Occupational Therapist Resume Skills

Evaluating a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, work tasks, and leisure activities identifies barriers and guides treatment planning.

Breaking down activities into component steps and modifying them to match patient abilities is the fundamental approach of occupational therapy.

Fabricating custom splints and recommending orthotic devices supports healing, prevents deformity, and improves function for hand and upper extremity patients.

Treating cognitive deficits including memory, attention, and executive function through structured activities helps patients with neurological conditions regain independence.

Addressing sensory processing challenges in pediatric and neurological populations through graded sensory experiences improves functional participation.

Recommending and training patients on adaptive equipment, wheelchair seating, and environmental modifications maximizes independence.

Writing evidence-based treatment plans and progress notes that demonstrate medical necessity supports reimbursement and continuity of care.

Assessing environments and recommending modifications enables patients to function safely and independently in their own settings.

Applying physical agent modalities, therapeutic exercise, and neuromuscular re-education addresses underlying physical impairments.

Using validated assessment tools to measure progress objectively demonstrates treatment effectiveness and supports clinical decision-making.

Creativity

Describe innovative treatment approaches or activity adaptations you developed to help patients overcome functional barriers.

Patience

Show how you supported patients through gradual progress and frustrating setbacks during recovery.

Empathy

Describe how you built therapeutic relationships and understood patients' lived experiences with disability.

Problem Solving

Highlight how you found creative solutions when standard approaches did not work for particular patients.

Collaboration

Show how you worked with interdisciplinary teams, families, and employers to support patient outcomes.

Occupational Therapist License (OTR/L)

State Licensing Board / NBCOT

Mandatory licensure obtained after passing the NBCOT exam, required to practice occupational therapy in all states.

Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)

HTCC

Prestigious specialty certification for OTs specializing in upper extremity rehabilitation, highly valued in orthopedic settings.

Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)

RESNA

Demonstrates expertise in wheelchair seating, mobility, and assistive technology assessment and provision.

Sensory Integration Certification (SIPT)

WPS/USC

Specialized certification for administering and interpreting sensory integration assessments, essential for pediatric OT practice.