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Now is the Time to Study Occupational Therapy

October 19, 2025

Now is the perfect time to consider studying Occupational Therapy (OT). From booming demand to flexible work environments, meaningful impact, and future-proof relevance—this field offers a compelling mix of purpose and opportunity. Despite all of this, there is an observable drop in applications to OT programs – making now the perfect time to study to become an occupational therapist.

One of the most concrete reasons to go into occupational therapy today is the job outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2024 to 2034—much faster than the average for all occupations.


That translates to roughly 10,000 openings per year over the decade, driven by both growth and replacement needs. Why the surge? Key drivers include the aging population (older adults often require functional support to live independently) and expanded recognition of OT’s role in helping people recover from injury, chronic illness, or disability.  Because so many health-fields are saturated or highly competitive, choosing a profession with demonstrably strong demand gives you a strategic advantage right now.

Unlike some care roles that focus strictly on medical treatments, occupational therapists help patients engage in meaningful daily activity—from getting dressed, cooking a meal, returning to work, or playing with loved ones. According to the OT profession’s own framing, it’s about supporting “occupations” (in the sense of meaningful roles and tasks) and enabling participation.
If you’re drawn to doing work that feels deeply human and meaningful, OT allows you to partner with clients across lifespans and settings: children with developmental delays, adults recovering from stroke or injury, older adults adapting to changes in mobility or cognition. That breadth of practice means you’ll have many ways to contribute and shape your career toward your values.

In short: you’re not just “fixing a body” but helping someone regain autonomy, dignity, and engagement in life. Another major plus: OT isn’t locked into one type of setting or career path. Practitioners work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, home-health, skilled nursing facilities, community settings, even consulting and workplace ergonomics.

This flexibility allows you to tailor your work-life balance (e.g., school schedule, home-health visits, part-time roles) or pivot over your career (e.g., move into leadership, specialize in pediatrics, hand therapy, gerontology).
For undergraduate students looking ahead, this means you’re not boxing yourself into a narrow niche—you’re entering a field with options and adaptability.

You may wonder: “Won’t automation or technology replace some health professions?” While all fields will face change, OT has unique resilience and even advantages. Because occupational therapy depends on human connection, adaptation, context, and creativity, technology tends to augment rather than replace the therapist.

Emerging trends include virtual-reality therapies, telehealth/tele-rehab models, community-based interventions, and work-site ergonomic/prevention roles. In other words: becoming an OT today positions you at the intersection of human-centered care and innovation. As long as there is a need for people to live meaningfully, engage in their daily tasks, and adapt to life changes, OT will remain relevant.

So, you’ll be building a career that is not only in demand now, but likely durable into the future. As you prepare now (in your undergraduate years) for graduate-school readiness, studying OT offers advantages. Given the growing demand, admissions committees for OT programs are looking for applicants who have evidence of meaningful engagement (shadowing, observation, volunteering), motivation toward client-centered care, and the ability to communicate and adapt.

For pre-health students, your science coursework (e.g., anatomy, physiology, psychology) is relevant, and you’ll also want to focus on communication, teamwork, leadership, and experience with real-world client suggestions.

Because of the diverse settings of OT, you have flexibility in how to craft your experiences: school-based settings, rehabilitation clinics, community health outreach—all count.

If you’re looking for a health profession that offers meaningful human-impact, strong growth potential, flexibility across settings, and a pathway to a future-proof career—occupational therapy stands out. Do not wait on the sidelines: the demand is real, the need is growing, and your preparation now will put you in the front of the pack.

By embracing the role of an occupational therapist, you’re stepping into a profession where you will help people regain their lives, their roles, their independence. That’s the kind of work that matters—and that never goes out of style. Now is the time to act. Begin your prep, clarify your vision, and carry your enthusiasm into every step of your journey. Your future as an OT starts today.

Jason Hall

Jason Hall

Jason Hall is a Co-founder of Rehab Graduate Fairs and has over 15 years of experience in university marketing, recruiting, and admissions. Jason holds a bachelors and MBA from Portland State University.

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