Pharmaceutical Careers in 2025: Your Complete Guide to Pharmacy Tech, Insurance, and Beyond
07 Sep, 2023
If you've ever wondered what is an occupational therapist, you're asking about one of the most rewarding and in-demand careers in all of healthcare. Occupational therapists (OTs) help people of every age overcome physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges so they can perform the daily activities — or "occupations" — that matter most to them. From helping a stroke survivor relearn how to button a shirt to designing sensory strategies for a child with autism, occupational therapy sits at the intersection of medicine, psychology, and genuine human connection. I've spent years working alongside healthcare professionals through healthcareers.app, and I can tell you that occupational therapy consistently ranks among the most fulfilling career paths our users explore.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about becoming an occupational therapist — the education requirements, licensure process, salary expectations, daily responsibilities, and how this career compares to other exciting allied health roles like ophthalmic tech jobs and psychometrician positions. Whether you're a high school student mapping out your future or a working professional considering a career change, this guide is for you.
An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who evaluates and treats individuals who have difficulty performing everyday activities due to injury, illness, disability, or aging. The word "occupation" in this context doesn't refer to a job — it refers to any meaningful activity a person engages in, from self-care routines like bathing and eating to work tasks, leisure activities, and social participation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), occupational therapists held approximately 143,800 jobs in the United States as of their most recent data, with employment projected to grow 12 percent from 2023 to 2033 — much faster than the average for all occupations. This robust growth reflects an aging population, increased awareness of mental health needs, and a broader understanding of how therapeutic intervention can improve quality of life.
On any given day, an occupational therapist might:
What I love about this profession is the breadth of impact. An occupational therapist working in pediatrics might spend the morning helping a child with developmental delays improve handwriting skills, while one working in a hospital's burn unit helps an adult regain hand function after a severe injury. The variety is extraordinary.
One of the most appealing aspects of this career is the diversity of work settings available. Occupational therapists practice in:
We see occupational therapy job listings across all of these settings on healthcareers.app, and I consistently notice that the flexibility of this career is a major draw for candidates who want options as their life circumstances change.
Becoming an occupational therapist requires a significant educational commitment, but the investment pays off in career stability, earning potential, and personal satisfaction. Here's the typical pathway:
While there's no single required undergraduate major, most aspiring OTs study biology, psychology, kinesiology, or health sciences. You'll need to complete prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics. I always recommend that prospective students seek out volunteer or shadowing opportunities in occupational therapy settings during their undergraduate years — admissions committees value demonstrated commitment to the field.
Since 2007, entry-level occupational therapy programs have required at least a master's degree. Many programs now offer the entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. These programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and typically take two to three years to complete. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), there are over 200 accredited OT programs in the United States.
Coursework includes neuroscience, biomechanics, therapeutic interventions, research methods, and extensive fieldwork. Most programs require a minimum of 24 weeks of supervised clinical fieldwork, giving students hands-on experience in multiple practice settings.
After graduating from an accredited program, you must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. This is a rigorous, computer-based test that assesses your clinical knowledge and decision-making skills. Passing this exam earns you the credential OTR (Occupational Therapist Registered).
Every state requires occupational therapists to be licensed. Requirements vary but generally include passing the NBCOT exam, completing continuing education requirements, and submitting an application to the state licensing board. Maintaining licensure requires ongoing professional development — most states mandate a specific number of continuing education hours per renewal cycle.
The financial rewards of this career are strong and getting stronger. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for occupational therapists was approximately $96,370 as of their latest published data. The highest-earning OTs — particularly those in home health services, outpatient care centers, and specialized private practices — can earn well over $100,000 annually.
Several factors influence salary, including:
With projected job growth outpacing most other professions, now is an excellent time to enter this field. We built healthcareers.app to help professionals like you find the right opportunity, and our occupational therapy listings span every practice setting and experience level.
When exploring healthcare career options, many candidates compare occupational therapy with other allied health pathways. I want to briefly highlight two roles that frequently come up in our platform's search data: ophthalmic tech jobs and psychometrician careers.
