What it is
Occupational therapy helps people of all ages do the everyday activities ("occupations") that matter to them — after injury, illness, disability, or developmental challenges — through adaptation, therapy, and skill-building.
What you'll study
The path runs through a pre-OT bachelor's into graduate study:
- UndergraduatePre-OT prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, psychology, human development)
- Master's (MOT) or Doctorate (OTD)Therapeutic practice, human development, and clinical methods
- FieldworkSupervised clinical fieldwork
- LicensureGraduates pass the NBCOT exam
Concentrations & focus areas
- PediatricsChildren & schools
- Physical RehabilitationInjury & recovery
- Mental HealthBehavioral OT
- GeriatricsOlder adults
- Hand TherapySpecialized
- Community / Home HealthIndependence
Skills you'll build
- Functional assessmentEvaluating daily function
- Therapeutic techniqueAdaptive methods
- CreativityTailored solutions
- Patient-centered careIndividualized
- EmpathyPatient support
Careers & job titles
- Occupational therapistThe core role (~$96,370)
- Pediatric OTChildren & schools
- Rehabilitation OTRecovery
- Mental-health OTBehavioral
- Hand therapistSpecialized
- Clinic / program leadWith experience
Job outlook & demand
The BLS projects occupational therapists to grow faster than average, driven by an aging population and demand for rehabilitation and developmental services across healthcare, schools, and home health.
Pay: median, range & trajectory
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists had a median wage around $96,370. Specialization and setting affect pay; the master's (or OTD) is the entry requirement.
Degree levels it's offered at
Offered across these levels — click a level to learn about it:
A pre-OT bachelor's leads into a master's (MOT) or doctorate (OTD) — the required entry degree — plus the NBCOT for certification.
Is it right for you?
You might thrive here if you want meaningful, creative patient care focused on independence and daily life.
Rewarding path: OT offers strong pay, growth, and variety across settings and populations — plan the prerequisites and target the MOT/OTD.
Explore further
Keep exploring:
Key facts
- DegreeMaster's (MOT) or Doctorate (OTD)
- FocusEveryday function & independence
- LicensureNBCOT
- OutlookFaster than average (BLS)
- Pay~$96,370 median (BLS)
Where to learn more
Authoritative sources for careers and pay: