Occupational Therapist Resume Example

How to write a occupational therapist resume summary

Write 3 or 4 sentences. Start with "Occupational therapist (OTR/L)" and your years of experience. Name the setting, the patient population, and your caseload. Add one outcome, and end with any specialty certification. Write a new summary for each setting, because a school and a hospital look for different words.

1. 1Title and years of experience
2. 2Setting and scope
3. 3One result with a number
4. 4Certifications or licenses

Occupational Therapist resume bullet points

Start each bullet with a verb, and put one number in it: caseload, sessions, orthoses, students, or an outcome score. Name the assessment or the outcome measure that you use, such as Section GG or the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). A rehabilitation manager reads these names as proof of your clinical level.

Use only numbers that are true. If you do not know an exact number, give a range or a frequency, such as “10–15 per day”. Do not put the names or private details of patients, clients, or students in a bullet.

Skills for a occupational therapist resume

Certifications and licenses

Write "OTR/L" in your title line or after the name at the top. Then list the national certification and the state license as separate items, with the issuer and the date. You do not need the license number, because employers check it online. If you work in more than one state, list each state license.

State license

Every state requires it. Write the state and the license type. Complete the continuing education that your state requires to renew it.

NBCOT certification (OTR)

You get the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) title when you pass the exam from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Most states do not require you to renew it to keep your license, but a few states do, and many employers ask for it. Check the rules in your state.

New graduate status

If you wait for the exam or the license, write "NBCOT exam scheduled" with the month, or "License pending" with the state. Some states give new graduates a limited permit or a temporary license. Check the rules in your state.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities often require it. Write the issuer and keep it current.

Specialty certification

Optional. Examples are Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). Another example is Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Most require work experience before the exam.

Physical agent modalities

Some states require extra training or a separate approval before an occupational therapist uses modalities such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation. Check the rules in your state, and list the approval if you have it.

ATS keywords for a occupational therapist resume

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software that employers use to collect and sort applications. Recruiters search it for words from the job posting. Job postings for this role often use the words below. Use a word only when it is true for you.

• occupational therapy evaluation
• activities of daily living
• IADL
• plan of care
• goal writing
• neuro rehabilitation
• orthotic fabrication
• cognitive assessment
• fine motor
• sensory processing
• adaptive equipment
• home safety assessment
• caregiver training
• discharge planning
• Section GG
• interdisciplinary team
• Medicare documentation
• IEP
• OTR/L
• COTA supervision

Tips for a occupational therapist resume

1. 1

   Start with the setting

   Occupational therapy jobs are very different in each setting: acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, skilled nursing, home health, and schools. Write the setting in your title line and in each job summary. If you change settings, write a summary that names the skills that you can use in the new setting.

2. 2

   Show outcomes with the measure that your setting uses

   Rehabilitation hospitals report scores such as Section GG, and outpatient clinics often use patient-reported measures. Schools track Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. Use the measure that the employer knows, and give the change from the start to the end.

3. 3

   Write fieldwork as experience if you are a new graduate

   Make a section called "Fieldwork Experience". List each Level II placement with the setting, the site type, and the number of weeks. Add 2 or 3 bullets with numbers, such as your caseload at the end of the placement or a staff in-service that you gave.

4. 4

   Name your documentation skills

   Many employers want a therapist who writes clear notes that meet payer rules. Write the documentation system, such as Epic or WebPT, and the payer rules that you know, such as Medicare documentation. Add a productivity number only if it is accurate.

5. 5

   Keep it to one or two pages

   One page fits most new graduates. An experienced therapist can use a second page for certifications, continuing education, and fieldwork teaching. Use a plain layout, so an applicant tracking system can read it.

Frequently asked questions