Occupational therapy can be a rewarding profession for people who are interested in helping others become more independent and participate more fully in their everyday lives. However, getting qualified for this type of work requires extensive education, practical training, and professional preparation.
Aspiring OTs in Texas need to complete the full qualification pathway required for entry into the profession, including the examination and licensing requirements established by the state.
If this is a career you’re considering, the guide below will explain how to become an occupational therapist in Texas, walk you through the qualification process step by step, and explore the options available for advancing into more specialized positions later on.
Understanding Texas Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who work with patients whose health conditions or functional limitations interfere with the way they manage everyday life.
Their goal is to help these individuals become more capable of completing the activities they need or want to perform, whether that involves taking care of themselves, attending school, working, managing responsibilities at home, or participating in their communities.
To help patients become more independent in these activities, OTs first need to understand what a patient is currently able to do, which activities present difficulties, and what factors are contributing to those limitations. Then, after they identify the patient’s functional needs, they can develop an individualized treatment plan designed to address them.
The type of care occupational therapy practitioners provide can depend heavily on the patient’s condition and the challenges they experience in their daily life.
In some cases, they may help patients regain abilities they have lost or relearn how to perform familiar activities, while in others, their treatment focuses on developing new skills and finding alternative ways to complete everyday tasks.
Providing this type of individualized care to vulnerable patients requires OTs to make professional judgments that can directly influence a patient’s safety and ability to function.
For this reason, the state of Texas regulates the field and requires everyone interested in entering the occupational therapy profession to meet specific education, examination, and licensing requirements before they’re allowed to practice independently.
Common Employment Settings for Occupational Therapists in Texas
Occupational therapists in Texas can provide their services in a variety of healthcare, educational, and community-based environments. The setting in which they work often determines the types of patients they see, the functional challenges they address, and the treatment goals they focus on.
Some of the most common settings where OTs work in Texas include:
- Hospitals – OTs working in hospitals may treat patients recovering from serious injuries, surgeries, strokes, or other medical conditions that have affected their ability to function independently
- Outpatient rehabilitation facilities – In these settings, occupational therapists work with patients who need ongoing treatment but do not require inpatient care
- Skilled nursing facilities – OTs in skilled nursing settings often work with older adults or patients recovering from illnesses and injuries that have reduced their ability to perform everyday activities independently
- Schools – School-based occupational therapists support students whose physical, developmental, sensory, or other challenges affect their ability to participate in classroom activities and complete school-related tasks
- Home health services – Occupational therapists providing home-based care work with patients in their own living environments, where they can directly address the challenges they experience while performing everyday activities at home
Even though occupational therapists may practice across various healthcare and non-healthcare settings, they must always provide services within the scope of their professional license, regardless of where they work or the patient population they serve.
Key Qualifications for Becoming an OT in Texas
Now that we have a better idea of what occupational therapy practice involves and the level of responsibility associated with providing these services in Texas, we can take a quick look at the key qualifications individuals need to achieve before they can enter the profession. These include:
- Completing a bachelor’s degree while satisfying the academic prerequisites needed for admission to graduate-level occupational therapy education
- Earning an entry-level master’s or doctoral occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE-accredited program
- Gaining the required Level I and Level II occupational therapy fieldwork experience
- Passing the national certification examination administered by the NBCOT
- Passing the Texas occupational therapy jurisprudence examination based on the state’s OT Practice Act and rules
- Obtaining a professional license from the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
Only after they meet all the requirements and complete the qualification process can candidates obtain their professional OT license and start practicing occupational therapy in a professional capacity in Texas.
How to Become an Occupational Therapist in Texas: Step by Step
Having outlined the main qualifications required for entering the profession, we can now move on to the practical part of our guide and explain how aspiring OTs can meet each of these requirements, one step at a time.
Complete the Undergraduate Studies Needed for OT Admission
Aspiring occupational therapists in Texas begin their formal education by earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This is the foundational stage of their OT education, aimed at providing them with the general academic preparation they will need for more advanced study, and usually takes around four years to complete.
As undergraduates, aspiring OTs have considerable flexibility when choosing what to study, as entering the OT field doesn’t require them to hold a bachelor’s degree in one specific subject. That said, subjects such as psychology, kinesiology, biology, sociology, and other areas related to health and human behavior can all provide useful preparation for the material they will encounter later on.
And even though students can choose from a wide range of undergraduate majors, those who want to continue into professional occupational therapy education do need to meet the prerequisite requirements for the graduate programs they plan to pursue.
The inconvenient part about these prerequisites is that every OT program sets its own admission requirements, which means students need to research prospective schools early enough to plan their coursework accordingly and complete the necessary classes while working toward their bachelor’s degree.
Earn an Accredited Graduate Degree in Occupational Therapy
Once aspiring OTs finish their bachelor’s degrees, they can continue into graduate-level occupational therapy training. At this point, students can pursue one of two entry-level degree options:
- Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, which provides students with the professional knowledge and clinical preparation they need to qualify for entry-level occupational therapy practice
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), which prepares students for the same entry-level role but adds more advanced study in areas such as leadership, research, advocacy, and program development. OTD students also complete a doctoral capstone and culminating project.
Regardless of which of these two options they decide to go for, aspiring OTs need to make sure the program they enroll in is accredited by ACOTE, as these are the only programs that the NBCOT recognizes for certification exam eligibility.
During their time as graduate students, aspiring OTs receive their professional preparation through both academic coursework and supervised fieldwork experience.
Through these two components, students learn how to assess patients, identify the functional challenges affecting their everyday lives, develop treatment plans, and provide occupational therapy services designed around their individual needs.
Gain the Required Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Experience
As we just mentioned, supervised fieldwork is one of the two main components of graduate occupational therapy education. During these experiences, students gain supervised experience in professional practice settings and begin developing the practical competencies expected of entry-level OTs.
Occupational therapy fieldwork is divided into two levels that serve different purposes in the student’s clinical development:
- Level I Fieldwork – This introductory stage exposes students to occupational therapy practice and helps them develop a better understanding of how professional care is delivered to different patient populations.
- Level II Fieldwork – This more advanced stage gives students extensive supervised experience and allows them to assume greater responsibility while providing occupational therapy services. OT students need to complete at least six months of clinical work to qualify for licensure.
As they progress through these experiences, students develop the clinical judgment, professional skills, and confidence they need to handle the responsibilities associated with entry-level occupational therapy practice.
Pass the NBCOT and Texas Jurisprudence Examinations
With their graduate education and fieldwork requirements complete, aspiring OTs can move on to the examination stage of the qualification process. Like in most other states in the US, candidates pursuing occupational therapy licensure in Texas need to pass both the NBCOT certification examination and a state-specific jurisprudence exam.
The first is the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. This exam evaluates whether candidates have the professional knowledge and competency expected of entry-level occupational therapists.
The second is the Texas Occupational Therapy Jurisprudence Examination, which is a 20-question, open-book online exam based on the Texas Occupational Therapy Practice Act and Board rules.
Candidates who achieve passing scores on both examinations satisfy the testing requirements for Texas occupational therapy licensure and can move on to the state licensing stage.
Secure Your Professional Occupational Therapy License
After passing the required exams, candidates can apply for their professional occupational therapy license through the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners. To apply, they need to submit the required form and fee along with the supporting documentation requested by the Board.
Additionally, applicants also need to provide a passport-style photograph, arrange for their NBCOT score to be sent directly to the Board, and submit fingerprints for the required criminal history check. Their passing jurisprudence examination result must also be on file before the licensing process can be completed.
Once all of the required materials have been received, the Board will review the application and verify whether the candidate meets the requirements for professional practice in Texas. Applicants who satisfy all of these conditions are granted an occupational therapy license as well as the authorization to practice professionally in the state.
Start Practicing as a Licensed Occupational Therapist in Texas
Once the Texas Board issues their license, occupational therapists can begin providing services at the professional level in the state. This means that they can start pursuing employment in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, skilled nursing facilities, home health settings, and other environments where licensed OT services are provided.
Most newly licensed OTs begin their careers in general practice, where they can continue developing their clinical skills and gain experience working with different patient populations and functional needs.
As they start to accumulate more experience, they can take on greater responsibility, refine their clinical judgment, and begin focusing more closely on the types of patients or conditions they want to work with long-term.
For occupational therapists who eventually want to move beyond general practice and develop deeper expertise in a particular area, there are several postprofessional pathways available for advancing into more specialized positions.
Advancing Into a Specialized Position
Licensed occupational therapists who decide to concentrate their careers in a particular area of practice can build on their generalist experience through additional training and professional development.
Depending on the type of work they want to pursue, this may involve completing a structured fellowship, earning board certification, or obtaining another credential associated with a specific area of occupational therapy practice.
These options are not required for general OT practice in Texas, but they can help experienced professionals develop more advanced skills and formally demonstrate their expertise in the areas they choose to specialize in.
Complete a Postprofessional Occupational Therapy Fellowship
One of the main postprofessional options available to licensed occupational therapists who want to specialize is completing a fellowship program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association. These programs allow OTs to build on their general clinical experience through advanced education, mentorship, and focused practice in a particular area of occupational therapy.
Depending on their professional interests, occupational therapists can pursue fellowship training in areas such as pediatrics, mental health, neurology, physical rehabilitation, hand therapy, dysphagia, and assistive technology.
