{"id":16825,"date":"2025-06-23T16:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/prehealth\/?page_id=16825"},"modified":"2025-10-21T16:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T20:45:09","slug":"occupational-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/prehealth\/occupational-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Occupational Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What does an Occupational Therapist do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Occupational therapists (OTs) are licensed health care professionals who help people of all ages participate in the activities (or “occupations”) they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (AOTA<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More specifically, they work with individuals experiencing physical, developmental, cognitive, or emotional challenges to improve their ability to perform daily tasks. OTs may help clients develop fine motor skills, adapt their environment, use assistive technology, and build routines that support independence and well-being.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Join the Pre-Health Community!<\/h2>

Complete our Handshake survey to be added to our newsletter and Brightspace resource page, Pre-Health Connect.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Join now<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhy Choose OT?<\/a>\n\n\n
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Choosing This Field<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When considering whether occupational therapy is the right profession for you, it’s important to explore a variety of resources to learn about the field, engage in regular self-reflection, and seek out hands-on clinical and service experiences that align with the values of the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)<\/a> offers a wealth of resources to help you explore the field, including the \u201cBecome an OT\u201d page, the OT Career Guide, and inspiring \u201cReal Stories\u201d from practicing occupational therapy professionals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Become an OT<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
OT CAreer guide<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
OT Real stories<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) provides helpful information about the application process and what to expect when pursuing a degree in occupational therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find a Program <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AOTA<\/a> provides access to tools and information regarding occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant school. Find an accredited school to kickstart or advance your career in occupational therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The difference between a Master\u2019s degree and Doctoral degree<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A master\u2019s degree is still sufficient to become a licensed occupational therapist in the US. However, this often is a question from applicants on which they should decide on: a Master’s or a Doctorate degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief overview of the benefits between both are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctorate (OTD):<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n