What Does DO in the Medical Field Mean? A Complete Guide to Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine
31 Dec, 2023
If you've ever asked yourself, "What is an occupational therapist?" you're far from alone. It's one of the most common career questions I see from aspiring healthcare professionals visiting healthcareers.app, and honestly, it's one of my favorite topics to write about. Occupational therapy is one of healthcare's most rewarding, fastest-growing, and deeply misunderstood professions. Unlike some clinical roles that focus narrowly on diagnosing disease or performing procedures, occupational therapists (OTs) help people of all ages live fuller, more independent lives — and the demand for their skills has never been higher.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about occupational therapy as a career: what OTs actually do day to day, the education and licensing requirements, salary expectations, how the role compares to other in-demand healthcare careers like surgical technician and cardiology tech positions, and what the future holds for this profession. Whether you're a student exploring options, a career changer, or a healthcare worker considering a pivot, this guide is written specifically for you.
An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who helps individuals develop, recover, improve, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. The word "occupation" in occupational therapy doesn't just refer to a job — it encompasses every meaningful activity a person engages in, from getting dressed in the morning and cooking meals to writing, driving, and participating in hobbies.
OTs work with patients across the entire lifespan. A pediatric occupational therapist might help a child with autism develop fine motor skills and sensory processing strategies, while a geriatric OT might work with an elderly patient recovering from a hip replacement to regain the ability to bathe and dress independently. The common thread is always the same: empowering people to participate in the activities that matter most to them.
One of the things I love about occupational therapy is the incredible variety of work settings available. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), occupational therapists are employed across a wide range of environments, including:
This diversity means that if you become an OT, you're not locked into one type of workplace for your entire career. You can shift settings, populations, and specializations as your interests evolve — which is a flexibility that many other healthcare roles simply can't match.
If this career is calling to you, here's the educational roadmap you'll need to follow. I want to be upfront: the path to becoming an OT requires significant commitment, but the investment pays off in both career satisfaction and financial stability.
You'll need to complete a four-year bachelor's degree before applying to an occupational therapy graduate program. While there's no single required major, most successful applicants study biology, psychology, kinesiology, health sciences, or a related field. You'll also need to complete prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, statistics, and behavioral science.
Entry-level practice now requires at minimum a master's degree in occupational therapy from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Many programs now offer the entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and ACOTE has mandated that all entry-level OT programs transition to the doctoral level by 2027. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), there are currently over 200 accredited OT programs across the United States.
Graduate programs typically take two to three years to complete and include extensive fieldwork — usually a minimum of 24 weeks of supervised clinical experience.
After graduating, you must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to earn the OTR (Occupational Therapist Registered) credential. This is a rigorous, computer-based exam that tests your clinical reasoning and knowledge.
Every U.S. state requires occupational therapists to be licensed. Requirements vary by state but generally include passing the NBCOT exam, completing continuing education, and renewing your license periodically.
Let's talk about what everyone wants to know: what can you actually earn as an occupational therapist? I always encourage candidates on healthcareers.app to look at salary data from reliable sources before making career decisions, and occupational therapy holds up extremely well.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for occupational therapists in the United States was approximately $96,370 as of May 2023. The top 10 percent of earners made over $126,000 annually, particularly those working in home health services, outpatient care centers, and specialized hospitals.
Here's a general breakdown by work setting:
The BLS projects that employment of occupational therapists will grow 12 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by the aging baby boomer population, increased awareness of occupational therapy's role in mental health and pediatrics, and expanding insurance coverage for OT services.
I regularly tell job seekers on our platform that OT is one of the most recession-resistant healthcare careers available. People will always need help recovering function and independence — regardless of what's happening in the broader economy.
One of the questions I get most often on healthcareers.app is how different healthcare roles stack up against each other. Let me compare occupational therapy with two other popular careers: surgical technician and cardiology technologist.
