What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare professional who is trained in therapeutic approaches that work with a patient’s ability to perform routine tasks and activities, usually as a means of rehabilitation or therapy after an injury or illness. Occupational therapists may commonly work with patients to evaluate their range of motion, motor skills and ability to perform basic tasks, such as dressing, tying shoes, combing hair and other occupational activities.

Occupational therapy works by using everyday activities (or occupational activities) as a means to rehabilitate a muscle, range of movement or otherwise improve a patient’s overall ability to perform lifestyle tasks.

What occupational therapists do

The role of an occupational therapist involves meeting and discussing treatment plans with patients and initiating therapeutic methods for improving their ability to perform basic functions that are necessary for an everyday routine. Occupational therapists may also work with physical therapists to approach patient care with a combined therapy plan to improve patient results. Occupational therapists may also work with patients who have or are recovering from:

• Automobile accidents
• Joint replacement surgery
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Diabetes
• Spinal cord injury
• Low vision
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Balance problems
• Multiple sclerosis
• Behavioral and mental health issues
• Cerebral palsy

Many of the above conditions are complex. As a result, occupational therapists often coordinate care with other health professionals. For example, an occupational therapist may work with a physical therapist to set goals for someone with mobility issues, or they may discuss progress with a patient’s physician. With patients’ permission, therapists may also update family members and caregivers. They may act as educators, teaching loved ones and professional caregivers how best to support people dealing with chronic conditions or recovering from surgeries and injuries.

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Key skills, job duties and responsibilities

Occupational therapists typically have a range of skill sets, from soft skills, such as effective communication and teamwork skills, to hard skills, such as technical and job-specific skills. Because of the range of skills occupational therapists can have, it’s important to look for these key traits in the job candidates you communicate with, including top skills, essential duties and the responsibilities of the position. The following information can provide some insight into what to look for when hiring an occupational therapist.

Key skills

Occupational therapists should have a combination of soft and hard skills to be successful in the position. The following skill sets can be essential for working in occupational therapy:

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Technical skills, such as using facility computer systems and databases
• Organizational skills

While these skill sets are not the only skills an occupational therapist may need in the role, they are crucial for candidates to perform successfully and competently in an occupational therapy position. You can use the above list as a starting point when writing a job description for your open position.

Essential job duties and responsibilities

Occupational therapists can also have essential responsibilities that are unique to the role. For example, meeting with patients to establish a routine therapy plan can be considered a key responsibility that an OT may perform as part of their job. The following responsibilities may also be essential for an OT:

• Evaluating patients to establish a personalized therapy plan to achieve the most effective results
• Administering therapies and instructing patients with therapy activities and tasks that promote rehabilitation of their injuries and traumas
• Using technical or computer equipment to document and display patient medical information and reports
• Organizing and maintaining patient medical and treatment records and documenting therapy sessions and approaches
• Maintaining therapy equipment, such as walkers, lifts, mechanical chairs, pulleys and other exercise equipment, that’s used for therapy sessions
• Working in tandem with physical therapists and speech pathologists to develop and implement effective treatment plans for patients

Depending on the facility where an occupational therapist works, the required job duties and essential responsibilities can differ. For example, in a rehabilitation setting, a key responsibility might be to help a patient regain their mobility, while in an assisted living facility, this may not be an essential focus or goal.

In some settings, what occupational therapists do may also include supervisory responsibilities. Hospitals and rehabilitation centers often have a large occupational therapy team that includes occupational therapy assistants and occupational therapy aides. Assistants work alongside occupational therapists, assisting with therapies directly, while aides perform tasks that don’t involve direct patient care, such as setting up and cleaning therapy rooms. Depending on the organizational structure, aides and assistants may report directly to the occupational therapist. If this is the case at your facility or practice, a successful occupational therapist will need:

• Leadership skills
• Coaching skills
• Ability to provide constructive feedback
• Conflict resolution skills
• Delegating ability

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Frequently asked questions about what occupational therapists do

The following frequently asked questions about occupational therapists can provide additional information about the position:

• What education and degree are required to be an occupational therapist?
• How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?
• Where can an occupational therapist work?
• What is the work environment like for an occupational therapist?
• Are there any specialty fields for occupational therapists?

What education and degree are required to be an occupational therapist?

To legally work as an occupational therapist, a person needs to obtain a state license. States develop their own rules, but all require prospective OTs to pass a licensing exam created by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. To register for the exam, OTs must first complete an approved occupational therapy master’s degree program and a fieldwork assignment that provides hands-on experience working with real patients.

If your open position involves independent work with little supervision, you may wish to prioritize candidates who hold doctoral degrees in occupational therapy. During your screening process, be sure to check with your state’s licensing board to ensure the jobseekers you’re considering hold valid licenses.

 Where can an occupational therapist work?

Occupational therapists may work in a variety of healthcare facilities. OTs can work as part of a rehab team within a medical rehabilitation center, in outpatient surgery centers, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and within private and government-backed therapy facilities. As you review candidates, you may wish to focus on those who have experience working in a practice or facility similar to your own.

What is the work environment like for an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapists may be required to perform a variety of physical tasks, such as assisting with transferring patients, moving heavy objects and remaining upright for long periods of time. When writing job descriptions for positions, be sure to use inclusive language that doesn’t make assumptions about physical abilities.

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Are there any specialty fields for occupational therapists?

Several specialty certifications are available for occupational therapists who choose to advance their careers. For example, an OT can choose to become board certified, enabling the OT to work in a variety of higher-level therapy services. Likewise, there are several specialty certifications for OTs, including certification in gerontology (BCG), mental health (BCMH), pediatrics (BCP) and physical rehabilitation (BCPR). If your facility or practice serves patients within a certain community, looking for candidates who hold certifications relevant to their care is one way to identify quality candidates.

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