Occupational Therapist resume examples
This page has 6 one-page occupational therapist resume examples: a rehab and skilled nursing OT, a pediatric OT, a home health OT, an outpatient hand therapy OT, a school-based OT and an acute care OT. Each one is checked against 11,935 US postings from 2,304 employers, and the note under each sample says which caseload, documentation and outcome numbers it puts first.
Occupational Therapist (OT) Resume Example
Occupational therapist postings ask most for an accredited OT degree, a current state license, individualized treatment plans, caregiver training and timely documentation, and this resume shows each one with caseloads and outcomes. The Florida license, OTR and CPR card sit in certificates, and the master's degree in occupational therapy is in education.
Why this resume works:
- Evaluate 6 to 8 new short-term rehab admissions a week, writing individualized treatment plans that meet Medicare Part A rules.
- Deliver ADL training, therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular re-education to a caseload of 14 patients a day.
- Document daily notes, progress reports and Section GG scores in PointClickCare, signing 100% of notes within 24 hours.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist Resume Example
Pediatric occupational therapist postings ask for sensory processing, fine motor skills, treatment planning and strong collaboration with families and other providers, and this resume shows each one in clinic and home work with caseloads and results. The Texas license and OTR sit in certificates, and the master's degree in occupational therapy is in education.
Why this resume works:
- Evaluate 5 new children a week with the BOT-2, PDMS-2 and Sensory Profile 2, writing plans with measurable goals.
- Manage a caseload of 28 children, using sensory integration, fine motor and self-care work in 45-minute sessions.
- Coach parents on home programs for feeding, dressing and handwriting, with 80% of families reporting carryover at 3 months.
Home Health Occupational Therapist Resume Example
Home health occupational therapist postings ask for the ability to work independently, clinical assessment, individualized treatment plans, adaptive equipment and adaptive techniques, and each one appears in field visits with volumes and readmission results. The Pennsylvania license, OTR and CPR card are listed as certificates, and the valid driver's license many agencies require is in the summary.
Why this resume works:
- Complete 28 to 32 home visits a week, including OASIS clinical assessment at start of care, recertification and discharge.
- Conduct home safety evaluations for 15 new patients a month, ordering grab bars, tub benches and other adaptive equipment.
- Train patients in adaptive techniques for bathing, dressing and meals, with 87% staying home without readmission at 60 days.
Outpatient Occupational Therapist Resume Example
Outpatient occupational therapist postings ask for evidence-based practice, time management and strong interpersonal skills with patients, and this resume shows each one through hand therapy caseloads, updated protocols and a well-managed schedule. The Washington license, OTR and CPR card are listed as certificates, and the master's degree is in education.
Why this resume works:
- Evaluate and treat 12 patients a day after tendon repairs, fractures and nerve injuries, using physical agent modalities as needed.
- Perform orthotic fabrication for 20 to 25 custom thermoplastic wrist, thumb and finger orthoses a month.
- Apply evidence-based practice to post-surgical protocols, updating 6 clinic protocols with the referring hand surgeons.
School-Based Occupational Therapist Resume Example
School-based occupational therapist postings ask for a licensed OT who can work independently and communicate well with school teams, and this resume shows a 5-school caseload, IEP goal results and teacher training. The North Carolina license and OTR are listed as certificates, and the occupational therapy degree is in education.
Why this resume works:
- Manage a caseload of 48 students across 5 schools, delivering push-in and pull-out services under IEP and 504 plans.
- Evaluate 35 students a year for handwriting, fine motor, sensory and self-help needs, writing reports for IEP meetings.
- Write IEP goals and track progress through weekly data collection, with 82% of goals met at annual review.
Occupational Therapist - Acute Care Resume Example
Acute care occupational therapist postings ask for a current state license, CPR, patient assessments, interdisciplinary teamwork and timely documentation, and this resume shows each one in ICU and hospital floor work with volumes and outcomes. The Ohio license, OTR and BLS card sit in certificates, and the master's degree in occupational therapy is in education.
Why this resume works:
- Evaluate 10 to 12 inpatients a day across ICU and step-down units, including patients on ventilators and multiple lines.
- Lead early mobility sessions with nursing and PT in the medical ICU, cutting ICU stay for program patients by 0.8 days.
- Assess cognition with the MoCA and score AM-PAC 6-Clicks, giving discharge planning advice within 24 hours of each order.
