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Studies & Degrees in Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a health profession that helps people do the everyday activities, or occupations, that matter to them: washing and dressing, cooking, going to school, working, taking part in social life. Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses or disabilities, and help them with daily living, vocational and other skills that promote independence. A typical example is teaching a person who has had a stroke how to get dressed again, or adapting a home so that an older person can keep living there safely.

It is not the same as physiotherapy. Physiotherapy concentrates on movement and physical function; occupational therapy starts from the activity the person wants or needs to do and works on the person, the task and the environment. The two professions often work in the same team.

What students learn

Degrees combine health sciences with psychology and social sciences and a large amount of supervised practice. Students study anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and neuroscience, the theory of occupation, assessment methods, mental health, paediatrics, care of older people, splinting and assistive products, and the adaptation of homes, schools and workplaces. Placements take place in health centres, hospitals and other care settings and are assessed.

Qualifications and levels

Occupational therapy is a regulated profession in most countries, so the route to practice is fixed by law and differs by country.

  • Spain. The profession requires the official bachelor's degree (Grado en Terapia Ocupacional), which has 240 ECTS credits and includes supervised placements and a final project. The Universidad Católica de Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, for example, teaches its 240 ECTS degree in Spanish.
  • United Kingdom. According to NHS Health Careers, a degree in occupational therapy usually takes three years full time or up to six years part time, and graduates of other subjects can take a master's degree in one to two years. "Occupational therapist" is a protected title, and graduates must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The three-year BSc at the University of Southampton gives eligibility to register with the HCPC and lists the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) among its accreditations.
  • United States. Occupational therapists typically need a master's degree in occupational therapy, which follows a bachelor's degree and usually takes two to three years. All states require a licence, and therapists must pass a qualifying exam to use the title Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). Columbia University states that its entry-level programme has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) since 1943, and it also offers a post-professional doctorate. Occupational therapy assistants typically need an associate's degree from an accredited programme.
  • Australia. The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) lasts four years, and registration is required to work as an occupational therapist in Australia.

A degree obtained in one country does not automatically allow practice in another. Before enrolling, students who plan to work elsewhere should ask the regulator of that country which qualifications it recognises.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 82 schools that teach occupational therapy. The United States has 37 and Spain 19, followed by the United Kingdom with five and Australia with three. Chile, Brazil, Canada and Ireland have two each, and there are also schools in New Zealand, Argentina, Iceland and Finland.

Programmes are taught in the language of the country, because placements involve direct contact with patients: Spanish in Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America, English in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. International applicants normally have to prove a high level of the teaching language and, for placements, meet health screening and vaccination requirements.

Careers

Occupational therapists work in hospitals and rehabilitation units, health centres, mental health services, nursing homes, schools and early intervention services, home care, and private practice. Some specialise in children, older people, hand therapy, neurological rehabilitation or the adaptation of workplaces.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of occupational therapists will grow 15 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 10,000 openings a year. For occupational therapy assistants and aides it projects growth of 20 percent over the same period. These are US figures and do not describe other labour markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy focuses on movement and physical function. Occupational therapy focuses on the daily activities a person needs or wants to do, and adapts the task or the environment as well as treating the person.

How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?

In Spain, the official degree has 240 ECTS credits, which is four academic years. In the United Kingdom a degree usually takes three years full time. In the United States the usual route is a bachelor's degree followed by a master's of two to three years.

Can I work in another country with my degree?

Only after that country's regulator has recognised it. The profession is regulated in Spain, the title is protected in the United Kingdom, all US states require a licence and Australia requires registration, so check the rules of the country where you want to work before choosing a programme.

Are there shorter qualifications?

In the United States, occupational therapy assistants typically need an associate's degree from an accredited programme and work under the direction of occupational therapists. It is a different qualification and does not lead to the therapist's licence.