Occupational Therapist Job Description

What is the job description of an Occupational Therapist? What are the duties and responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist? What does an Occupational Therapist do?

Job description of an Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists treat disabled, ill or injured patients with special equipment and the therapeutic use of daily activities. They help patients improve, regain and develop the skills needed for day to day life and work. They may provide long-term patient care and acute patient care.

This Occupational Therapist job description example includes the list of most important Occupational Therapist duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Occupational Therapist profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Occupational Therapist Duties and Responsibilities

Occupational Therapist job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Conduct physical and psychological assessments of clients
  • Assess home and work environments of clients and deciding what adjustments are needed
  • Advise on adaptive equipment to help clients with daily activities
  • Evaluate results and progress of occupational therapy on clients
  • Maintain professional knowledge and technical progress in order to provide clients with the best treatment available
  • Comply with federal, state, and local certification requirements
  • Develop a specialized treatment plan to help patient achieve as much as possible in regaining his/her well-being through exercise and/or use of prosthetic and orthotic devices
  • Preparing clients for return to work
  • Advise family members and other supportive individuals about the level of care the patient needs
  • Document patient care in accordance with regulatory, licensing, payer and accrediting requirements

Occupational Therapist Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Occupational Therapist job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • A bachelor degree in occupational therapy.
  • Certified by the National Board for Certification.
  • Compliant with state healthcare regulatory requirements.
  • Ability to take care of clients with different personalities.
  • Comfortable using a computer for various tasks.
  • Possess up-to-date knowledge of treatment practices and physical therapy programs.
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
  • Ability to assess patient condition and work with treatment plans.

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Occupational Therapist starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Occupational Therapist job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of an Occupational Therapist may also reference it in preparation for the interview.