Top Occupational Therapist Skills for 2026

These are the tools, technologies, and competencies employers actually look for when hiring a Occupational Therapist. Add the ones you have to your resume — and consider building the ones you don't.

Tools & Technologies for Occupational Therapists

High-demand tools and technologies for Occupational Therapist roles. Use exact names when listing on your resume — ATS systems match on precise tool names.

1 eClinicalWorks EHR software
2 Facebook
3 Microsoft Excel
4 Microsoft Office software
5 Microsoft Word
6 Amazon Web Services AWS software
7 Microsoft Access
8 Microsoft Outlook
9 Microsoft PowerPoint
10 Microsoft Visio

Core Occupational Skills for Occupational Therapists

These competencies are most important for Occupational Therapist performance. Don't list these generically — demonstrate them through quantified achievements in your work experience section.

✓ Active Listening
✓ Speaking
✓ Service Orientation
✓ Reading Comprehension
✓ Learning Strategies
✓ Social Perceptiveness
✓ Instructing
✓ Monitoring
✓ Writing
✓ Active Learning

Knowledge Areas for Occupational Therapist Roles

Core knowledge domains for this occupation. Demonstrating depth in these areas signals readiness to employers and sets you apart from candidates with surface-level experience.

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    Psychology

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    English Language

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    Therapy and Counseling

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    Education and Training

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    Customer and Personal Service

Certifications That Boost a Occupational Therapist Resume

These certifications signal validated expertise to employers and often correlate with higher compensation. Add them to a dedicated Certifications section on your resume.

OTR/L

Verify current requirements before listing

State OT License

Verify current requirements before listing

CHT

Verify current requirements before listing

BCPR

Verify current requirements before listing

ATS Optimization Tips for Occupational Therapist Resumes

  • 1. Use exact tool names from this list — ATS systems match on "Microsoft Excel" not "Excel."
  • 2. Mirror keywords from the job description — don't just use this list verbatim.
  • 3. Put a "Skills" or "Technical Skills" section near the top of your resume.
  • 4. Only list skills you can discuss confidently in an interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important skills for a Occupational Therapist resume?
The top skills for Occupational Therapist resumes include eClinicalWorks EHR software, Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Word. These are the tools and technologies most frequently required in Occupational Therapist job postings, according to O*NET occupational data (SOC 29-1122).
How many skills should I list on my Occupational Therapist resume?
List 8–12 relevant skills. Prioritize skills from the job description, then add complementary skills from this guide. For ATS purposes, use exact tool names (e.g., "Microsoft Excel" not just "spreadsheets"). Quality and match-rate to the posting matters more than length.
What soft skills do employers look for in Occupational Therapists?
Employers hiring Occupational Therapists prioritize occupational skills like Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension. Rather than listing these generically, demonstrate them through specific achievements in your work experience bullets.
What knowledge areas are most important for Occupational Therapists?
O*NET identifies the following core knowledge domains for Occupational Therapist roles: Psychology, English Language, Therapy and Counseling, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service.

Skills and knowledge data: O*NET 30.0 Database (CC-BY 4.0), U.S. Department of Labor. Actual requirements vary by employer and role.