Resume template · Updated October 2026
Occupational therapist resume template
Short answer
Daniel suits an occupational therapist, especially in pediatrics: it prints skills before experience in a three-column grid that holds assessments and interventions compactly, and its rounded grey heading pills give a softer look that fits schools and family-centred clinics. The fictional sample serves about 45 students across three elementary schools after two years in an outpatient pediatric clinic, and holds the NBCOT OTR certification.
Download the occupational therapist sample
Jasmine is a fictional occupational therapist. Replace every detail with your own before you send it.
The files are made in your browser by Resumity's own exporters, from this sample. The builder opens it as your own resume: click any line to replace it. Free plan, no watermark.
Why Daniel suits an occupational therapist resume
Daniel prints skills ahead of work experience in a three-column grid, so evaluation areas, interventions and named assessments such as the BOT-2 fit in a few lines near the top. Its rounded grey heading pills give a softer look than plain rules, which suits school districts and pediatric clinics, and the summary prints first for license and caseload.
Second choice: Leslie. Leslie prints experience first with one blue accent, better for hospital, rehab or hand therapy roles where setting and caseload lead.
What goes in each section, in Daniel's order
Daniel prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.
- Professional Summary. License and NBCOT certification, setting (schools, pediatric clinic, hospital, inpatient rehab, hand therapy, home health), years and caseload.
- Skills. Evaluation and intervention areas first, then the standardized assessments and tools you use. The grid prints without group labels, so the first column should match the posting.
- Work Experience. Caseload, evaluations per year, the goals you write (IEP or plan of care) and how you work with teachers, nurses or families. One program you started says more than a list of duties.
- Education. Master's or doctorate in occupational therapy with school and year; new graduates add fieldwork placements with setting and weeks.
- Certifications. NBCOT certification, state license and any specialty training with the year. These print near the end, so the headline and summary carry the OTR and license.
The sample resume as text
The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.
Jasmine Patel
Occupational Therapist, OTR/L, School-Based Pediatrics
Madison, WI | jasmine.patel@example.com | (608) 555-0181
Licensed occupational therapist and NBCOT-certified OTR with seven years in pediatrics, serving about 45 students across three elementary schools. Evaluates fine motor, sensory and self-care needs, writes IEP goals with teachers and families, and coaches classroom staff on simple supports that work all day.
Experience
School-Based Occupational Therapist, Yahara Valley School District, Madison, WI (08/2021 to Present)
- Serve about 45 students in three elementary schools, from evaluation to IEP goals, therapy and progress reports.
- Complete about 30 evaluations a year using standardized assessments and classroom observation.
- Started a handwriting support routine with kindergarten teachers that moved common practice into the classroom.
- Train paraprofessionals on sensory breaks and self-care routines so strategies carry through the school day.
- Report progress on every IEP goal each quarter in plain language for families.
Occupational Therapist, Little Steps Pediatric Therapy, Middleton, WI (06/2019 to 07/2021)
- Treated about 30 children a week with developmental delays, autism and coordination disorders.
- Coached parents on feeding and dressing routines at home.
- Co-led a summer fine motor group with the clinic's speech-language pathologists.
Education
Master of Science, Occupational Therapy, Badger Prairie University (05/2019)
BS, Kinesiology, Badger Prairie University (05/2016)
Certifications
- Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), NBCOT (2019)
- Occupational Therapist License, Wisconsin, State licensing board (2019)
Skills
Pediatric evaluation, Fine motor and handwriting, Sensory processing strategies, Self-care training, IEP goal writing, Assistive technology, BOT-2, Beery VMI, Sensory Profile 2, Coaching teachers, Clear family updates
How to make the sample yours
Change the setting vocabulary
Schools talk about IEPs, accommodations and classroom access; hospitals about ADLs, discharge planning and functional mobility; hand clinics about orthoses and range of motion. Rewrite the bullets in your setting's words.
Name your assessments
BOT-2, Beery VMI, Sensory Profile 2 or adult measures: list the ones you administer and score.
Show collaboration
OT depends on teachers, nurses, physical therapists and families. A bullet on how you coordinate with them shows it.
New graduate version
List Level II fieldwork placements with setting and weeks, and put the degree and certification status near the top.
Adult settings
For hospitals or rehab units, Leslie's experience-first order may fit better than Daniel's softer look.
Keywords to keep where they are true
Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.
- occupational therapist
- OTR/L
- pediatric occupational therapy
- school-based therapy
- IEP goals
- evaluation and treatment
- fine motor skills
- sensory processing
- activities of daily living
- standardized assessments
- family education
- assistive technology
- progress reports
- interdisciplinary team
Mistakes to avoid
- Student or patient names, even first names, in examples.
- A summary with no setting or caseload.
- Listing assessments you have never scored.
- Adult-rehab wording on a school application, or the reverse.
How the sample PDF reads in text extractors
We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.
| Extractor | Name, email, phone | Headings | Bullets intact |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdf.js 4.10.38 | All found | 5 of 5 | 8 of 8 |
| pdftotext (Xpdf) 4.00 | All found | 5 of 5 | 8 of 8 |
| pypdf 6.13.0 | All found | 5 of 5 | 8 of 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What does OTR mean on a resume?
Occupational Therapist Registered. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says therapists must pass the qualifying exam to use the title, and that all states require occupational therapists to be licensed, so list both the certification and the license.
Does an occupational therapist need a master's or a doctorate?
The BLS says occupational therapists typically need a master's degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program that includes fieldwork. List whichever degree you hold, with the year.
How do I show school-based experience?
Caseload, number of schools, evaluations per year, IEP goals and progress reporting, and how you coach teachers and aides.
How do I move from pediatrics to adult rehab?
Lead with what transfers (ADL training, evaluation, family education), add adult fieldwork or continuing education, and rewrite the skills in rehab terms.
Should I keep my NBCOT certification current if my state only requires a license?
It is worth considering. NBCOT notes that some states accept current NBCOT certification toward licensure renewal requirements, and the credential travels with you if you move.
Will applicant tracking systems read this Daniel PDF?
The sample PDF read back with its contact details, all 5 section headings and all 8 bullets intact in three open-source text extractors (pdf.js, pdftotext and pypdf). Commercial systems such as Workday, Greenhouse or Taleo were not tested, and each employer configures its own.
Guides and templates for this resume
Sources, checked 29 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists, How to Become One (typically need a master's degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program that includes fieldwork; all states require licensure; therapists must pass the qualifying exam to use the title Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR))
- NBCOT: Certification (OTR and COTA certifications; eleven states accept current NBCOT certification as an option for licensure continuing education requirements)
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