What employers ask for in occupational therapist job postings
Occupational Therapist job postings in the US, October 2026
- 11,935
- active US job postings
- 2,304
- employers hiring
- 1 yr
- median experience asked
- 59%
- ask for 1 year or less
Make sure your resume shows
- Bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited OT program (45% of employers)
- Current state license to practice as an occupational therapist (45% of employers)
- Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills (28% of employers)
- Current CPR certification (11% of employers)
- Two years of occupational therapy experience (preferred) (10% of employers)
- Valid driver's license, reliable car and auto insurance (8% of employers)
- Compassionate, patient-centered care (7% of employers)
- Long-term care or rehab experience (preferred) (6% of employers)
Duties to build your bullet points around
What employers write most often under responsibilities. Show each one with a result (numbers, scale, outcome), not a copy of the duty.
- Assess patients and write individualized treatment plans (24%)
- Work with the interdisciplinary team to coordinate care (19%)
- Train patients, families and caregivers on techniques and strategies (15%)
- Keep clinical documentation timely and accurate (12%)
- Track patient progress and adjust treatment plans (11%)
- Supervise occupational therapy assistants and aides (11%)
The examples on this page, in job postings
| Example | US postings | Median years asked |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapist (OT) | 5,784 | 1 |
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | 378 | 1 |
| Home Health Occupational Therapist | 247 | 1 |
| Outpatient Occupational Therapist | 49 | 1 |
| School-Based Occupational Therapist | 41 | 2 |
| Occupational Therapist - Acute Care | 40 | 1 |
Which job title to put on your resume: the titles employers use most, so recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for them: Occupational Therapist (1,343 employers), Occupational Therapist (OT) (300 employers), Pediatric Occupational Therapist (134 employers), Home Health Occupational Therapist (72 employers), Occupational Therapist OT (68 employers).
Source: Owlapply analysis of active US job postings, October 2026. Requirements and duties are grouped by meaning from the postings' own bullet lists and counted once per employer.
Advertised pay, experience and the skills employers ask for: Occupational Therapist pay and requirements.
Check your occupational therapist resume against a real job posting
- Paste a occupational therapist job posting into the job match score tool to see which of its skills your resume is missing.
- Upload your resume to the ATS resume checker to read the text an applicant tracking system gets from it.
Occupational Therapist resume sample (text you can copy)
This is the text of the Occupational Therapist (OT) example above. Paste it into the resume builder and replace the details with your own.
Occupational Therapist (OT) resume sample
JESSICA THORNBURG
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Tampa, FL · (813) 555-0161 · [email protected] · linkedin.com/in/jessicathornburg
SUMMARY
Licensed occupational therapist with 4 years in inpatient rehab and skilled nursing, treating stroke, orthopedic and dementia patients. Writes individualized treatment plans, delivers ADL training and therapeutic exercise, and keeps clinical documentation current in PointClickCare, while working closely with physical therapy, speech, nursing and families toward safe discharges.
EXPERIENCE
Occupational Therapist (OT), Bayshore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Tampa, FL | 03/2024 - Present
- Evaluate 6 to 8 new short-term rehab admissions a week, writing individualized treatment plans that meet Medicare Part A rules.
- Deliver ADL training, therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular re-education to a caseload of 14 patients a day.
- Document daily notes, progress reports and Section GG scores in PointClickCare, signing 100% of notes within 24 hours.
- Guide 2 COTAs on plans of care and co-sign their notes, keeping the rehab team at 88% productivity.
Occupational Therapist, Gulf Coast Rehabilitation Hospital, Clearwater, FL | 07/2022 - 02/2024
- Provided 3 hours of daily therapy with PT and speech to 8 patients with stroke, brain injury and joint replacements.
- Completed splint fabrication for 25 stroke and burn patients, using resting hand and wrist designs.
- Trained 120+ family members and caregivers on transfers, bathing and adaptive equipment before discharge.
- Raised average self-care score gains on the stroke unit by 9% after starting a task-oriented training group.
Level II Fieldwork Student, St. Petersburg Hand and Upper Extremity Clinic, St. Petersburg, FL | 01/2022 - 04/2022
- Carried a caseload of 10 hand therapy patients under OTR supervision by week 8.
- Designed home exercise programs for 30 patients after tendon repairs and wrist fractures.
- Presented an in-service on edema control to 12 therapists.
EDUCATION
Master of Science, Occupational Therapy, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL | 05/2022
SKILLS
Individualized Treatment Plans, ADL Training, Therapeutic Exercise, Neuromuscular Re-education, Splint Fabrication, Adaptive Equipment, Clinical Documentation, PointClickCare, Home Exercise Programs, Interpersonal Skills
CERTIFICATIONS
Occupational Therapist License, Florida Board of Occupational Therapy (2022)
Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR), NBCOT (2022)
BLS Provider (CPR), American Heart Association (2025)
How to write a occupational therapist resume
Write a occupational therapist resume summary
- Open with your license and setting: licensed OT with 4 years in inpatient rehab, outpatient hand therapy, schools or home health.
