Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: What Are the Differences and What’s Right for You?

You know that your dream career involves working with patients and making a positive impact on their lives. The good news is that more than one career path will allow you to do that. For example, both physical therapy and occupational therapy offer meaningful career opportunities focused on therapeutic care and empathy.

But how do you decide which one is a better fit for your interests and skill set? The best place to start is identifying the major differences and similarities between the two disciplines.

Key Takeaways:

• Occupational therapy and physical therapy are both client-centered, movement-driven professions.
• Physical therapy focuses on improving range of motion and mobility training as well as injury recovery and prevention; occupational therapy targets fine-motor skills and day-to-day skills needed to function independently.
• Occupational therapists and physical therapists both have the opportunity to specialize in specific practice areas and work in varied settings.

Understanding the Basics of Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT)

It’s easy to understand why many people confuse occupational therapy and physical therapy. At first glance, their focus on human movement and restoring independence for patients is similar. A deeper dive into each discipline, however, illustrates how OT and PT accomplish these goals through different methods.

What Is OT?

Occupational therapists (OTs) use occupations, or everyday activities, to help people achieve their highest levels of independence. Along with movement and exercise, occupational therapists utilize daily tasks for therapeutic purposes. Occupational therapists may also modify a patient’s environment or living space to facilitate improvements in their autonomy. While the field’s initial focus was helping patients manage mental illness, it later expanded to include those with physical impairments. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings with people of all ages and conditions.

Imagine having a stroke that weakens one part of your body while also impacting your attention, visual perception, and mental health. An OT might use an occupation like preparing brownies in the client’s treatment plan. While the client improves the physical function of their affected side, they also engage cognitively with reading and following directions. Through gaining a sense of accomplishment, the client may also experience a decrease in their depression symptoms.

What Is PT?

In physical therapy, exercise and movement are key to helping clients become as independent as possible. Physical therapists (PTs) are skilled in mobility conditions, particularly those affecting the lower body. If you’ve ever dealt with chronic pain, injuries, or a disability, you may have worked with a physical therapist to manage your pain and improve your mobility. Physical therapists attempt to avoid costly medications and surgeries whenever possible.

While many PTs work with patients who are recovering from illness, injuries, or surgery, their work is also preventative in nature. The goal of PT is to minimize pain and injury through a variety of modalities, such as stretching, exercise, or ultrasound.  A PT may incorporate strength training, stretching, heat or cold therapy, and massage into treatment plans. It’s ultimately dependent on the patient’s needs, however, and what will improve their ability to move their body freely.

Key Differences Between OT and PT

Occupational therapy and physical therapy share many key traits. For example, OTs and PTs both work in a variety of care settings, such as private practice, hospitals, schools, and skilled nursing facilities. Both OTs and PTs also focus on helping patients of all ages achieve independence. However, even with these areas of overlap, the two fields are distinct in numerous ways.

Focus of Treatment

The goal of physical therapy is improving or regaining the patient’s ability to move well. Along with alleviating and preventing a client’s pain, PTs typically focus on improving:

• Range of motion
• Balance and coordination
• Strength and endurance
• Flexibility

By contrast, an OT may take a broader approach to developing a treatment plan. While OT is highly tailored to each individual patient’s needs, some common areas of focus include:

• Fine motor manipulation (dexterity, coordination)
• Processing and organizational skills
• Visual, perceptual, and motor planning skills

Specialties

In both fields, board certifications allow you to specialize in a specific area of practice. This demonstrates your advanced knowledge and dedication to helping your patients.

Through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), PTs can pursue board-certifications in ten specialty areas:

• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
• Clinical Electrophysiology
• Geriatrics
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Sports
• Women’s Health
• Wound Management

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) also offers both board certifications in gerontology, mental health, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation. Additionally, their specialty certifications cover a wide range of potential practice areas, such as:

• Driving and Community Mobility
• Environmental Modification
• Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
• Low Vision
• School Systems

Job Outlook and Salary Expectations

Though job outlook is slightly higher for physical therapists than occupational therapists, both industries are experiencing faster than average employment growth. From 2023 to 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth of 11% for occupational therapists and 14% for physical therapists. This is faster than the average for all occupations, meaning that job openings in this field will continue to grow over the next decade.

