Occupational Therapist Career Guide
By MedXL Editorial Team · Updated 2026-08-26 · 6 min read
Occupational therapists help people do the things that give life structure and meaning, from dressing and cooking to working, driving, and playing, when illness, injury, disability, or aging gets in the way. It is a profession that blends clinical science with creative problem-solving, and it offers unusual variety across the lifespan. This guide covers how to become an OT in the United States and Canada and where the career can lead.
"Occupation" in OT means any meaningful activity a person needs or wants to do. OTs assess the interaction between a person's abilities, their activities, and their environment, then intervene on whichever element yields the best result. Typical work includes:
Evaluating physical, cognitive, and psychosocial function through interviews, standardized assessments, and task observation
In this guide
- What occupational therapists do
- Education and typical pathway
- United States
- Canada
- Licensure and certification
- United States
- Canada
- Where occupational therapists work
- Advancement paths
- Choosing a practice area deliberately
- Finding OT roles
- Key takeaways