Occupational Therapist (OT)

Training

To become an occupational therapist, you must earn an undergraduate degree, followed by a graduate-level master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)-accredited program.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
   • Most occupational therapy programs require a bachelor's degree before entry into a graduate-level program.
   • While not strictly required, degrees in fields like biology, psychology, or health science are often beneficial due to prerequisite coursework in science and other subjects.
2. Complete a graduate degree
   • You must earn an entry-level master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from a program accredited by ACOTE.
   • Master's programs typically take two to three years, while doctoral programs may be longer. Doctoral degree: OTD.
   • These programs include coursework in areas like anatomy, neuroscience, and functional interventions, as well as supervised fieldwork to gain clinical experience.

License/Certification

After graduation, you need to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to obtain your certification, and then fulfill state-specific requirements for licensure to practice.

1. Pass the Certification Exam: After completing your graduate program, you must pass the national certification exam administered by the NBCOT to become a certified occupational therapist.
2. Obtain Licensure: The final step is to meet your state's licensing requirements, which vary by location but generally require graduation from an ACOTE-accredited program and passing the NBCOT exam.
3. Ongoing Professional Development: To maintain your license, occupational therapists must complete continuing education credits each year.

General Description

Rheumatology occupational therapy helps people manage the challenges of rheumatic conditions by teaching them strategies and providing adaptive equipment to perform daily tasks with greater ease and less pain. Occupational therapists (OTs) work with patients to address issues with self-care, home tasks, work, and hobbies by using techniques like joint protection, energy conservation, assistive devices, and lifestyle modifications to improve independence, well-being, and overall quality of life.

What an Occupational Therapist Does

• Assesses Challenges: An OT will conduct a thorough assessment to understand how your condition affects your daily activities, and which joints are impacted.
• Develops a Personalized Plan: Based on the assessment, they collaborate with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Rheumatology Skill Set

Key Areas of Intervention

• Joint Protection: OTs teach you how to modify your movements and daily habits to reduce stress on affected joints, preventing further damage and pain.
• Energy Conservation: You learn techniques to manage fatigue and conserve your energy, allowing you to participate in more activities throughout the day.
• Assistive Devices: The OT may recommend adaptive equipment or gadgets to help with tasks that have become difficult, such as special tools for opening jars or chopping vegetables.
• Home and Workplace Modifications: They provide advice on making changes to your home environment or workstation to make them more ergonomic and less strenuous.
• Splinting: OTs can advise on and provide splints to support and protect joints, which can improve hand function.
• Self-Management Strategies: You receive education and support on managing your condition, including pain and fatigue management, stress reduction, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Increased Independence: You gain the skills and tools to perform daily tasks more independently.
• Reduced Pain and Fatigue: Strategies are taught to minimize symptoms, allowing for greater participation in meaningful activities.
• Improved Quality of Life: By empowering you to manage your condition, OTs help you live a more fulfilling and productive life.
• Enhanced Hand Function: Specific exercises and advice help to maintain or improve the strength and mobility of your hands.

How/When to Refer

When a provider or other medical staff identifies barriers to care or specific physical limitations with activities of daily living, or need for further evaluation, an OT should be contacted for assistance.

Case Study

Rose, a 50-year-old single female, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis one month ago. She just started methotrexate and prednisone to control inflammation. She reports a one-year history of general pain and swelling in her hands and feet, morning stiffness lasting 2 hours, extreme fatigue and malaise, and often drops things held in her hands, particularly if they are heavy. She is having difficulty getting through her morning routine and getting to work. She does office work, and finds it difficult to type, walk or stand for prolonged periods, due to pain and fatigue. She has two children in their middle teens.

What Can This Profession do for Rose?

The OT can conduct a thorough assessment of Rose to understand how her condition affects all of her daily activities, and which joints are impacted.

• Design modifications to her movements and daily habits to reduce stress on affected joints
• Teach techniques to manage fatigue and conserve her energy
• Give advice on making changes to her home environment or workstation to make them more ergonomic
• May recommend adaptive equipment or gadgets to help with tasks that have become difficult, such as special tools for typing
• May provide splints to support and protect joints, which can improve hand function; exercised to increase hand strength
• Teach strategies to minimize pain

Updated July 2026