Whether you’re exploring the idea of pursuing a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or have worked in the field for years, you may have found plenty to love about this diverse profession.^1,2  

And yet, there may come a time—and perhaps that’s now—when you’d like to focus on a certain challenge clients face. For some aspiring or established occupational therapists, this might mean dedicating their life’s work to helping survivors of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) adjust to a new normal and boost their independence.³ For others, it might be working exclusively with children with developmental delays.

This is where specialty certifications in occupational therapy come in.⁴ Created to give occupational therapists the skills and knowledge they need to work with specialty populations, they may offer you the opportunity to practice what you’re most passionate about. For instance, if you're interested in occupational therapy and mental health, obtaining a specialty certification can enhance your ability to support clients facing mental health challenges.

Keep reading as we explore occupational therapy speciality certifications and why earning one might align with your larger educational and professional development goals.

What Are Specialty Certifications in Occupational Therapy?

“Occupational therapy specialties” refers to particular areas of focus within the discipline.
An occupational therapist is described by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as a practitioner who enables “people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”

A “typical” occupational therapist may work with a range of people and challenges in any given day, from tutoring an amputee on how to use adaptive equipment to show a stroke victim how to button their shirt.

Specialties in occupational therapy focus on a single complication, goal, or population, like diabetes or seniors. Occupational therapists who hold certain certifications are officially recognized by the AOTA as distinguished therapists who possess:⁵

• Advanced skills and clinical experience
• Devotion to continued expertise in a particular niche

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5 Popular Specialty Certifications for Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapy may have started in 1917, which is relatively young in the medical profession.⁶ But the discipline has expanded considerably in the past 108 years. Today, there are more than 30 occupational therapy specialties. Let’s dive into five of the most popular.

#1 Certified Hand Specialist (CHT)

We use our hands for, well, everything. And yet, a number of conditions can dramatically impact our ability to use them and our upper extremities, including our shoulders, elbows, arms, forearms, and wrists.⁷

Certified hand specialists (CHTs) help people regain their greatest level of function. They support a wide range of challenges in these anatomical areas, including (but not limited to):

• Disease
• Trauma
• Congenital or “acquired” deformities
• Injuries, such as simple fingertip injuries
• Replanted extremities 
• Arthritis
• Neurological conditions, like a stroke

Certified hand specialists work alongside a patient’s medical team to mitigate the limitations their condition has created. This involves relying on non-operative interventions, post-surgical physical rehabilitation, and preventative care measures.

Here are just a few examples of what a certified hand therapy specialist may do:

• Show a client how to use adaptive equipment and devices to bolster their hand function
• Provide education and guidance on joint protection
• Establish an exercise program to enhance a patient’s mobility
• Recommend custom orthotics
• Assist with pain management strategies
• Offer wound and scar care

Like occupational therapists in general, a certified hand specialist may work in a variety of settings, such as inpatient rehab, hospitals, and home health.⁸ But they may also be brought in by business organizations to demonstrate healthy hand habits.

#2 Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)

According to the CDC, more than five million American adults have autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—a developmental and neurological condition that can impact a person’s communication skills, behaviors, learning abilities, and more. ^9,10  Another 1 in 36 American children have autism spectrum disorder.¹¹

An occupational therapist who has advanced to a certified autism specialist (CAS) can support those living with autism spectrum disorder. These specialists may provide support in a range of areas, like:¹²  

• Sensory processing issues
• Behaviors
• Social interactions
• Education
• Communication (both in the patient and with their loved ones and/or caregivers)

This specific occupational therapist certification is offered by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education (IBCCES), demonstrating that you have the advanced knowledge, skills, and understanding to work with people on the autism spectrum.¹³

Occupational therapists who hold certification in this specialty may work with clients in:

• Schools and other educational environments
• Nonprofit organizations
• Therapist offices

#3 Board Certification in Gerontology (BCG)

Interested in working with the elderly? Pursuing Board Certification in Gerontology (BCG) may allow you to do so, and potentially make a valuable impact on seniors’ lives.

This occupational therapy speciality signifies that, like a CAS, you have gained a high level of expertise in working with older adults.¹⁴ More specifically, it shows that you have the skills and knowledge needed to assist seniors with a handful of age-related challenges, like:¹⁵

• Range of motion complications
• Stroke
• Memory loss
• Vision impairment
• Arthritis 
• Falling

Gerontology-certified occupational therapists may help seniors in a number of ways. This might include establishing safety measures throughout an older adult’s home and instructing them on fall prevention strategies. In other cases, an occupational therapist may offer support for cognitive decline, such as installing environmental modifications or teaching a patient with dementia how to use adaptive devices.

