Occupational Therapist Resume Examples for United States (2026)
A occupational therapist resume needs to demonstrate functional independence outcomes, not just session counts — and in United States, it needs to do that in the format local recruiters and ATS software actually expect.
What employers in United States expect in this format
- Length: One page unless 10+ years experience
- Photo: No photo, no age, no marital status
- Quantify every bullet you can
- "Resume" not "CV" — CV means academic in the US
- Reverse chronological, single column
See the full United States resume format guide for the complete breakdown, or the full occupational therapist writing guide for the bullet-point formula and skills breakdown.
Must-have skills for a Occupational Therapist resume
Lead with these — they're the terms both recruiters and ATS software actually screen for in this role:
- Patient assessment
- Treatment plan development
- Adaptive equipment training
- Documentation
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
Nice-to-have skills
- OTR license
- Pediatric/geriatric specialty
- EMR systems
Sample occupational therapist resume bullet points
Starting points to adapt with your own real numbers — never copy these onto your own resume as-is.
- Developed and delivered individualized treatment plans for a caseload of 10-14 patients across acute rehab and outpatient settings
- Trained 30+ patients on adaptive equipment use, improving independent-living task completion rates by 25%
- Collaborated with a 6-person interdisciplinary care team to coordinate discharge planning for complex cases
Mistakes occupational therapist candidates make applying in United States
- Writing duty-based bullets ("Responsible for...") instead of outcome-based ones — US recruiters expect a number or result in nearly every line
- Including a photo, age, or marital status, which US employers are legally cautious about and some ATS platforms flag as a compliance risk
Frequently asked questions
How long should a occupational therapist resume be in United States?
One page unless 10+ years experience is the standard for United States. Keep it focused on the skills and results that best demonstrate functional independence outcomes, not just session counts.
What skills should a occupational therapist resume highlight for United States?
Lead with: Patient assessment, Treatment plan development, Adaptive equipment training, Documentation. These are the terms recruiters and ATS software actually screen for in this role.
Does a resume for United States need a photo?
No photo, no age, no marital status
What's the biggest mistake occupational therapist candidates make applying in United States?
Writing duty-based bullets ("Responsible for...") instead of outcome-based ones — US recruiters expect a number or result in nearly every line