Occupational Therapist Resume Example That Passes ATS Screening
A strong occupational therapist resume should balance clinical expertise with patient outcome data. This example shows how to present treatment planning skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and measurable rehabilitation results in a way that resonates with hiring managers at hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Full Resume Sample
Linh Tran-Morrison
Occupational Therapist
Professional Summary
Licensed occupational therapist with 6 years of experience in acute care and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Skilled in developing individualized treatment plans for patients recovering from neurological injuries, orthopedic surgeries, and chronic pain conditions. Known for strong rapport with patients and consistent improvements in functional independence scores across caseloads.
Experience
Occupational Therapist II
Banner Health · Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2021 - Present
- Manage a caseload of 35-40 patients weekly across acute care and inpatient rehabilitation units, addressing conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury
- Improved average patient Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores by 22% over a 12-month period through revised treatment protocols and goal-setting frameworks
- Mentored 4 occupational therapy students during clinical rotations, receiving consistently positive feedback from the university fieldwork coordinator
- Collaborated with physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and case managers during weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate discharge planning
Occupational Therapist
Select Medical · Tucson, AZ · Jun 2018 - Feb 2021
- Provided occupational therapy services in a long-term acute care hospital, treating patients with complex medical conditions requiring extended rehabilitation stays
- Designed and implemented a splinting program for upper extremity contracture prevention that reduced contracture incidence by 30% within the first year
- Documented patient progress in compliance with Medicare guidelines, maintaining a 98% audit pass rate across quarterly chart reviews
- Trained nursing staff on safe patient handling techniques and adaptive equipment use, reducing patient fall rates on the rehabilitation unit by 15%
Occupational Therapy Assistant (PRN)
Kindred Healthcare · Tucson, AZ · Jan 2017 - May 2018
- Delivered treatment sessions under OT supervision for patients in skilled nursing facilities, focusing on activities of daily living and fine motor rehabilitation
- Assisted with group therapy sessions for cognitive rehabilitation, serving 8-12 patients per session
- Maintained thorough daily treatment notes and contributed to progress reports for the supervising therapist
Education
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) — Northern Arizona University, 2018 (Fieldwork placements at Flagstaff Medical Center and Yavapai Regional Medical Center)
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences — University of Arizona, 2016
Skills
Clinical Skills: Neurological rehabilitation, Orthopedic rehabilitation, Splinting and orthotics, Cognitive assessment, ADL training, Pain management techniques
Assessment Tools: Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Manual Muscle Testing, Grip strength dynamometry, Berg Balance Scale
Documentation & Compliance: Medicare documentation standards, ICD-10 coding, Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner), Treatment plan development, Discharge planning
Soft Skills: Patient education, Interdisciplinary collaboration, Clinical mentorship, Family training and counseling
Certifications
Licensed Occupational Therapist - Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy · NBCOT Certified (OTR) · CPR/BLS Certified - American Heart Association · LSVT BIG Certified
See how your resume scores against ATS systems
Check Your ATS Score Free →Why This Resume Works
Quantified patient outcomes front and center. Hiring managers in healthcare want to see that your clinical work produces results. The 22% FIM score improvement and 30% contracture reduction give concrete evidence of effectiveness, not just a list of duties.
Clear progression from assistant to independent practitioner. Showing the trajectory from OTA to OT II demonstrates professional growth and commitment to the field. This kind of career arc reassures employers that you are invested for the long term.
Compliance and documentation skills are highlighted. In healthcare, documentation quality directly affects reimbursement. Calling out the 98% audit pass rate signals that this candidate understands the business side of clinical work, not just the patient-facing side.
Mentorship and leadership woven into clinical role. Even without a formal leadership title, mentoring students and training nursing staff shows readiness for senior or lead OT positions. This is a subtle but effective way to position yourself for advancement.
ATS Keywords for Occupational Therapist Resumes
ATS systems scanning Occupational Therapist applications look for these terms. The resume above weaves them in naturally rather than listing them outright.
Section-by-Section Writing Tips
Professional Summary
Lead with your license status, years of experience, and primary clinical settings. Avoid vague statements like 'passionate about helping people' and instead name the patient populations and conditions you treat most often.
Experience Section
Each bullet should start with an action and, wherever possible, include a measurable result. Focus on patient outcomes, program development, and efficiency improvements rather than listing routine tasks every OT performs.
Skills Section
Organize skills into clinical, assessment, and administrative categories. Name specific assessment tools and EHR systems you have used, since recruiters often search for these exact terms.
Education Section
Include fieldwork placements if they were at well-known facilities or in specialized settings. This is especially valuable for mid-career therapists whose early clinical exposure shaped their specialty focus.
Common Occupational Therapist Resume Mistakes
Hiring managers reviewing Occupational Therapist resumes flag these problems repeatedly. Each one can knock your ATS score or land your application in the rejection pile.
- Listing every diagnosis you have ever treated instead of focusing on your primary areas of expertise and the populations most relevant to the job you want.
- Omitting licensure and NBCOT certification details, which are non-negotiable requirements that recruiters check first.
- Using vague bullets like 'provided occupational therapy services' without specifying patient volume, setting, or outcomes.
- Forgetting to mention documentation and compliance skills, which are critical for healthcare employers concerned about audit readiness and reimbursement.
- Neglecting to include continuing education or specialty certifications like LSVT BIG, CHT, or sensory integration training that differentiate you from other candidates.
- Writing a summary that reads like a personal mission statement rather than a concise snapshot of your qualifications and clinical focus.