What Can You Do With a Master's in Occupational Therapy?

What can you do with a master’s in occupational therapy (OT)? The opportunities an occupational therapy degree holds are immense.

A master’s degree in OT is a versatile, valuable degree that opens doors throughout the healthcare field and in other “helping” professions.¹ In this blog, we’ll explore just a few of these opportunities in detail. Whether you’re an existing OT looking to expand your career among different health careers, this is the primer for you.

Clinical Practice

What can you do with an occupational therapy degree? Clinical practice is one of the most common career paths for OT program graduates.

While clinical work contains a diverse array of positions and possibilities, here’s a taste of health professions and clinical careers you might consider after graduation:

• Hospital work – Hospitals and other inpatient facilities employ OTs to help patients recover from injuries, illnesses, surgeries, and other health events that could interrupt their quality of life long-term. Hospital OTs focus on functional, practical skills that patients can take home after they’re discharged. This highlights why occupational therapy is important—it helps individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life.
• Rehabilitation centers – Patients often recover from severe neurological and physical conditions in rehab centers: inpatient facilities designed to help patients transition from the hospital back into their everyday lives.² OTs in rehab centers can contribute to these efforts to promote smooth patient transitions and skill-building.
• Private practice – Private practice can include both in-office and at-home care for patients, and private practice OTs play the same roles as their other clinical counterparts: helping patients unlock the skills and strength they need to live normal, functional, happy, and healthy lives.³

Specializing in a Niche Area of Occupational Therapy 

While bachelor’s degrees certainly open doors for future OTs, what can you do with a doctorate in occupational therapy—or a master’s degree? People with an advanced occupational therapy education often hone in on a specialty, like:

• Pediatric occupational therapy – OTs with advanced training can specialize in working with children, helping them overcome challenges to succeed in everyday life, school, sports, and more.
• Geriatric occupational therapy – Eldercare also offers a wealth of opportunities for OTs looking to specialize. Geriatric OTs equip older adults with the skills they need to maintain their independence and lifestyle later in life.
• Mental health – Mental health-centered occupational therapy is a growing specialty in the field.⁴ OTs in this specialty help people with mental health conditions navigate everyday life, offering coping strategies for complex needs.

MOT Degree

Expanding into Non-Traditional Roles 

What about non-clinical occupational therapy careers? People with advanced degrees in occupational therapy can be a good fit for jobs in:

• Healthcare administration – Leadership and administrative roles in healthcare can promote positive patient outcomes at scale. Trained OTs are especially useful in healthcare administration structures; they have their fingers on the pulse of what patients need to succeed outside of clinical settings. They can serve as institution-wide advocates for patient quality of life and practical care strategies.
• Academic and research work – Training the next generation of OTs and unearthing the data that leads to advancements in techniques and technologies can both be rewarding, stimulating, and impactful career paths for OT-educated health professionals.
• Consulting and advocacy – Non-profit organizations and for-profit healthcare brands alike rely on the expertise of trained professionals to advocate for patients, create company-wide policies, and more. OTs have a unique opportunity to contribute practical knowledge to both advocacy and consulting operations.

Working in Community and Public Health Settings 

Where can occupational therapists work? If you’re looking for a combination of clinical work and larger-scale impact, you have options. Some of these include:

• Community-based practice – OTs can work within communities to promote health and well-being. By designing and implementing programs that meet specific communities’ needs, OTs have the potential to impact many patients and create positive change over multiple generations.
• School system work – Many public and private school systems employ OTs to support students with exceptional needs. These OTs don’t just work with students: they provide insight to parents, teachers, and administrators to bolster overall student success.
• Non-profit organizations – While we touched on non-profit advocacy work above, OTs can take on multiple positions in the non-profit sector. Organizations that employ OTs typically focus on serving people with disabilities, rehab patients, and other underserved community members.

Building a Long-Term Career with a Master's in Occupational Therapy

While some of the careers above are open to people with bachelor’s degrees, some are reserved for OTs with advanced training—like diplomas from advanced degree programs, for instance. So, is occupational therapy a good career for those seeking long-term growth? Absolutely, especially with a master’s degree.

Master’s programs in occupational therapy offer OTs the chance to:

• Advance to leadership roles
• Discover and hone in on specialty skills and knowledge
• Support their overall professional development in an ever-evolving field

In addition, OTs can leverage the skills earned in an advanced degree program to start their own businesses, create specialized OT devices or products, and so much more.

Unlock Your Potential with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy

Whether you’re interested in a clinical caring profession (like occupational therapy in a rehab center), a non-clinical and high-impact career (in healthcare leadership, for instance), or a combination of both career types (as a school OT, perhaps), one of the simplest ways to open more doors in the OT field is to pursue an advanced degree.

The Master’s in Occupational Therapy program at Alliant International University is the perfect place to start your higher education journey. We offer hands-on learning experiences, instruction from experienced, licensed occupational therapist educators, and unmatched access to the latest healthcare technologies.

Reach out to an admissions counselor to discuss your career goals, learn more about our program, and start your path to a versatile, fulfilling profession.

Sources:

1. “8 Pros and Cons of Being an Occupational Therapist.” Indeed. March 20, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-cons-being-occu…. Accessed August 29, 2024.
2.  “Rehabilitation.” Medline Plus. October 16, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/rehabilitation.html. Accessed August 29, 2024.
3. “What Is Occupational Therapy?.” American Occupational Therapy Association. https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot. Accessed August 29, 2024.
4. "Occupation Therapy for Mental Health.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/specia…. Accessed August 29, 2024.