- Name the patients you treat, such as stroke, orthopedic, ICU, autism or post-surgical hand cases, so the reader can match you to the caseload.
- Mention one or two treatment methods you use daily, such as ADL training, sensory integration, orthotic fabrication or early mobility.
- For home health, say you hold a valid driver's license and a reliable car; about 8% of employers ask for both.
Occupational Therapist (OT) summary (mid level)
Licensed occupational therapist with 4 years in inpatient rehab and skilled nursing, treating stroke, orthopedic and dementia patients. Writes individualized treatment plans, delivers ADL training and therapeutic exercise, and keeps clinical documentation current in PointClickCare, while working closely with physical therapy, speech, nursing and families toward safe discharges.
Write occupational therapist experience bullets
- Give caseload numbers: patients a day, visits a week, evaluations a week or students across how many schools.
- Show documentation discipline, such as notes signed within 24 hours or claims approved on first pass; about 12% of employers list timely documentation as a duty.
- Report outcomes: patients staying home at 60 days, IEP goals met at annual review, shorter ICU stays or families reporting carryover.
- Include supervision and training: COTAs you guide, teachers you train or caregivers you coach on home programs.
Occupational Therapist (OT) experience bullets
- Evaluate 6 to 8 new short-term rehab admissions a week, writing individualized treatment plans that meet Medicare Part A rules.
- Deliver ADL training, therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular re-education to a caseload of 14 patients a day.
- Document daily notes, progress reports and Section GG scores in PointClickCare, signing 100% of notes within 24 hours.
- Guide 2 COTAs on plans of care and co-sign their notes, keeping the rehab team at 88% productivity.
Pick the skills for a occupational therapist resume
- Communication (about 32% of postings), interpersonal skills (about 15%) and organizational skills (about 14%) lead the list; show them through team rounds, family coaching or IEP meetings.
- Add compassion (about 11%) and the ability to work independently (about 7%), then the clinical skills and assessments you use, such as BOT-2, MoCA, Section GG or OASIS, and your EMR: Epic, PointClickCare or WebPT.
Do's and don'ts
Do this
- List your state license, OTR and CPR card in certificates with the state named; about 45% of employers require a current license.
- Put your OT degree and accredited program in education; about 45% of employers ask for it.
- Write the setting into every job title line so a hospital, school or agency reader sees the match at once.
- Include fieldwork placements if you are a new graduate, with setting, weeks and caseload.
Avoid this
- Don't list every assessment you learned in school; keep the ones you use with the patients the posting serves.
- Don't write "provided OT services" without the caseload, the methods and the results.
- Don't send a hospital resume to a school district; school postings look for IEP goals, push-in services and teacher training.
- Don't leave out supervision of COTAs or aides; about 11% of employers list it as a duty.
Related resume examples
- Physical Therapist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Recreational Therapist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Registered Nurse
- Medical Assistant
Occupational Therapist resume questions
What should I put on an occupational therapist resume?
A short summary with your license, setting and patient types, jobs with caseload, documentation and outcome numbers, a skills list with assessments and EMR systems, and your OT degree. About 45% of employers ask for a degree from an accredited OT program and about 45% for a current state license. The duty they list most is assessing patients and writing individualized treatment plans, at about 24%.
How much experience do occupational therapist jobs ask for?
Not much: of the 1,639 postings that state experience, the median ask is 1 year, and about 59% ask for a year or less. About 10% of employers say they prefer two years of OT experience, and the school-based example asks for about 2. New graduates should list fieldwork placements with setting and caseload.
How do I write a new grad occupational therapist resume?
Lead with your degree, NBCOT status and state license or license date, then list each fieldwork placement as a job with the setting, weeks and number of patients treated. Show the evaluations you completed, the treatment methods you used and how you documented. Add CPR, which about 11% of employers ask for.
What makes a pediatric OT resume different?
A pediatric resume shows the children you treat, such as autism, developmental delay or sensory processing differences, and the standardized tests you give, such as the BOT-2 or PDMS-2. It also shows parent coaching and work with speech therapists and teachers. Pediatric Occupational Therapist is the third most common title, used by 134 employers.
What should a home health occupational therapist resume include?
Visits per week, OASIS work at start of care and discharge, home safety evaluations and the adaptive equipment you order. Say you can work independently across a territory and that you hold a driver's license, a reliable car and auto insurance, which about 8% of employers ask for. Readmission results are the strongest outcome to show.
Should I list OTR/L on my resume?
Yes. Put OTR/L after your name or in the first line of the summary, and list the state license and NBCOT registration in certificates. A current state license is the most common requirement, written by about 45% of employers.