Similar to all occupational therapists, BCG OTs aim to help seniors retain their independence for as long as possible.

#4 Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS)

Occupational therapists may also have the chance to explore becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Specialist, or CDRS.¹⁶

Broadly speaking, these experts aim to help people who have suffered from a spinal cord injury, amputation, illness, or other trauma/condition inhibiting their ability to drive.¹⁷

As a CDRS, you might:

• Assist clients in choosing the right adaptive equipment for their vehicles 
• Show drivers how to use their adaptive tools and devices
• Provide safety training

All of this aligns with an OT’s primary goal: To help their patients find autonomy.

#5 Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP)

If you’ve long enjoyed working with children, earning your Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP) might be for you.¹⁸

Board Certification in Pediatrics shows a special commitment to children’s health, wellness, and independence. You may work with children who have cerebral palsy, for example, or an adolescent who has developmental delays. You might:

• Help children and teens develop and hone the fine motor skills they need to accomplish daily tasks, such as brushing their teeth or using utensils to eat
• Provide guidance on other self-care activities
• Offer cognitive, social, physical, and mental health support
• Draw up exercises to nurture their progress

3 Benefits of Obtaining a Specialty Certification

Bear in mind that all of the specialty certifications in occupational therapy outlined above (and those not mentioned here) are voluntary certifications.

So, why should you pursue one?

Let’s look at a few of the leading reasons.

Increased Career Opportunities

Whether you choose to pursue certification in mental health or diabetes care, a specialty certification serves as a testament to your dedication—to the field of occupational therapy, yes, but also to a specific population that your expertise could benefit.

What’s more, the AOTA notes that earning an additional certification may help you navigate a host of practice settings.¹⁹ This alone may help you broaden your expertise.

Advanced Skills and Knowledge

Occupational therapy specialty certifications demand continuing education (more on this in a minute). This helps ensure you stay on the cutting edge of your discipline, and have the advanced skills and knowledge needed to recommend the most effective therapeutic approaches.

Improved Patient Care

Such expertise plays directly into patient care, in that you can customize each treatment plan with utmost knowledge on the patient’s condition or limitation.

How to Earn Specialty Certification in Occupational Therapy

The specific eligibility requirements for a specialty certification will hinge on the type of certification you’re after. A certified hand therapist (CHT), for example, must:

• Earn a master’s in occupational therapy
• Have a current state license
• Take courses in hand therapy 
• Obtain 4,000 or more hours in clinical experience, working specifically with the upper extremities
• Pass the Hand Therapy Certification Examination

Many other specialities follow a similar route. Knowing how to get an occupational therapy license is an essential step in this process.

Educational and Clinical Experience Requirements

Occupational therapists must hold an advanced degree to practice. But how long is OT school? Typically, a master's program in occupational therapy can take two to three years to complete after obtaining a bachelor's degree.  Practitioners who are interested in becoming certified in a speciality must follow this with continuing education in their desired niche. This varies according to the speciality; for instance, a CAS must complete 14 hours of continuing education in the realm of autism.

Clinical experience is also usually required, but the number of hours required will depend on your specialty. To become Board Certified in Gerontology, for example, you must dedicate a minimum of 5,000 hours to gerontology practice.

Certification Exams

Occupational therapist certification exams demonstrate your specialized understanding of a condition or population. For example, aspiring BCG OTs must apply for their certification with the AOTA.

Continuing Education 

Continuing education (beyond what’s required to become specialized in the first place) helps occupational therapist specialists remain on top of the latest, evidence-based practices. It may also involve:

• Advanced practice in their discipline 
• Learning emerging research
• Leadership and advocacy

The result? The potential to help enhance the quality of your patients’ lives—now, and in the future.

Take Your Occupational Therapy Career to the Next Level

Specialty certifications in occupational therapy do double-duty: They allow practitioners to dive deep into their field of interest and may enrich patient care.

Alliant International University can help take you there. Alliant International University offers a Master of Occupational Therapy program that provides students with the instruction and fieldwork they need to excel in their healthcare career. Our occupational therapy program was designed with the modern student in mind, featuring a combination of labs, in-person classes, and online courses. All are led by experienced occupational therapists who are eager to shape the next generation of practitioners.

Explore what awaits in the world of occupational therapy by requesting more information today.  

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Sources: 

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9. “Key Findings: Estimated Number of Adults Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States, 2017.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/publications/adults-living-with-autism-spect…. Accessed September 17, 2024. 
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