What is AN OCCUPATIONAL Therapist?

Occupational therapists provide services that develop, recover, improve and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. They work with a range of ages, acute and chronic conditions. You will find occupational therapists in hospitals, rehab centers, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities, senior living communities, school-based and home settings! To become a occupational therapist, you must earn a Master’s degree from an accredited occupational therapy program and gain state licensure after passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). 

If you are an undergraduate or student working towards your degree, click here to learn more about our student program.  

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, or occupations. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.”

FOX occupational therapists focus on daily tasks, the routines and roles that fill up a person’s day and give meaning to who we are as individuals. Tasks that were once effortless can become challenging for older adult patients. FOX occupational therapists critically assess their patient’s tasks, the occupations of their life, and create a customized treatment plan to achieve the patient-specific goals.