Clinical Care Providers
Navy Occupational Therapist LT Maria Barefield (right) provides hand care for a family member in the Physical Therapy Department.
Occupational Therapy
Key Details:
Pay:
Some jobs are more physically demanding than others. Few are as demanding as those in the Navy and Marines. Without proper guidance, care and treatment from occupational therapists, some servicemembers may risk injury and debilitation while defending our country and our freedom.
Job Description
Occupational therapists work with Sailors, Marines and their families to help them achieve physical independence. Because of illness, injury, or developmental or psychological impairment, many need specialized assistance in learning skills to enable them to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives. The skills occupational therapists provide help uniformed heroes meet everyday demands.
You could also:
- Evaluate and treat patients referred for multiple diagnoses who require acute rehabilitation within the inpatient and outpatient settings
- Train as an upper extremity neuromusculoskeletal evaluator or pediatric occupational therapist, or pursue a postgraduate degree
- Specialize in hand therapy, pediatrics or ergonomics
- Or take on a teaching position in a dual-service OT assistant program
Educational/Financial Benefits
Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous scholarships, financial assistance and continuing education programs.
Practicing Professionals
Get Help Repaying Educational Loans
There's an alternative to spending years paying down the cost of your graduate education. If you're currently a practicing professional:
Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program — Receive up to $40,000 to help repay your graduate school loans.*
To be eligible, you must serve as an Active Duty Medical Service Corps Officer for each year you receive the loan payment.
Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Officer Recruiter contact you.
*Offer depends on specialty and service requirement.
Other Benefits
A career here offers comprehensive benefits, including a competitive salary, full medical and dental coverage, a generous retirement income and much more. Explore comprehensive benefits for the Navy Medical Service Corps.
Qualifications
Besides requirements for Active Duty employment consideration in the Navy Medical Service Corps, there are additional requirements for Navy Occupational Therapy that apply.
Educational Requirements
- Master’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university. Credit toward rank and time in service is given, depending on the level of degree and work experience
Specific Requirements
- Certification of accredited course completion in occupational therapy by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association
- Successful completion of the registration examination by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and, if applicable, a state license
Career Outlook
Want to explore further? Check out the Health Care Opportunities area to learn more about the overall mission of Navy Health Care. Or get a specific picture of the unrivaled experiences and real people representing today’s Navy Medical Service Corps.
Questions? Get more information now. Provide brief information so that a Navy Medical Recruiter can contact you. Answer your questions. And help make the application process as seamless as possible if you choose to move forward.