Healthcare
How to become an Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists help people of all ages overcome the effects of illness, injury or disability so they can carry out everyday activities at home, work and in the community.
Qualifications
- A degree or pre-registration master’s in occupational therapy (master’s or doctorate in the US)
- Supervised fieldwork placements
Licences & registration
| United Kingdom | Registration with the HCPC. |
|---|---|
| United States | NBCOT certification exam and a state licence. |
| Canada | Registration with the provincial regulator; national certification exam in most provinces. |
| Australia | Registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia via AHPRA. |
| United Arab Emirates | Licence from the relevant health authority. |
| European Union | Regulated in many member states; recognition required. |
Key skills
- Functional assessment
- Problem-solving and adaptation
- Communication
- Equipment and home-adaptation knowledge
- Empathy
Experience
Graduates can enter general rotational posts; specialist roles (paediatrics, mental health, hand therapy) require further experience.
Indicative pay
- UK: £32,000 (starter) to £48,000 (experienced) a year — National Careers Service
- US: median $100,330 a year; 10th–90th percentile $71,690–$131,950 (SOC 29-1122) — BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates
- Canada: varies by province — see Job Bank wage data.
- Australia: see Your Career (Australian Government) occupation profiles.
- UAE & EU: varies widely by employer and country; check current listings.
Pay figures retrieved 2026-10-29 from the cited official sources; they are averages/estimates, not offers.
Working in this job abroad: visa notes
United Kingdom
Eligible health professionals usually apply through the Health and Care Worker visa (a Skilled Worker route) with a job offer from an approved sponsor such as the NHS. You must normally hold, or be in the process of obtaining, registration with the relevant UK regulator.
Official sources: GOV.UK – Skilled Worker visa · GOV.UK – Skilled Worker eligible occupations · GOV.UK – Check if you need a UK visa
United States
Most internationally trained health workers immigrate through employer-sponsored green cards (EB-2/EB-3) or, for roles needing a degree, the H-1B. Many healthcare occupations also require a healthcare worker certificate (e.g. CGFNS VisaScreen) and a US state licence.
Official sources: USCIS – H-1B specialty occupations · USCIS – Employment-based green cards · USCIS – H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers
Canada
You normally need a credential assessment and registration with the provincial or territorial regulator before practising. Express Entry has run category-based draws for healthcare occupations; provincial nominee programs and employer-supported work permits are also used.
Official sources: Canada.ca – Work in Canada · Canada.ca – Express Entry
Australia
You need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and, for most regulated health roles, registration with the national board via AHPRA. Common routes are the Skills in Demand (482) visa or permanent skilled visas such as subclass 189/190.
Official sources: Home Affairs – Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) · Home Affairs – Skilled occupation list · Home Affairs – Skills assessment
United Arab Emirates
You need a professional licence from the health authority for the emirate (DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi, or MOHAP for the other emirates), usually including qualification verification and an exam, plus an employer-sponsored work permit and residence visa.
Official sources: u.ae – Jobs and work in the UAE · MOHRE – Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation · u.ae – Golden Visa
European Union
Regulated health professions require recognition of your qualification in the country where you will work; EU-trained doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists and pharmacists may benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC. Non-EU nationals also need a national work permit or EU Blue Card, and local-language proficiency is usually required.
Official sources: EU Immigration Portal · EU Regulated Professions Database · Make it in Germany (example national portal)
Useful official links
This guide is general information, reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules and licensing change often — always confirm with the official sources above. Not legal advice.