Careers

Occupational therapists are certified and licensed healthcare professionals who help individuals, communities, and populations participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday occupations. 

Employment outlook for occupational therapists is projected to grow 17 percent nationally from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for occupational therapists is $86,280.

The American Occupational Therapy Association offers more information on pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy. 

Program outcomes

Occupational Therapy doctoral program graduates will: 

• Work in a variety of practice settings including healthcare (acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, home health, skilled nursing), educational (early intervention and schools), and community based (club house, homeless shelters) settings.
• Work with diverse clients with a range of illnesses, injuries, and disabilities across the life span.
• Apply evidence to design individualized intervention, establish and implement programs, and lead interdisciplinary teams to meet the needs of individuals, communities, and populations. 

Graduates are prepared to:   

• Demonstrate understanding of the determinants of health and the influence of occupation on the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and populations.
• Demonstrate awareness of the experiences of culturally diverse individuals, communities, and populations, and the competencies required to mitigate challenges in healthcare access and outcomes. 
• Analyze and apply the theories and conceptual models that guide occupational therapy practice across the human lifespan and distinguish occupation as its central outcome.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret relevant data to determine the relationship of occupations, client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, contexts and environments on health promotion and satisfying occupational performance and participation.
• Utilize culturally appropriate, client-centered, occupation-focused, and evidence-informed principles to design and implement occupational therapy practice using remedial, adaptive, compensatory, consultative, and educational approaches in a variety of professional settings across the lifespan. 
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams to support individuals, communities and populations access and optimally participate in occupations that give life meaning and improve health and wellbeing. 
• Access, appraise and interpret research to guide decision making. 
• Produce and disseminate guided, individualized, scholarly projects that advance occupational therapy practice and meet the needs of individuals, communities, and populations in the Hampton Roads region and beyond.
• Identify, design, and engage in initiatives that meet society’s occupational needs within existing organizations and through new, entrepreneurial services and programs to move the profession of occupational therapy forward as an integral discipline in healthcare, human services, and education.
• Apply principles of leadership and advocacy to improve service access and delivery in complex systems and organizations, influence policy and regulation, and manage personnel and programs. 
• Demonstrate responsibility for life-long learning and the development and translation of best available evidence for practice, policy, and research.