Choosing Between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy at a Glance

• Main focus: PTs restore movement and function and reduce pain. OTs help patients take part in daily activities such as work, self-care, and school.
• Entry-level degree: The APTA says physical therapists earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The AOTA says entry-level OT education is at the master's or doctoral level.
• Program length: CAPTE reports that DPT programs averaged about 123 weeks in 2025, including about 35 weeks of full-time clinical education. OT program length varies by degree level and school.
• Licensing exam: PTs take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). OTs take the certification exam from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Median annual wage (May 2025): $102,760 for PTs and $100,330 for OTs, according to BLS.

Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Job Descriptions

Physical Therapist Job Description

Physical therapists help people of all ages who have injuries, health conditions, or developmental delay that affect movement and function, according to the APTA. To help their patients, PTs use exercise and other treatments to improve strength and mobility, regain strength and mobility that was lost, and reduce pain. Through this work, patients can achieve improved quality of life in the form of increased mobility and decreased pain.

Occupational Therapist Job Description

Occupational therapists also treat patients with injuries and disabilities, but the focus of their efforts is on the ends (increased ability to participate in everyday activities), rather than what could be considered as the means (increased strength and function through exercise). OT goals focus specifically on improving the working and living experience of a patient. OT also not only helps patients improve skills, but also develop skills that they may not have, or regain skills that they used to have. OTs, like PTs, may work with patients across the lifespan, according to the AOTA's profession overview.

Similarities Between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

Although the philosophies of physical and occupational therapy differ a bit, there are similarities in the day to day of the two professions. As therapists, both OTs and PTs generally work through these broad steps with their patients, which the AOTA describes for OT in its OT process framework:

• Assessment – assessing the patient's condition and what their needs are
• Treatment – planning and carrying out a treatment plan to help improve the patient's condition
• Evaluation of outcomes – determining if the treatment plan has helped the patient, and how the plan should be adjusted to improve outcomes

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Education/Certification Requirements

Physical therapists must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), according to the APTA. Entry-level occupational therapists can qualify with either a master's or a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The AOTA says there are currently no plans to require a doctoral degree only, and ACOTE says institutions choose which degree level to offer.

Is OT or PT School Harder?

Many prospective students ask which path is harder. Difficulty depends on the person, so it helps to compare the structure of each path:

• Degree: PTs complete a doctorate (APTA). OTs can enter practice with a master's or a doctorate (AOTA).
• Clinical training: Both paths include supervised clinical education. According to the AOTA's career guide, OT programs include Level I and Level II fieldwork, and doctoral OT students also complete a 14-week doctoral capstone.
• Length: CAPTE reported an average DPT program length of about 123 weeks in 2025, including about 35 weeks of full-time clinical education. OT program length varies by degree level.
• Admissions: Prerequisites, observation hours, and entrance-test policies vary by program in both fields, so check each school.
• Exams: Both professions require passing a national exam: the NPTE for PTs and the NBCOT exam for OTs.

Which path feels harder usually depends on your strengths and interests. People who enjoy anatomy and exercise science may lean toward PT coursework, and people drawn to how people carry out daily routines may lean toward OT.

Physical Therapy Certification Requirements

Doctor of Physical Therapy Prerequisites

Before applying to a doctor of physical therapy program, you will need to meet prerequisite requirements, which vary by program, according to the APTA's PT admissions process guidance. Common prerequisites that require planning ahead include:

• A bachelor's degree, unless enrolling in a combined bachelor's and doctorate program
• PT-supervised observation hours – this requirement will differ by program, so investigate the requirements for the schools you wish to apply to
• GRE scores, which some programs require and others do not. Compare GRE policies by program.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs

Aspiring physical therapists must earn their doctor of physical therapy degree. According to the APTA, DPT programs typically take three years, and some use a "3+3" format that combines a bachelor's degree and the DPT. Programs combine classroom and lab study with full-time clinical education. CAPTE's 2025 data show an average program length of about 123 weeks, including about 35 weeks of full-time clinical education.

National Physical Therapy Exam

To become licensed as a physical therapist, you must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Registering for the exam, being approved to test, and receiving a license are separate steps. To test, you register through FSBPT, pay the required fees, follow its test security requirements, and be approved by your state licensing authority or its designee, as described in FSBPT's eligibility requirements. In participating jurisdictions, FSBPT can approve eligible graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs through its Alternate Approval Pathway. Some candidates may also test up to 90 days before graduation when their school validates their expected completion, but jurisdictions can set stricter rules, so confirm early testing with your state board. FSBPT explains these steps on its registration and scheduling page. A separate licensing application is still required.

