Occupational Therapist resume template & examples

Resume guide for an occupational therapist resume

Fitly here to guide you. Our resume builder and carefully curated resume examples for over 500 professions will equip you with a competitive edge in securing your ideal Occupational Therapist role. This resume guide and the accompanying occupational therapist resume example explore the following critical areas:

• Selecting the optimal resume format for occupational therapy
• Properly presenting your contact information
• Crafting a compelling summary
• Detailing your occupational therapy experience
• Highlighting relevant key skills
• Showcasing your education and certifications
• Choosing the most effective resume layout and design

Let's begin!

How to write an occupational therapist resume

Before you start, it’s essential to understand the key sections your occupational therapist resume should include. These are:

• Profile
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills

Your resume should emphasize your unique contributions as an occupational therapist. Begin by gathering comprehensive information about the healthcare facility or organization you are applying to. Understand their patient population and rehabilitation goals to present yourself as the ideal candidate to meet their needs. To achieve this, adhere to the following guidelines:

• Emphasize your patient outcomes and therapy successes, not merely your responsibilities. Detailing your achievements highlights the impact you’ve had on clients' lives.
• Customize your resume for each application by mirroring the employer’s language and values in your wording and style.
• Project a polished, professional image with a resume template that is clear and approachable, avoiding overly formal or cluttered designs.
• Integrate pertinent keywords and industry terminology to ensure your qualifications are readily recognized by both human readers and automated systems.

Choosing the right resume format for occupational therapy

Your resume should be clear, professional, and easy to navigate—qualities that reflect excellent occupational therapy practice.

Among the common resume formats, the reverse chronological format is most effective. It highlights your most recent clinical experiences first, followed by earlier roles.

If you are transitioning to occupational therapy or have gaps in your history, a functional format focusing on skills and competencies instead of timelines can be advantageous. Hybrid resumes, combining chronological and functional elements, suit many therapists balancing diverse experiences.

Explore various layouts in our resume builder to select a format that matches your career stage and goals. Numerous template options are available, offering different resume design variations.

Opt for clean, modern, and professional designs in your occupational therapist resume to convey your strong clinical and interpersonal skills effectively.

Include your contact information

The resume header is your chance to clearly state your identity and contact methods, making it effortless for recruiters to reach you. Present this information in a professional, accessible way.

What should you include?

• Your full name
• Your professional email address
• Your phone number
• Your LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio (if relevant)

Avoid adding:

• Your home address
• Unnecessary personal details

Create a compelling summary

Occupational therapy is a people-centered profession, and your resume summary is an ideal place to convey your compassionate approach along with your clinical expertise. This section presents your professional story and personality to hiring managers.

Consider this summary as both your elevator pitch and a reflection of your unique therapeutic style. It offers a chance to distinguish yourself beyond bullet-point lists that dominate other resume sections.

Use dynamic language, action words, and positive descriptions to reflect your commitment and capabilities. Avoid regurgitating resume details; instead, present overarching themes about your therapeutic philosophy and key successes.

Below are adaptable occupational therapist resume summary examples you can tailor:

Outline your occupational therapy work experience

Following the reverse chronological format, list your most recent or current occupational therapy positions first, moving backward in time. Limit your listed experience to the past 10-15 years as older roles may be less relevant and can contribute to age bias.

Include only experience directly relevant to the occupational therapy role you seek. For other relevant but less central roles, consider adding an 'Additional Experience' section.

Under each employer and job title, present your clinical contributions and results in concise bullet points. Avoid personal pronouns such as 'I' or 'my.' Start with action verbs that illustrate your impact, such as conducted, facilitated, assessed, designed, or collaborated.

Focus on measurable patient outcomes and improvements rather than routine tasks. Specific accomplishments and quantifiable results greatly strengthen your resume.

Consider these generic bullet points:

• Performed therapeutic interventions
• Assessed patient progress
• Maintained therapy documentation

These statements lack detail and impact. Here is how you can enhance them:

• Implemented individualized therapy programs for a caseload of 25 patients, improving functional independence by 30% on average
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive rehabilitation plans, resulting in increased patient satisfaction scores
• Streamlined documentation processes, reducing administrative time by 15% and enhancing compliance with regulatory standards

See the occupational therapist employment history resume example below for guidance:

Highlight the relevant key skills

Occupational therapy demands a blend of hard and soft skills, with an emphasis on clinical knowledge and patient-centered abilities. Approximately 90% of your resume content may focus on measurable hard skills such as therapeutic techniques, adaptive equipment expertise, and knowledge of medical terminology.

Soft skills are equally vital, capturing how you engage with patients, families, and healthcare teams. Attributes like empathy, communication, patience, and problem-solving drive your effectiveness.

Your resume should be concise and targeted for the specific occupational therapy job you seek, so avoid listing every skill indiscriminately. Maintain a master list of your competencies and selectively include those most relevant to each application.

Our resume builder includes many pre-written key skills for occupational therapists, and you can add individualized skills as well.

Here's a snapshot of the skills section from an occupational therapist resume:

Showcase your education & certifications

Your education section should highlight your academic background relevant to occupational therapy practice. Given that occupational therapy requires formal education, this section is essential for demonstrating your qualifications.

Most occupational therapists have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy or a related health field, often supplemented by a master's or doctoral degree.

List undergraduate and advanced degrees, omitting high school unless you are a recent graduate with limited higher education. Also include certifications and licenses relevant to occupational therapy, such as:

• Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) credentials
• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification
• State licensure information
• Specialty certifications such as Hand Therapy Certification or Sensory Integration courses
• Professional development workshops and memberships in occupational therapy associations
• Internships or clinical placements, especially for those newly entering the profession

Select the appropriate resume layout and design

Your choice of layout, design, and formatting sets the foundation for capturing recruiters’ attention toward your occupational therapist resume. These elements create the first impression hiring professionals will form.

To communicate professionalism, empathy, and expertise, select a clean, classic design style. Occupational therapists are viewed as compassionate, methodical, and highly skilled—reflect these qualities in your resume.

Before finalizing your template, consider what the format conveys about you as a professional. For most clinical roles, a simple yet elegant template works best, while certain employers might appreciate a slightly creative or modern edge.

To find inspiration, review our carefully tested resume templates where essential formatting and structure are thoughtfully prepared for you.

Occupational therapist job market and outlook

The demand for occupational therapists continues to grow steadily due to an aging population and increased focus on rehabilitative care. Employment for occupational therapists is projected to increase by 17% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This growth is driven by expanded healthcare services in hospitals, nursing facilities, and schools, as well as increasing awareness of occupational therapy's benefits.

The median annual salary for occupational therapists is approximately $86,000, with the top 10% of earners making over $120,000 per year.

Given the strong outlook and competitive compensation, occupational therapy remains a promising career choice for healthcare professionals committed to improving quality of life through therapeutic intervention.

Key takeaways

Occupational therapy is a profession experiencing robust growth, emphasizing patient-centered rehabilitation and holistic care. The projected job growth rate of 17% from 2021 to 2031 reflects rising demand.

Careful resume preparation tailored to occupational therapy roles increases your chances of standing out in a competitive market. Prioritize highlighting patient outcomes, clinical expertise, and relevant certifications.

Annual salaries are attractive, with median earnings around $86,000 and potential to earn significantly more with experience and advanced qualifications.

By presenting a clear, professional resume reflecting your unique skills and experience, you position yourself favorably for rewarding occupational therapist opportunities in a growing healthcare landscape.

Focused preparation and targeted job search strategies will help you succeed in this fulfilling field.