How to become an occupational therapist: A step-by-step guide
Many people drawn to the field already sense they want hands-on work that helps others recover. What often stays unclear is the route from that instinct to actually practicing. Understanding the degrees, steps, and timeline early makes the decision easier to plan and helps a prospective therapist choose where to train.
Programs like Chatham University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level (ELOTD) show one version of that path, moving from prerequisite coursework through supervised fieldwork in a city built around healthcare.
What does an occupational therapist do?
An occupational therapist helps people of all ages do the everyday activities, called occupations, that matter to them after an injury, illness, or disability. That might mean helping a stroke patient get dressed again, teaching a child the motor skills to hold a pencil, or helping an older adult stay safe at home.
Occupational therapists, or OTs, work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health settings. They take a whole-person view, addressing physical, mental, and daily-function needs together rather than treating a single symptom.
What education is required to become an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapy education begins with a bachelor's degree, followed by an accredited graduate degree. The field has two entry points: a master's, the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), or a doctorate, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Both qualify graduates for entry-level practice.
An undergraduate major does not have to be in health, though most programs expect specific prerequisite courses before application. Common prerequisites include:
- Anatomy and physiology: The foundation for how the body moves and recovers
- Psychology: Insight into behavior, development, and mental health across the lifespan
- Statistics: The ability to read research and apply evidence in practice
- Observation hours: Supervised time watching OTs work, which many programs require before application
Beyond coursework, some programs also ask applicants for Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, though this requirement varies from one school to the next. What matters far more than any single admission item is accreditation, since it decides whether a degree actually leads to practice.
Accredited occupational therapy programs meet the standards set by the , which oversees OT education nationally. Only graduates of an ACOTE-accredited program can sit for the national certification exam, so it is the requirement that shapes every other choice.
What are the steps to become an occupational therapist?
The path is structured, and each step builds naturally on the one before it. Seeing how the stages connect turns a big goal into a clear, achievable sequence. Here is how it generally progresses:
- Earn a bachelor's degree: Complete undergraduate studies along with the prerequisite courses target programs require, which vary from school to school.
- Gain observation or volunteer hours: Shadow practicing OTs to confirm the career fits and to strengthen an application.
- Complete an accredited OT program: Finish an ACOTE-accredited master's or doctoral program, which includes fieldwork. Fieldwork is supervised, hands-on clinical training with real patients at Level I and Level II placements.
- Pass the NBCOT exam: This national test from the earns the Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) credential that signals qualification to employers.
- Get state licensure: to practice, usually based on NBCOT exam results.
How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?
The timeline becomes clearer once the stages are added together. A bachelor's degree takes about four years, followed by two to three years of graduate school, with clinical fieldwork folded directly into that graduate training. For most students, the full arc from the first year of college to licensure runs roughly six to seven years.
The range shifts with the details, since dual-degree tracks, part-time enrollment, and program length can each stretch or compress it. The commitment is real, and it opens into a licensed, growing, and centered on meaningful, hands-on work.
How to choose the occupational therapy program that fits you
Choosing a program is less about ranking and more about how well it fits the way you want to practice. A few factors carry more weight than the rest:
- Accreditation: Only an ACOTE-accredited program leads to NBCOT eligibility, so it is the first box to check.
- Fieldwork variety: Exposure to different settings and patient populations shapes clinical range.
- Class size and mentorship: Smaller cohorts mean closer faculty guidance and stronger references.
- Location near clinical sites: Proximity to hospitals and clinics determines how rich the fieldwork network is.
Chatham University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level (ELOTD) shows how these factors can come together in one program. It holds ACOTE accreditation, and its small Pittsburgh cohort keeps students close to the faculty guiding their fieldwork. Because the program sits within a dense network of Pittsburgh hospitals, clinics, and community agencies, students build fieldwork across varied settings and patient populations.
Start your occupational therapy path at Chatham University
Becoming an occupational therapist follows a clear sequence, from earning a degree through fieldwork and licensure. Once that path comes into focus, the real decision becomes where to train. Chatham University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level (ELOTD) offers one focused route, housed in the College of Health Sciences and holding ACOTE accreditation.
Over 28 months, students earn the doctorate while completing a doctoral project in an area they care about, work that carries them beyond coursework into research and applied practice. Leadership development runs through the curriculum, and Pittsburgh's clinical and fieldwork network gives students room to apply what they learn across real settings.
If that direction matches the career you are planning, request more information to see how the program fits your goals.
Frequently asked questions about becoming an occupational therapist
Do occupational therapists make good money?
Occupational therapy is a well-compensated healthcare career with strong, steady demand. The projects faster-than-average job growth for occupational therapists, with room to grow through specialization and experience.
What is the difference between an occupational therapist and a physical therapist?
Occupational therapists help people perform daily activities and function as a whole person. Physical therapists focus more narrowly on movement, strength, and physical rehabilitation after injury.
Can you become an occupational therapist online?
Not fully. Accredited programs require in-person fieldwork, so a , though some programs offer hybrid coursework alongside on-site clinical training.