Career Paths
Find a job you can be passionate about in one of the fastest-growing fields in health care.
Considering a career in occupational therapy?
The time to start has never been better! With job prospects growing much faster than the national average for all occupations, the opportunities for an exciting and stable career in OT are endless.
As the general population ages and advances in health care extend lives, the role of the occupational therapist is critical to individuals, families and communities.
Employment is projected to grow by 8.4 million jobs from 2018 to 2028.
What do occupational therapists do?
Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
Where do occupational therapists work?
About half of occupational therapists work in offices of occupational therapy or in hospitals. Others work in schools, nursing homes, and home health services.
Learn more about the profession and projections on future employment opportunities in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook and the American Occupational Therapy Association's job outlook section.
*Numbers from U.S. Labor of Statistics.
Testimonials
"I enjoy supporting teachers and facilitating students’ growth. It is fun to watch students develop their skills to be more successful in the classroom and gain confidence." —Kerri Cunningham, MOT Class of 2018, school-based occupational therapist
"I like the holistic nature of occupational therapy and the versatility it offers to individuals who receive services from us. I had previously worked with a hand therapist after suffering a boxer's fracture while training. This helped persuade me to work in an outpatient orthopedic practice as well." —Jarel Russell, MOT Class of 2019, occupational therapist at Golden Bear Physical Therapy and Sport Injury
"I love working with kids, and in school-based practice I am able to work with children from when they are very young to when they are moving into adulthood. I also get the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with their families and teachers." —Emily Williams, Master of Occupational Therapy, Class of 2010, Post Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy, Class of 2021, school-based occupational therapist
"As an occupational therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit, I have the unique and humbling privilege to work with the babies and their families during an incredibly vulnerable and stressful time." —Kelly Andrasik McLeod, OTD, OTR/L, CNT, IBCLC, OTD Class of 2019, occupational therapist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, adjunct faculty at Kansas University Medical Center
"I enjoy getting to know my patients, building relationships with them, and seeing them becoming independent again to do the things they like to do." —Magdalene Lam, MOT Class of 2013, PRN occupational therapist at Rehab Hospital of Overland Park