What Is Occupational Therapy? 
Occupational therapists help individuals, groups, and communities develop and maintain the ability to perform everyday activities (occupations) central to health, identity, and well-being. From children with learning disabilities to adults recovering from an accident to older generations facing the struggles of aging, occupational therapy empowers people to reclaim their sense of freedom and individuality through the meaningful activities of life and living.
Why become an Occupational Therapist?
- Enter a rapidly growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupational therapy field is expected to grow 11% by 2033.
- Pursue a wide range of specialties—such as aquatic therapeutic exercises, mental health, physical rehabilitation, environmental modification, low vision, pediatrics, and feeding, eating, and swallowing—to work with specific populations.
- Work with a diverse group of individuals in a variety of career settings within occupational therapy, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and schools.
- Help patients reclaim their sense of freedom and individuality.
- Spend quality time with patients and improve their well-being in all areas.
Why choose the UWS OTD program?
University of Western States has been at the forefront of whole person health since 1904. This foundation informs the approach of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. Choosing UWS for your occupational therapy doctorate training offers opportunities to learn from and work alongside leading professionals in the field.
- Students learn to evaluate the patient as a whole person—examining their lived experience, including medical history, socioeconomic status, and personal goals, to design personalized intervention plans that are unique to each individual they care for
- The UWS OTD program promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellness that supports work/school/life balance
- Labs for the occupational therapy program include:
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) lab with kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom, and dining room
- Pediatric lab with climbing wall and swings
- Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular lab with plinths and mat tables, hospital room simulation area, private assessment rooms, modalities, splinting, and SynDaver labs
- A cadaver anatomy lab is near campus
- Vigorous standardized patient program that includes physical and mental health clients
- The occupational therapy doctorate offers a variety of unique opportunities for collaboration with other programs at UWS
Occupational Therapy Licensure
Pending full accreditation, graduates of the University of Western States’ OTD program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT® certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or attain state licensure.
More information can be found on the UWS Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage.
Occupational Therapy Career Settings
As a registered Occupational Therapist, you’ll be equipped to work in diverse settings such as:
- Hospitals and outpatient clinics
- Rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities
- Schools and early intervention centers
- Mental health and community health organizations
- Home health care services
You can also specialize in areas such as:
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Physical rehabilitation
- Mental health
- Assistive technology
- Program development
- Research and education
Occupational Therapy Career Outcomes
The University of Western States prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers, including the occupational therapy field. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.
The most common career path for OTD graduates is to become an occupational therapist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for occupational therapists was $98,340 in 2024. With the projected demand for occupational therapists much higher than for other occupations, the job outlook for OTD graduates is promising.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to the OTD degree program*. The University of Western States is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your occupational therapy career goals.