Occupational Therapist Resume: Examples & Guide (2026)

An occupational therapist resume is filtered first by a healthcare applicant tracking system looking for an active license and the right setting experience, then by a rehab director judging fit for a specific population and caseload. Your license and certifications, the settings you have worked, and evidence of functional patient outcomes are what get you shortlisted.

Here is how to structure an OT resume that clears the ATS and shows the impact of your interventions.

What employers screen for first

• An active OT license and the state(s) it covers, plus NBCOT certification (OTR/L).
• Setting experience: acute care, inpatient/outpatient rehab, SNF, schools, home health, hand therapy.
• Population: pediatric, adult, geriatric, neuro, ortho, or mental health.
• Required skills: evaluation, treatment planning, documentation, and reimbursement knowledge.

How to structure an OT resume

• Header: name with credentials (e.g. "Sam Patel, OTR/L"), phone, email, location.
• Licenses & certifications: listed early, with state, NBCOT, and any specialty certs.
• Summary: years of experience, setting, population, and a standout outcome.
• Experience: facility, setting, dates, and outcome-focused treatment bullets.
• Skills: assessments, interventions, EHR systems, and specialty modalities.
• Education and fieldwork (Level II fieldwork matters for new graduates).

Skills and keywords to include

Match the setting and population. A pediatric school role and an inpatient neuro role screen for different keywords — use the ones that apply to you.

• Clinical: ADL/IADL training, evaluation, treatment planning, splinting, sensory integration.
• Assessments: COPM, FIM, MMSE, sensory profiles, ergonomic assessment.
• Systems & compliance: Epic, Cerner, documentation, ICD-10 coding, Medicare/insurance.
• Certifications: OTR/L, plus specialties (CHT, SIPT, certified driving rehab).

Resume bullet examples

Weak: "Treated patients and wrote up notes."

Strong: "Managed a caseload of 12 inpatient rehab patients/day, with 85% meeting ADL independence goals at discharge."

Weak: "Helped kids in a school setting."

Strong: "Designed sensory and fine-motor programs for 40+ students, improving handwriting legibility scores an average of 25%."

Common mistakes to avoid

• Burying your license and OTR/L credential at the bottom of the page.
• Listing interventions without showing functional patient outcomes.
• Omitting caseload size, setting, or population the posting names.
• No documentation or reimbursement keywords — employers screen for them.

Quick checklist

• License and OTR/L in your name line and a dedicated certifications section.
• Setting and population visible immediately.
• Bullets show caseload and functional outcomes at discharge.
• Assessments, systems, and compliance keywords match the posting.
• One page for most clinicians; two for extensive experience.

Ready to build yours? Browse more resume examples, start from a free Applygrid resume template, keep it ATS-friendly, and pair it with a tailored letter from our AI cover letter generator.