Occupational therapy

Job options

Job options directly related to your degree include:

• Occupational therapist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Advice worker
• Art therapist
• Care manager
• Ergonomist
• Health improvement practitioner
• High intensity therapist
• Life coach
• Medical sales representative
• Play therapist
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner
• Social worker
• Special educational needs teacher
• Teaching assistant

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

You'll spend a significant part of your degree on clinical placements under the supervision of qualified occupational therapists. These placements take place across settings such as hospitals, community services, mental health teams and social care and help you build practical skills, confidence and professional contacts.

Outside your degree, paid or voluntary work in supportive roles can develop your communication, empathy and problem-solving skills. Roles such as therapy assistant, healthcare assistant or support worker provide a valuable insight into the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, including older adults, children and young people, and people with disabilities, health conditions or injuries.

Work experience opportunities exist with:

• youth projects
• day care centres
• special schools
• advisory services
• disability equipment hire services
• hospitals
• charities.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Most occupational therapy graduates go into clinical roles as occupational therapists. The main employers are the NHS and local authorities, where you could work in areas such as mental health services, accident and emergency (A&E) departments, or social care teams.

You can work in a range of settings, including:

• hospitals
• community clinics
• GP surgeries
• housing associations
• care homes
• schools and colleges
• businesses and workplaces
• charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises
• prisons and probation services
• job centres
• clients' homes.

There are also opportunities to practice independently as a self-employed occupational therapist.

You could also work for organisations specialising in injury claims, drug rehabilitation, inclusion work or developing and distributing disability aids.

Find information on employers in charity and voluntary work, healthcare, social care and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying occupational therapy gives you an in-depth understanding of the relationship between occupation, health and wellbeing. You build knowledge in areas such as human anatomy, psychology, sociology and the life cycle, and develop a range of transferable skills valued across many careers.

These skills include:

• communication and relationship building with people of all ages
• empathy, emotional intelligence and cultural awareness
• data collection, analysis and interpretation
• critical thinking and creative problem solving
• assessment, planning and evaluation of individual needs
• time management and the ability to prioritise complex workloads
• teamwork and collaboration with health and social care professionals
• teaching, mentoring and coaching
• self-awareness and reflective practice
• ethical decision making and professional responsibility
• adaptability and innovation in response to change
• research, report writing and IT skills.

Further study

The majority of occupational therapy graduates move straight into clinical roles after graduating. As your career progresses, you can choose from a range of postgraduate options to develop specialist expertise or move into new areas of practice. You could also study leadership, management, research or clinical education to support career development.

Some experienced occupational therapists go on to complete a Professional Doctorate or PhD, contributing to research and innovation in the profession. Continuing professional development (CPD) through the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) is essential throughout your career.

Further study in fields such as social work, public health, health promotion or teaching can open up alternative career routes.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in occupational therapy.

What do occupational therapy graduates do?

The vast majority (91%) of occupational therapy graduates are working as occupational therapists.

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.