So You Want to be an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists (OTs) enable people of all ages to participate in the everyday activities (occupations) they want and need to do. OTs treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of daily activities, helping them develop, recover, and improve essential living and working skills.

What Occupational Therapists Do:

  • Work with Children: Help kids thrive in childhood “occupations” like learning and playing. OTs support students with learning disabilities or behavioral needs in schools, care for infants in pediatric hospitals, or work with children managing cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.
  • Support Adults & Seniors: Work in homes, community centers, rehab hospitals, and nursing facilities to help clients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, or mental health challenges regain independence.
  • Promote Wellness & Accessibility: Train workers in workplace ergonomics, evaluate low-vision independence, modify home and work environments, assess driving ability in older adults, and promote lifelong health.

Educational & Licensure Requirements

To practice as an occupational therapist in the U.S., you must earn a master’s or doctoral degree from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy program and pass the national licensure exam administered by the NBCOT. OTs are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Entry-level professional degrees include the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). The national landscape shows a growing shift toward OTD degrees. You can explore all official professional resources through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Featured Partnership

Pacific Northwest University MSOT Program

PLU offers a direct pathway partnership with PNWU, guaranteeing admission interviews for qualified PLU graduates.

Learn About PNWU Partnership →

Interested in OT, but Exploring Majors & Pathways?

Occupational therapy is a holistic profession blending biological science, psychological insight, human movement, and creative problem-solving. Because of this interdisciplinary nature, there is no single required major for Pre-OT students at PLU.

You can major in any discipline that inspires you as long as you complete the prerequisite courses required by your target graduate programs. Here is how diverse majors across PLU build strong foundations for OT school:

Psychology & Sociology

Ideal for mastering mental health, developmental psychology, behavioral interventions, and social determinants of health, which are core pillars of occupational therapy.

Kinesiology & Biology

Delivers rigorous preparation in human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, movement analysis, and physical rehabilitation science.

Theatre, Music & Fine Arts

Creative arts majors excel in expressive therapy, non-verbal communication, adaptive fine-motor skill building, and innovative client engagement.

Social Work & Education

Prepares future OTs to navigate community advocacy, pediatric development, school-based therapy systems, and adaptive learning environments.

Find All Accredited U.S. OT Programs via ACOTE →

Washington OT Graduate Programs & Requirements

Requirements vary significantly across graduate schools. Work closely with your Pre-Health Advisor to build a customized course plan matching your specific target programs.

Washington Graduate Programs

  • Pacific Northwest University (PNWU): MSOT (Guaranteed interviews for qualified PLU grads; no specific course prereqs, GRE, or shadowing required).
  • University of Puget Sound (UPS): MSOT & OTD (Requires 3.0 GPA, A&P sequence, Medical Terminology, Lifespan Dev, and OT exposure).
  • University of Washington (UW): MOT (OTD planned Fall 2027; requires 3.0 GPA, A&P, Chemistry, Stats, Psych, Sociology/Anthropology, 20 hrs shadowing).
  • Eastern Washington University (EWU): MOT (Requires GRE, 10 hrs OT shadowing, 40 hrs life-challenge experience, A&P, Biology, Psych, English Comp).
  • Whitworth University: OTD (Requires 50 hrs shadowing, A&P, Physics, Intro Bio, Psych, Stats, Writing, Humanities).

Common Course Prerequisites

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology: BIOL 205 & 206 (8 credits)
  • Medical Terminology: KINS 800 (asynchronous)
  • Intro Biology & Chemistry: BIOL 225, CHEM 115
  • Physics: PHYS 125
  • Psychology Core: PSYC 101, Developmental Psych, Abnormal Psych
  • Sociology / Anthropology: SOCI 101 or upper-division ANTH
  • Statistics: STAT 232

Career Outlook & Growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow rapidly, much faster than the national average for all occupations. Occupational therapy continues to play a critical role in treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, stroke recovery, and traumatic injury management.

*Adapted from literature of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).