To qualify for an AOTA-accredited fellowship, applicants need to graduate from an ACOTE- or WFOT-accredited occupational therapy program and hold a current OT license or be eligible for licensure where the fellowship is offered. Individual programs may also establish additional admission requirements.
After completing their fellowship, occupational therapists can use the specialized training and experience they have gained to pursue more advanced roles and, where applicable, work toward formal board certification in their area of practice.
Earn Board Certification in an OT Specialty
Another postprofessional option available to experienced occupational therapists is to pursue board certification in a specialized area of practice. These credentials are designed to formally recognize the advanced knowledge and clinical experience OTs develop after working extensively within a particular specialty.
The AOTA currently offers board certification in areas such as gerontology, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation. To qualify, candidates generally need to hold a current OT license, have several years of professional experience, and accumulate a substantial number of practice hours in the specialty area they want to pursue.
Occupational therapists who meet the requirements can sit for the certification examination associated with their chosen specialty. Those who pass earn a board-certified credential that allows them to formally demonstrate their advanced competency in that area of occupational therapy practice.
Pursue Additional Credentials in Specialized Practice
Beyond board certification issued by the AOTA, occupational therapists can also pursue professional credentials offered by other organizations when they want to demonstrate expertise in a more specific area of practice. Examples of such credentials include:
- Certified Hand Therapist
- Assistive Technology Professional
- Seating and Mobility Specialist
- Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist
- Certified Brain Injury Specialist
- Certified Low Vision Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Certified in Adult Vision Rehabilitation
- Certified Lymphedema Therapist
Obviously, credentials such as these are not required for practicing general occupational therapy in Texas, but they can allow experienced OTs to formally demonstrate additional expertise in areas that fall outside AOTA’s board certification specialties.
Occupational Therapy Salary and Job Market in Texas
Having explored the complete qualification process for becoming an occupational therapist in Texas, we thought it’d be a good idea to also take a look at the earning potential and employment outlook associated with occupational therapy in Texas.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 10,570 occupational therapists employed in Texas, and they earn an average annual salary of $101,610, or about $48.85 per hour.
That said, considering that this figure represents the statewide average, it only provides a general indication of the earning potential associated with the profession. The actual salaries can vary depending on factors such as location, employer, experience, and work setting.
For example, OTs working in the Austin metropolitan area earn an average of $106,030 per year, compared with $93,560 for those employed in the Brownsville area.
What’s more, occupational therapist salaries can also vary based on work setting. On a national level, OTs working in home health care services earn an average of $110,460 per year, while those employed in skilled nursing facilities make $101,740 and those working in elementary and secondary schools earn $85,180.
We should also point out that the broader job outlook for occupational therapists is also positive. Nationwide, employment in the profession is projected to grow by 15%, which is considerably faster than the 3% average for all occupations.
Closing Words
Occupational therapy plays an important role in helping people adapt to changes that affect the way they manage everyday life. By working with patients to improve their functional abilities and find practical ways to complete daily activities, OTs can support greater independence across a wide range of situations and stages of life.
Becoming an occupational therapist in Texas is a demanding process that requires considerable time, effort, and commitment before candidates can qualify for professional practice in the state. For individuals interested in using their skills to help people become more independent in their everyday lives, however, this can be a very fulfilling career.
Common Questions Answered
How long does it take to become an occupational therapist in Texas?
Becoming an occupational therapist in Texas can take anywhere between six and seven years from the start of your undergraduate education. This timeframe accounts for around four years of undergraduate study and another two to three years spent completing a graduate occupational therapy program.
After earning their degree, candidates still need to pass the NBCOT examination and the Texas jurisprudence exam before applying for state licensure. The amount of additional time required for these final stages can vary depending on exam scheduling and how quickly the licensing application is processed.
What are the requirements to become an occupational therapist in Texas?
To become an occupational therapist in Texas, candidates need to complete the education, clinical training, examination, and licensing requirements established for entry into the profession.
This means earning a bachelor’s degree, graduating from an ACOTE-accredited master’s or doctoral occupational therapy program, and completing the required Level I and Level II fieldwork experience. After finishing their professional education, candidates need to pass both the NBCOT certification exam and the Texas Occupational Therapy Jurisprudence Examination.
Finally, they must apply for and obtain a professional license from the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners before they can begin practicing independently in the state.
What is the difference between an OT and an occupational therapy assistant?
The main difference between an occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant lies in their scope of practice. OTs are responsible for evaluating patients and directing their treatment, while OTAs work under their supervision and help carry out the established plan of care.
Given this difference in responsibility, the qualification pathway for assistants is also shorter. While OTs need graduate-level professional education to qualify for the broader responsibilities associated with the role, OTAs can enter the field through a shorter assistant-level training and certification pathway that can lead to becoming a certified occupational therapy assistant.