Key takeaways
- Lead with your OTR credential and state license.
- Quantify caseload, supervision, productivity, and patient outcomes.
- Tailor your occupational therapist resume to setting: SNF, acute, outpatient, pediatrics, hand therapy.
- Include CHT, LSVT BIG, or other specialty certs if you hold them.
- Use strong action verbs and match keywords from the job posting.
- Keep your resume to one or two pages; every line should add value.
What an occupational therapist resume has to prove
An occupational therapist resume must convey clinical expertise, evaluation skills, and the ability to drive meaningful patient outcomes. The occupational therapy profession continues to grow, with demand across SNFs, acute care, outpatient, and home health settings. A tailored occupational therapist resume helps you stand out by demonstrating not only your OTR credential and licensure but also your impact on patient outcomes, productivity, and team collaboration.
Whether you are moving from your first staff role to a senior position or seeking a hand therapy or leadership opportunity, your resume is the first impression. Generic templates fall flat in rehabilitation, where recruiters look for specific settings, populations, and evidence of clinical growth. This guide walks you through building an occupational therapist resume that highlights your OTR, licensure, clinical achievements, and supervision experience. You'll find format recommendations, real good-and-bad examples, and the skills that rehab managers search for.
The best resume format for an occupational therapist
Reverse-chronological format is the strongest choice for an occupational therapist resume. It places your most recent clinical work at the top. Avoid functional formats—rehab managers expect to see experience chronologically.
Aim for one page if you have 3–7 years of experience; two pages is acceptable with 8+ years, multiple settings, or CHT certification. Every section should demonstrate clinical competency or measurable impact.
For an occupational therapist resume, prioritize sections in this order:
- Contact Information — Name, phone, email, LinkedIn, city and state
- Professional Summary — 2–3 sentences highlighting your credential, years of experience, and clinical focus
- Licensure and Certifications — OTR, state license, CHT, LSVT BIG, BLS
- Experience — Staff or senior OT roles with quantified bullets
- Education — MOT or OTD with institution, fieldwork if relevant
- Skills — Clinical and soft skills that match the posting
Use clean, single-column formatting. Avoid tables and graphics for ATS compatibility.
How to write your experience section
The experience section is where your occupational therapist resume earns an interview. Rehab managers scan for evidence of caseload, evaluation skills, supervision, and outcomes—not a list of generic duties.
Worked as an occupational therapist at a rehab facility. Evaluated patients and provided treatment. Supervised assistants.
Why it falls flat: No specifics, no metrics, passive language. There is nothing about setting, caseload, population, or outcomes.
Staff Occupational Therapist in a 80-bed SNF, managing 10–12 patients daily across subacute and long-term care. Conducted evaluations and developed treatment plans; supervised 2 COTAs. Achieved 92% productivity while improving discharge-to-home rate by 8% through targeted ADL and transfer training.
Why it works: Facility size, daily caseload, population, supervision scope, productivity metric, and a measurable outcome. A hiring manager immediately understands your scope and impact.
Apply these principles to every bullet:
- Lead with strong action verbs — "Evaluated," "Developed," "Supervised," "Implemented," "Coordinated." Avoid "Responsible for" or "Helped with."
- Include at least two metrics per role — Caseload, productivity, supervision count, or discharge outcomes. Mid-career OTs have ample numbers to share.
- Match the job posting's language — If it mentions "hand therapy," "CHT," or "acute care," use those terms.
- Show progression — Early roles focus on clinical skills; later roles should highlight supervision and outcomes.
- Scale achievements appropriately — Staff roles = personal caseload and productivity; senior roles = department-level impact.
How to write your professional summary
Your professional summary gives the hiring manager a quick snapshot of your clinical focus and impact. For an occupational therapist resume, use 2–3 sentences that cover your credential, years of experience, and a standout achievement or focus area.
Experienced occupational therapist dedicated to helping patients achieve their goals. Looking for a new opportunity.
This says nothing specific. Every applicant could write this.
