipment for patients with special needs not met by existing options; providing instruction in self-care such as dressing and eating; counseling patients on technical or physical adaptations that will allow the patient to continue to work at their chosen occupation; and meeting with patient treatment team or patient families.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Testing and evaluating patients’ physical and mental abilities

  • Designing special equipment to aid disabled patients

  • Instructing and informing patients how to adjust to home, work, and social environments

  • Evaluating patients’ progress, attitudes, and behavior

An occupational therapist’s daily administrative responsibilities include record-keeping with patient evaluation and treatment. Occupational therapists must draft treatment plans, record notes following patient treatment sessions, provide written updates to patient treatment teams, and provide insurance companies with patient records and progress notes as required. Independent occupational therapists working outside a school or medical clinic may also be responsible for patient appointment scheduling and billing.

OCCUPATION SPECIALTIES

Directors of occupational therapy. Directors of occupational therapy plan, direct, and coordinate occupational therapy programs in hospitals, institutions, and community settings to facilitate the rehabilitation of those who are physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled.

Industrial therapists. Industrial therapists arrange salaried, productive employment in an actual work environment for disabled patients to enable them to perform medically prescribed work activities and to prepare them to resume employment outside of the hospital environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical environment. Occupational therapists work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, therapy clinics, and schools. Therapeutic office settings used by occupational therapists may be shared with other therapeutic professionals such as physical, recreational, or speech and language therapists.

Human environment. Examples of patients needing occupational therapy to increase their independence and quality of life include people suffering balance and strength issues caused by cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, or muscular dystrophy; stroke victims experiencing memory loss or coordination problems; people experiencing mental health problems; and children or adults with developmental disabilities. Occupational therapists usually work as part of a patient treatment team that includes patient families, social workers, teachers, doctors, and other therapists. As a treatment team member, occupational therapists participate in frequent team meetings. They are responsible for communicating patient progress to fellow team members.

Technological environment. Occupational therapists use a wide variety of technology in their work. Computers and internet communication tools are a ubiquitous part of occupational therapy work. Occupational therapists often introduce specialized computer programs to patients that need help with their reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and sequencing. In addition, occupational therapists generally learn how to use and teach adaptive devices such as wheelchairs, orthopedic aids, eating aids, and dressing aids.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND ADVANCEMENT

High school/secondary. High school students interested in pursuing the profession of occupational therapy in the future should pursue coursework in biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics to prepare for college-level studies. Students interested in the occupational therapy field will benefit from seeking internships or part-time work with occupational therapists or people with physical, developmental, or social problems that have an impact on their daily lives.

Relevant Skills and Abilities

Interpersonal/social skills

  • Being able to remain calm

  • Cooperating with others

  • Teaching others

  • Working as a member of a team

Organization and management skills

  • Coordinating tasks

  • Demonstrating leadership

  • Making decisions

  • Managing people/groups

  • Meeting goals and deadlines

  • Paying attention to and handling details

  • Performing duties that change frequently

Research and planning skills

  • Creating ideas

Suggested High School Subjects

  • Algebra

  • Applied Biology/Chemistry

  • Applied Communication

  • Arts

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • College Preparatory

  • Composition

  • Crafts

  • English

  • Health Science Technology

  • Physical Education

  • Physical Science

  • Physiology

  • Psychology

  • Science

  • Sociology

College/postsecondary. Occupational therapists typically have a master’s degree or higher in their field. Interested college students should complete coursework in occupational therapy if offered by their school and courses in physical therapy, special education, biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics. Students interested in attending graduate school in occupational therapy will benefit from seeking internships or working with occupational therapists, people with impaired functioning, or as occupational therapy assistants or special education aides. Student membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) may provide networking opportunities and connections.

Related College Majors

  • Anatomy

  • Exercise Science/Physiology/Movement Studies

  • Human and Animal Physiology

  • Occupational Therapy

  • Adult Job Seekers

Adult job seekers in the occupational therapy field should generally have completed master’s or doctoral training in occupational therapy from an accredited university (as determined by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education [ACOTE]) and earned the necessary professional licensure. Occupational therapists seeking employment will benefit from the networking opportunities, job workshops, and job lists offered by professional occupational therapy associations such as the AOTA.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE

Occupational therapists must have a professional occupational therapy license before beginning their professional practice. Upon completing an accredited master’s or doctoral program in occupational therapy, candidates take a national occupational therapy licensing exam and, if successful, earn the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) title. In addition to national licensing, occupational therapists must register with their state health board and engage in continuing education as a condition of their license. State licensing boards generally have additional requirements for occupational therapists specializing in early education, mental health, or gerontological occupational therapy.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Occupational therapists enjoy helping other people achieve greater freedom and independence in their daily lives. They find satisfaction working in health care or educational environments with special needs populations. Occupational therapists require high levels of integrity and ethics, as they work with confidential and personal patient information. Successful occupational therapists engage in ongoing professional development. Membership in professional occupational therapy associations is encouraged among junior and senior occupational therapists as a means of building status within a professional community and networking.

SELECTED SCHOOLS

Many colleges and universities have bachelor’s degree programs in counseling and rehabilitation therapy, often specializing in occupational therapy. The student may also gain an initial grounding in the field at a technical or community college. Consult with your school guidance counselor or research area postsecondary programs to find the right fit for you.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the twenty best occupational therapy programs are:

  • Boston University

  • University of Southern California

  • University of Illinois, Chicago

  • University of Pittsburgh

  • Washington University in St. Louis

  • Thomas Jefferson University

  • Colorado State University

  • Columbia University

  • New York University

  • Tufts University

  • University of Florida

  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  • Medical University of South Carolina

  • Ohio State University

  • Creighton University

  • Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Quinnipiac University

  • St. Catherine University

  • Texas Women’s University

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

Further Reading

1 

“About Occupational Therapy.” American Occupational Therapy Association, 2022, www.aota.org/about/for-the- media/about-occupational-therapy. Accessed 13 June 2022.

2 

“About Occupational Therapy.” WFOT, 2022, wfot.org/about/about-occupational-therapy. Accessed 13 June 2022.

3 

“Best Occupational Therapy Programs.” U.S. News and World Report, 2020, www.usnews.com/best-graduate- schools/top-health-schools/occupational-therapy-rankings. Accessed 13 June 2022.

4 

Finlan, Timothy. “Occupational Therapy.” Nemours KidsHealth, Jan. 2020, kidshealth.org/en/parents/occupational-therapy.html. Accessed 13 June 2022.

5 

“What Occupational Therapists (OTs) Do.” College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, 2017, www.coto.org/you-and-your-ot/what-occupational-therapists-do. Accessed 13 June 2022.

Citation Types

MLA 9th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Occupational Therapist." Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science, edited by Michael A. Buratovich, Salem Press, 2022. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=POSpKin_0173.
APA 7th
Flynn, S. I. (2022). Occupational Therapist. In M. A. Buratovich (Ed.), Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Occupational Therapist." Edited by Michael A. Buratovich. Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2022. Accessed March 19, 2026. online.salempress.com.