Resources for Beginning Your OT Career

By choosing a career in occupational therapy, you will make a difference! You will be able to improve the lives of people, from newborns to the very old. Students today can look forward to dynamic careers working in multiple settings with people of all ages. And the employment outlook for occupational therapists is bright!

So You’re Thinking About Becoming an OT or OTA?

• Consider Becoming an Occupational Therapist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the job outlook for occupational therapists will improve substantially in the next several years and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Read more.
• Consider Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant. The employment outlook for occupational therapy assistants is bright—the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that “employment of occupational therapy assistants….is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2022,” with employment expected to increase by 41% or more. Read more.
• “Why I Chose Occupational Therapy.” Students share what attracted them to the OT profession including finding “a perfect fit” in health care, bridging education and medicine, a career where you can make a difference, and more.

Get Your Questions Answered

• Online Community for Prospective Students. Don’t just take our word for it, sign up for our free social network OT Connections and participate in the Prospective Students forum.
• Prospective Student Chat. Listen to a recording of a recent prospective student chat to hear answers from a current student and educator to common questions.
• FAQ on OT Education and Career Planning. Have more questions? Check out our frequently asked questions pages on Programs and Degrees, Accreditation, and Career Planning.
• FAQs on the entry-level master's and doctoral degrees: The difference between the two degrees.

Ready to Look for OT or OTA Programs?

• Find a School. Our Find a School page is the only up-to-date listing of accredited OT and OTA programs in the United States.
• OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). Check out OTCAS to simplify the application process—it’s a convenient and efficient process to apply to multiple programs using a single online application.
• Financial Aid Sources. Learn about loan forgiveness programs and scholarship opportunities to make your occupational therapy education more affordable.
• Sample formats and admissions criteria for OTA, OT, and OTD Programs. Find out about the different program formats and a sample of the criteria needed for admissions.