As far as salary expectations are concerned, both fields offer competitive wages. As of May 2024, the median annual salary was $98,340 for OTs and $101,020 for PTs. While this positions PTs as higher earners than OTs, it’s important to keep in mind that factors like setting, educational level, location, and experience level can also influence your salary.

Educational Requirements

It’s easy to forget that, when you commit to a certain career path, you’re also committing to the educational path required for that career. While occupational therapy and physical therapy both require advanced degrees, these pathways aren’t identical. Evaluating the educational requirements for each career may sway you toward one field over the other.

Occupational Therapist Pathway

To become an OT, you’ll first need to obtain your bachelor’s degree. To be admitted into OT school, you typically don’t need to have a bachelor’s in a specific subject; however, most programs require you to have completed prior coursework in biology, psychology, and other health sciences prior to admission. For that reason, it can be helpful to declare a major within the health sciences or a pre-occupational therapy program.

Upon completing your bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to earn either a master’s degree or doctoral degree (OTD) in occupational therapy. OT school typically takes 2-3 years to complete and will cover kinesiology, neuroscience, and anatomy in depth alongside clinical experience. Once you have completed OT school, you must pass the national certification exam and meet any licensing requirements for your state.

Physical Therapist Pathway

Becoming a PT requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program. Admission to these programs typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a field related to PT, including prerequisite courses in anatomy, chemistry, and physics. Additionally, you will apply to most PT schools through a centralized online application.

PTs typically earn their DPT degree in three years. During this time, they engage in clinical work alongside classes in biomechanics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. After graduating from PT school, many PTs apply to one-year residency programs to receive additional training in their specialty of choice, followed by a fellowship. Licensing requirements vary by state, but all PTs are required to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination.

How to Choose Between OT and PT as a Career

There are so many factors you can take into consideration when choosing a career path. Don’t let that overwhelm you! While it’s important to have as much information as possible, your choice of career path may come down to a select few priorities.

If your personal interests and strengths are your main concern, then you’ll want to evaluate what type of work interests you most. As shown earlier, OT and PT have some overlap but vary greatly when it comes to specialty areas and the focus of treatment. Another deciding factor could be the different educational pathways that each field requires.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either of these fields; both promise a high-impact, patient-centered career. If diving into physical movement, mobility training, and pain management excites you, then PT is the field for you. If you’re drawn far more to challenges in daily life, rehabilitative movement, and how they intersect with mental health, then OT may be more up your alley.

How Can UC Help? Contact Your Enrollment Advisor for One-on-One Support

At the University of Cincinnati, we offer an online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program. Ideal for those with an associate degree, this program prepares you for careers in a broad range of health disciplines. It’s perfect for students hoping to level up their career or gain admission into a graduate program—whether that’s in OT, PT, or another allied health field. And given its 100% online and asynchronous format, you can further your education without sacrificing your current career.

Additionally, current Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants may be interested in the BS in Health Sciences — Pre-Occupational Therapy program. If you hope to advance in your OTA career or finish your bachelor’s prior to applying for OT graduate programs, this program will help you get there. You can review the admissions requirements to see if this program is a fit for your background and goals.

Armed with a better understanding of both professions, you may still have questions. In that case, your Enrollment Advisor is just a phone call or email away. As a part of UC’s dedicated online staff, they are here to help you decide on your next steps forward—and how UC can help you on your journey.

So don’t wait—contact your Enrollment Advisor today for more information!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does physical therapy or occupational therapy pay better?

The median annual salaries for physical therapists and occupational therapists are both in the $90,000-100,000 range, making them comparable. In both industries, the highest earners tend to work in home health care services or nursing facilities.

What is an example of occupational therapy?

An example of occupational therapy would be working with a patient to regain functional use of their hand after surgery. Their therapeutic plan would focus on activities of daily living, such as being able to brush their teeth or write by hand.

What is an example of physical therapy?

Some examples of physical therapy include stretching, strength exercises, massage, heat or cold therapy, and hydrotherapy.

Can a physical therapist work as an occupational therapist?

No. Unless a PT has also earned a master’s or doctorate in occupational therapy, they would not be able to work as an OT.