Occupational Therapist job description.
An Occupational Therapist helps patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living and work activities following injury, illness, or disability. They assess functional needs, design therapy plans, and recommend adaptive strategies or equipment to improve independence.
The Occupational Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Occupational Therapist Reports to: Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager
An Occupational Therapist helps patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living and work activities following injury, illness, or disability. They assess functional needs, design therapy plans, and recommend adaptive strategies or equipment to improve independence.
- Assess patient functional abilities and daily living needs
- Develop individualized occupational therapy treatment plans
- Guide patients through exercises and activities to build functional skills
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Assess patient functional abilities and daily living needs
- Develop individualized occupational therapy treatment plans
- Guide patients through exercises and activities to build functional skills
- Recommend adaptive equipment and environmental modifications
- Educate patients and caregivers on strategies to support independence
- Track and document patient progress toward therapy goals
- Collaborate with physicians, PTs, and other care team members
- Maintain compliant clinical and billing documentation
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Master's or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy
- State licensure as required to practice
- Strong knowledge of functional assessment and rehabilitation methods
- Excellent patient communication and education skills
- Specialty certification (e.g., pediatrics, hand therapy)
- Experience in outpatient, hospital, or home health settings
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Occupational Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Occupational Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What settings employ occupational therapists?
- Occupational therapists work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, home health, and skilled nursing facilities.
- Is a doctorate required to become an occupational therapist?
- A master's degree remains an accepted entry point in many programs, though the field is increasingly moving toward doctoral-level entry; check current state and program requirements.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Physical Therapist
A Physical Therapist evaluates and treats patients with movement impairments caused by injury, illness, or disability.
Social Worker
A Social Worker helps individuals and families navigate personal, social, or health-related challenges by connecting them to resources and support services.
Case Manager
A Case Manager coordinates services and resources on behalf of clients or patients to ensure continuity and quality of care.
This Occupational Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.