A surgical technician (also known as a surgical technologist or "scrub tech") works alongside surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists in the operating room. They prepare surgical instruments, maintain sterile fields, and assist during procedures. It's a fast-paced, hands-on role that appeals to people who thrive under pressure.
The key differences:
Both are excellent careers, but they attract very different personalities. If you love long-term patient relationships and creative problem-solving, OT is likely the better fit. If you love the intensity and precision of the OR, consider the surgical technician path.
Cardiology technologists (sometimes called cardiovascular technologists) specialize in diagnostic testing and procedures related to the heart and vascular system. They perform EKGs, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, and stress tests.
When people search for cardiology tech salary information, they typically find a median annual wage of around $62,000–$65,000 according to BLS data, though specialized cardiac catheterization technologists can earn significantly more. Like the surgical technician role, cardiology technology requires less education (typically an associate degree) but also commands a lower salary ceiling than occupational therapy.
The appeal of cardiology technology lies in its specialization and the growing demand for cardiac care as heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov). However, occupational therapy offers broader career flexibility and higher earning potential over a full career.
One aspect that makes occupational therapy particularly attractive is the ability to specialize. After gaining clinical experience, OTs can pursue board certification through AOTA in areas including:
I've spoken with OTs on our platform who've successfully transitioned between multiple specializations over their careers. This adaptability is a genuine advantage in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Beyond education and credentials, certain personal qualities tend to predict success and satisfaction in this field. Based on my years of working with healthcare professionals, here are the traits that the best OTs share:
This is the question I hear most often. While there's overlap, the core distinction is this: physical therapists (PTs) primarily focus on restoring movement, strength, and physical function, while occupational therapists focus on helping patients perform meaningful daily activities. For example, a PT might work on strengthening a patient's arm after a stroke, while an OT would teach that same patient how to get dressed, cook a meal, or return to work using adaptive strategies. Both professions are essential and often work together as part of a rehabilitation team.
In total, you're looking at approximately six to seven years of post-secondary education: four years for a bachelor's degree plus two to three years for a master's or doctoral OT program. After graduating, you'll need additional time to pass the NBCOT exam and obtain state licensure, but many graduates are practicing within a few months of completing their degree.
Absolutely. With projected job growth of 12 percent over the next decade, a median salary approaching $100,000, diverse work settings, and high job satisfaction ratings, occupational therapy is one of the strongest career choices in healthcare right now. We built healthcareers.app in part because we saw how many talented people were looking for meaningful healthcare careers exactly like this one.
Yes, and this is a growing trend. Many OTs now provide consultations, evaluations, and follow-up sessions through telehealth platforms. While hands-on treatment still requires in-person visits, telehealth has expanded access to OT services in rural areas and has given practitioners more flexible scheduling options. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption across healthcare, and occupational therapy has been a significant beneficiary of that shift.
A typical day varies significantly depending on your setting. A hospital-based OT might evaluate three to four new patients, provide 30- to 60-minute treatment sessions with six to eight patients, attend interdisciplinary team meetings, and complete documentation. A school-based OT might see a dozen or more students throughout the day, consult with teachers, write IEP goals, and adapt classroom activities. Regardless of setting, no two days are exactly alike — which is something most OTs love about the profession.
Understanding what an occupational therapist truly does is the first step toward deciding whether this career aligns with your goals, values, and strengths. It's a profession built on the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live life on their own terms — and as an OT, you become the person who helps make that possible.
With strong salary potential, exceptional job growth, diverse practice settings, and the deep personal fulfillment that comes from helping others regain independence, occupational therapy stands as one of the most compelling career paths in healthcare today. Whether you're comparing it to roles like surgical technician or exploring cardiology tech salary data to weigh your options, I hope this guide has given you the clarity you need.
At healthcareers.app, we're committed to helping you find not just any healthcare job, but the right one — the career that fits your life, your ambitions, and your desire to make a real difference. If occupational therapy is calling your name, I encourage you to take that next step. The patients who need you are already waiting.
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