Ophthalmic tech jobs are an excellent option for people interested in eye care and ophthalmology. Ophthalmic technicians work directly with ophthalmologists to conduct diagnostic tests, assist in surgical procedures, and manage patient records related to eye health. While the educational requirements are typically less extensive than those for occupational therapy — often requiring a certificate or associate degree — ophthalmic tech jobs offer solid career stability and a clear advancement pathway toward becoming a certified ophthalmic medical technologist (COMT).
If you enjoy highly specialized, technical work focused on a single body system, ophthalmic tech jobs might be your ideal fit. On the other hand, if you crave variety and the ability to treat the whole person across multiple life domains, occupational therapy is likely the better match. We list both types of positions on healthcareers.app, and I encourage you to explore both before making a decision.
Another career path that sometimes overlaps with the interests of aspiring OTs is psychometry. Psychometricians administer and score neuropsychological and psychological tests under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. They play a critical role in diagnosing cognitive disorders, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions.
If you're interested in the cognitive assessment side of healthcare, the psychometricians licensure examination is an important milestone to understand. Licensure requirements for psychometricians vary by state and country — in the Philippines, for example, the psychometricians licensure examination is a formal board exam administered by the Professional Regulation Commission. In the United States, requirements tend to be less standardized, with many states requiring a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology plus supervised clinical experience, rather than a single national exam.
What connects these careers is a shared commitment to understanding human function and helping people live better lives. Whether you're administering cognitive assessments as a psychometrician, conducting visual field tests in ophthalmic tech jobs, or designing a custom home modification plan as an occupational therapist, you're contributing to the larger mission of healthcare.
One of the things I emphasize when advising candidates on our platform is that occupational therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all profession. After gaining clinical experience, many OTs pursue board certifications or specialty training in areas such as:
Specialization not only deepens your expertise but also tends to increase your earning potential and job satisfaction. According to the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov), evidence-based occupational therapy interventions in areas like stroke rehabilitation and pediatric sensory processing have demonstrated significant improvements in patient outcomes, underscoring the value of specialized practice.
While both professions help patients improve function, physical therapists primarily focus on restoring movement, strength, and mobility, whereas occupational therapists focus on helping patients perform meaningful daily activities. For example, a physical therapist might help a patient walk again after knee surgery, while an occupational therapist would help that same patient relearn how to get dressed, cook meals, and return to work. In practice, the two professions collaborate closely and complement each other beautifully.
The typical timeline is six to seven years after high school: four years for a bachelor's degree followed by two to three years in a master's or doctoral OT program. After graduation, you'll need additional time to pass the NBCOT certification exam and obtain state licensure, but most graduates are working within a few months of finishing their fieldwork.
Yes — and this is a trend I've been watching closely. Telehealth occupational therapy expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many states have continued to allow it. OTs can conduct virtual evaluations, provide home exercise program instruction, coach caregivers, and even perform certain cognitive assessments remotely. However, hands-on treatment components still require in-person care, so most OTs work in a hybrid model.
The best OTs I've encountered share several traits: genuine empathy, creative problem-solving skills, patience, excellent communication abilities, and a deep respect for their patients' autonomy. If you naturally find yourself thinking about how to make everyday tasks easier for people — or if you light up when you help someone solve a practical problem — this career could be a perfect fit.
Absolutely. With strong projected job growth, competitive salaries, diverse practice settings, and the profound satisfaction of helping people regain independence, occupational therapy remains one of the best career choices in healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 18,100 OT job openings each year through the next decade, driven by retirements, population growth, and expanding recognition of occupational therapy's value.
Understanding what is an occupational therapist is just the first step on a rewarding career journey. Whether you're drawn to the creativity of pediatric practice, the technical challenge of hand therapy, or the deep relationships formed in home health, occupational therapy offers a career rich with purpose and opportunity. And if you're still weighing your options — perhaps considering ophthalmic tech jobs for their technical focus, or exploring the psychometricians licensure examination pathway for a career in cognitive assessment — I encourage you to research thoroughly and follow the path that resonates most with your strengths and values.
We created healthcareers.app to connect passionate healthcare professionals with the opportunities they deserve. Whether you're a newly licensed OT searching for your first position or an experienced therapist ready for your next chapter, our platform is designed to make your job search easier, faster, and more effective. Explore our latest occupational therapy listings today and take the next step toward a career that truly makes a difference.
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