If you're interested in an allied healthcare career that sees patients as whole people and promotes wellbeing, becoming an occupational therapist (OT) might be a good fit. OTs help people with disabilities, injuries and illnesses do the daily activities that they want and need to do.
To become an occupational therapist, you must meet education requirements, pass a national exam and obtain a state license. Aspiring OTs who attend school full time can receive licensure within six to seven years. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) sets the standards for the field.
You need at least a master's degree to become an OT. But before you can apply for graduate school, you need to earn a bachelor's degree. Consider majors like biology, kinesiology, anthropology or psychology. You don't need a degree in a specific major to apply to OT graduate programs, but most require prerequisites in courses like anatomy and physiology, psychology and biology.
OTs must earn a master's degree or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Master's and O.T.D. programs both usually take two to three years to complete. Occupational therapy programs require classes like anatomy, kinesiology and neuroscience.
Master's and O.T.D. programs are both entry-level professional degrees that qualify graduates to practice as occupational therapists. However, O.T.D. programs can better prepare students for teaching and research opportunities. O.T.D. programs also include a 14-week capstone project and capstone experience. Which one you choose depends on your personal interests and career goals.
All ACOTE-accredited OT programs require students to complete two levels of fieldwork: Level I and Level II. Students get help finding a fieldwork site from their program's academic fieldwork coordinator.
Level I Fieldwork
Each program sets its own requirements for the number of hours of Level I fieldwork that students must complete.
Level II Fieldwork
For Level II, OT students must complete at least 24 weeks (about 5 and a half months) of full-time fieldwork.
Aspiring OTs must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy's (NBCOT) exam to qualify for licensure. AOTA offers NBCOT exam prep resources to help students know what to expect on the test and achieve a passing score.
OTs need a license to practice in all states. To apply for licensure, applicants send NBCOT exam scores (needed in all states) and pay the application fee. You can apply for licensure in multiple states at the same time.
Depending on your state's other requirements, you may also need to complete a state or federal background check, send transcripts from your OT program, pass a state jurisprudence exam and submit letters of recommendation.
Contact your state's occupational therapy regulatory agency to find out specific requirements.
Once licensed, OTs must periodically apply for renewal to maintain their status. This process usually requires paying a fee and completing a set number of continuing education credits.
Occupational therapists promote health and wellbeing by helping people with disabilities, injuries and illnesses to do the things they want and need to do in everyday life. Activities may include working, going to school or taking care of yourself.
For example, an OT might help someone recovering from a stroke learn adaptive ways to drive safely, bathe and dress themselves, and go back to work. Or, an OT might help a developmentally disabled teenager learn the things they need to know to live independently after graduating from high school.
"Occupational therapy is unique in healthcare because of its focus: maintaining and promoting health through participation in life activities," says Neil Harvison, AOTA's chief programs and policy officer. "Unlike many professions that focus solely on disease management, occupational therapy practitioners (OTs) look at the whole person," he emphasizes.
OTs often work in medical settings like hospitals, outpatient clinics, home healthcare services and skilled nursing facilities. But there are also opportunities outside of healthcare facilities. "More than 25% of OTs work outside of the health system in K-12 school districts to help students successfully thrive in the classroom and playground," says Harvison.
The job outlook and earning potential for OTs is very strong. Occupational therapists earned a median annual salary of $98,340 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest 10% of earners make more than $129,830 a year.
The BLS projects much faster than average job growth (14%) for OTs between 2024 and 2034, with about 10,200 average openings each year of that decade. The projected average growth for the overall labor market is just 3% for that time.