OTR-certified Occupational Therapist with 5 years of SNF and outpatient experience. Skilled in upper extremity rehabilitation, evaluation, and COTA supervision. Achieved 92% productivity while improving discharge-to-home rate by 8% through evidence-based ADL interventions.
Specific credential, experience level, settings, named skills, supervision, and quantified outcomes—all in three sentences.
Three quick tips:
- Name your OTR credential and years of experience in the first sentence — OTR and state license are screened first.
- Include one quantified achievement — Productivity, discharge outcomes, or supervision impact.
- Mention your primary setting or specialty — SNF, acute, outpatient, hand therapy.
Education and certifications
For an occupational therapist resume, education and NBCOT credentialing are essential. List your Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) with institution name and graduation year. Include fieldwork or residency if relevant to the role.
Licensure and certifications:
- OTR (Occupational Therapist Registered) — From NBCOT; required for practice. List credential number and expiration.
- State OT License — Required in all states; list state and license number.
- CHT (Certified Hand Therapist) — From HTCC; demonstrates hand therapy expertise; valuable for outpatient roles.
- LSVT BIG — For Parkinson's and movement disorders; valued in SNF and outpatient.
- BLS — Often required; from American Heart Association.
Continuing education is required for NBCOT certification maintenance. Listing relevant CE focus areas (e.g., "hand therapy," "geriatrics") shows commitment to staying current.
Key skills for an occupational therapist resume
Name the ones the posting names, in its words. Hard skills clear the ATS screen; the soft ones are what the interview checks for.
- Evaluation and Assessment
- Conducting comprehensive OT evaluations including standardized assessments and clinical observations.
- Treatment Planning
- Developing and implementing evidence-based treatment plans with measurable goals.
- Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
- Treating hand and upper extremity conditions including post-surgical and orthopedic cases.
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Addressing memory, attention, executive function, and visual-perceptual deficits.
- Splinting and Orthotics
- Designing, fabricating, and fitting custom splints for therapeutic and functional goals.
- Adaptive Equipment and DME
- Prescribing and training on adaptive equipment, DME, and home modifications.
- Documentation and Billing
- Completing evaluations, progress notes, and Medicare/insurance documentation.
- Discharge Planning
- Coordinating with care teams on discharge recommendations and home programs.
- Supervision
- Supervising COTAs and students within state and facility guidelines.
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Applying current research and clinical guidelines to treatment decisions.
- Empathy
- Supporting patients and families through difficult rehabilitation journeys.
- Clinical Reasoning
- Analyzing complex cases and adapting treatment when standard protocols fall short.
- Communication
- Translating clinical findings for patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
- Leadership
- Guiding COTAs, students, and care teams toward patient-centered goals.
- Time Management
- Balancing caseload, documentation, and productivity requirements.
- Collaboration
- Working with PTs, SLPs, nurses, physicians, and case managers.
- Adaptability
- Adjusting to changing caseloads, facility needs, and patient acuity.
Recommended certifications
- Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR)National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
- State OT LicenseState Occupational Therapy Board
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC)
- LSVT BIG CertifiedLSVT Global
- Basic Life Support (BLS)American Heart Association
Frequently asked questions about occupational therapist resumes
One to two pages. With 3–8 years of experience, one page is ideal if you can prioritize. Two pages is acceptable with multiple settings, CHT certification, or leadership roles.
Yes, prominently. List OTR with NBCOT and expiration. Include state license number and expiration. These are often verified before interviews.
Quantify: number of COTAs or students supervised, length of supervision, and any outcomes (e.g., students passed NBCOT, COTAs promoted). Use verbs like 'Supervised,' 'Mentored,' 'Trained.'
Yes. SNF emphasizes productivity and geriatric expertise. Acute care values quick evaluations and discharge planning. Outpatient hand therapy requires CHT or hand-focused experience.
OTR and state license are mandatory. CHT demonstrates hand therapy expertise. LSVT BIG, NDT, or SIPT show specialty focus. Include any certifications relevant to the setting.
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