Once you are approved to take the exam, you can schedule a date to take it. The NPTE has 225 questions and a testing time of 5 hours, according to Understanding the NPTE. A passing score is 600 on a scale of 200 to 800, and all jurisdictions use the same passing standard.

Physical Therapy Licensure

Passing the NPTE is one requirement for a physical therapy license, but it does not by itself earn you one. Your state licensing board issues the license after you meet all of its requirements, which can include a completed application, supporting documents such as a transcript showing your degree was conferred, and other state-specific items. For example, Oregon's board requires all application materials, including a degree-conferred transcript, for its licenses. Check with your own state board for its complete list of requirements.

Occupational Therapy Certification Requirements

Prerequisites for Occupational Therapy Programs

Admission requirements are set by each program. Because entry-level OT education is at the graduate level, applicants should expect to need a prior degree unless they enroll in a combined program. Prerequisite coursework, observation hours, and entrance-test policies vary, so review the AOTA's admissions and formats information and each program's own requirements.

Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs

Entry-level OT education is offered at the master's or doctoral level. According to the AOTA, both degree levels include Level I and Level II fieldwork, and doctoral students also complete a 14-week doctoral capstone. The AOTA also notes that no accredited entry-level OT programs are offered entirely online.

Occupational Therapy Certification Exam

Passing the national certification exam from NBCOT is required in order to become certified as an occupational therapist. You apply to NBCOT with an official transcript or, where it applies, a Degree Verification Form (final transcripts are required before results are released for applicants who use that form); see NBCOT's application page. As part of the process, you answer character questions, and NBCOT reviews your responses and any documentation you provide. If NBCOT approves your application, you receive an Authorization to Test and can move on to scheduling your exam. Once you pass the test, you will be certified as an occupational therapist. NBCOT certification is separate from state licensure.

State Licensure for Occupational Therapists

The AOTA reports that occupational therapy is regulated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Always check with your state licensing board on occupational therapy licensure requirements, including any additional steps after passing the exam and its renewal requirements.

Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy Salary

Physical therapists earn slightly more than occupational therapists at the national median:

Physical Therapist Salary

According to BLS May 2025 OEWS estimates, physical therapists had a median annual wage of $102,760. The 90th percentile wage was $135,140, meaning 10% of physical therapists earned more than that. About 267,330 physical therapists were employed nationwide.

Occupational Therapist Salary

According to the same BLS May 2025 OEWS estimates, occupational therapists had a median annual wage of $100,330. The 90th percentile wage was $131,950. About 162,450 occupational therapists were employed nationwide.

By our calculation from those BLS figures, the national median for physical therapists is $2,430 higher than for occupational therapists. Percentiles describe the published wage distribution and are not guaranteed earnings. Wages also vary by state, setting, and experience; see the full pay guide for more detail.

Physical Therapy vs Occupational Therapy Work Settings

Occupational therapists and physical therapists both work in a variety of settings. The APTA lists schools among the settings where physical therapists work, and the AOTA lists school systems, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers among the settings where occupational therapists work. School-based work is available in both professions, so shadowing therapists in the settings that interest you is a good way to compare them. Some PTs and OTs also work in nursing homes or in home health.

How to Decide Between OT and PT

1. Decide the outcome you want to help with. Restoring movement and reducing pain points toward PT. Helping people regain the ability to do daily tasks points toward OT.
2. Compare the training. PT requires a DPT. OT can be entered with a master's or a doctorate, so compare program length and cost for your situation.
3. Look at admissions. Check observation-hour, prerequisite, and GRE policies at the programs you are considering.
4. Shadow both professions. Observation hours show you what each job looks like day to day.
5. Consider related paths. If you want a shorter route into therapy, look at the PTA pathway. The APTA describes a typical two-year associate route for physical therapist assistants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OT or PT better?

Neither is better overall. They serve different goals, and the better fit depends on the work you want to do.

Which pays more, OT or PT?

In May 2025, BLS reported a higher median annual wage for physical therapists ($102,760) than for occupational therapists ($100,330).

What can an OT do that a PT cannot?

It helps to compare focus rather than a list of tasks. OTs concentrate on helping patients take part in daily activities, including adapting tasks and environments, while PTs concentrate on movement, strength, and pain. What each profession may legally do is set by state law, so check your state board.

Can I become an OT with a master's degree?

Yes. Entry-level OT education is offered at the master's or doctoral level, and the AOTA says there are currently no plans to require a doctoral degree only.