Requirements

Occupational therapist - requirements

Occupational therapists are professionals who help patients overcome physical and mental barriers in everyday life, making living less complex and overwhelming. Read our guide to see if you’re suited to a career as an occupational therapist and what you should study and do to become one.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapy degree will be very helpful when applying for occupational therapy roles. Subjects to consider include:

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be an occupational therapist?

You won’t need a postgraduate qualification to practise as a qualified occupational therapist, though many people choose to pursue further education after their undergraduate degree to gain a deeper understanding or to specialise.

Examples of postgraduate courses you might consider are:

Advanced occupational therapy
Drama and movement therapy
Art therapy
Enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy
Music therapy
Occupational and organisational psychology
Play therapy
Advanced clinical practice

What skills do you need to be an occupational therapist?

Hard skills usually include:

Knowledge of psychology
Non-judgemental counselling and listening skills
Computer and software proficiencies

Soft skills include:

Understanding and sensitivity
Verbal and written communication
Initiative
Flexibility and adaptability to change

Do you need work experience to be an occupational therapist?

Formally, you won’t need any previous work experience to become an occupational therapist. Though you’ll likely get some form of practical experience during your undergraduate course, it’s not always the case. Voluntary and paid work experience goes a long way and might help inform your decisions in the future and give you a better understanding of what it’s like to work as an occupational therapist.