Free Entry-level occupational therapist resume (2026)

Format matters when you have limited paid experience, because clarity helps you pass quick screenings. Use a simple, professional layout with clear headings, 10 to 12 point body text, and consistent spacing so your clinical placements and skills stand out.

Start with contact details then a short summary, followed by education, clinical experience, skills, and certifications. Keep the document to one page for most entry-level roles unless you have multiple long clinical placements that justify a second page.

Place your name, city and state, phone, and professional email at the top so recruiters can contact you quickly. Add a LinkedIn URL if your profile is complete and a link to a professional portfolio or documentation of treatment plans when allowed.

Do not include personal details such as birth date, marital status, or social security number. If you have professional designations or an OT license pending, list them beside your name like OTR or OTR/L Pending.

Write a 2 to 3 sentence professional summary that focuses on your clinical strengths, key settings, and certification status. Mention specific clinical rotations or populations you worked with so a hiring manager immediately understands your relevant experience.

Example phrasing includes your clinical focus and one measurable result from fieldwork when possible. Keep language direct and avoid vague adjectives.

List your degree, school, city, graduation month and year, and GPA if it is strong and recent. Include relevant coursework only when it adds clear value such as pediatrics, neurological rehab, or assistive technology.

If you completed a capstone project or thesis relevant to the job, add a one-line description with the outcome or skills gained. You may also list academic honors or scholarships that reflect clinical commitment.

Prioritize clinical placements, internships, and supervised fieldwork because they show hands-on patient care. For each placement, include site name, setting, dates, supervisor title, and 3 to 6 bullet points describing your contributions with specific outcomes.

Frame bullets around patient-centered results using this pattern, action, context, outcome, for example increased patient independence through task-specific ADL training. Quantify when possible by noting caseload size, frequency of interventions, or improvement metrics from standardized assessments.

Separate skills into clinical skills and technical or soft skills so reviewers can scan your fit. Clinical skills might include ADL training, splinting, sensory integration, and standardized assessments such as FIM or TUG.

List relevant soft skills like patient education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and time management. Keep this section concise and only list skills you can discuss confidently in an interview.

List your NBCOT status, state licensure, and any specialty certifications such as Hand Therapy or LSVT when applicable. If you are waiting for a license, note your expected date and current status like 'OTR/L exam scheduled, expected MM/YYYY'.

Include CPR or first aid certifications and any training in electronic medical records if the job requires charting skills. This section builds credibility for clinical responsibilities.

Turn routine tasks into achievements by describing the problem, your intervention, and the result in two to three clauses. For example, replace 'assisted with treatments' with 'implemented ADL training for 8 patients weekly, improving independence scores by observed changes in self-care activities'.

Avoid generic phrases that do not show impact. Use measurable details, patient populations, and assessment tools when possible to make each bullet concrete.

Begin bullets with strong action verbs such as implemented, adapted, instructed, collaborated, measured, or designed. Keep verbs in past tense for completed experiences and present tense for ongoing roles like current volunteer work.

Example bullets: 'Designed adaptive seating solutions for pediatric patients to improve sitting tolerance by two 10-minute intervals' and 'Collaborated with PT and SLP to create a home exercise program for stroke recovery, tracked progress weekly'.

Match keywords from the job posting to the language in your resume, especially clinical terms and assessment names, so applicant tracking systems find relevant matches. Use exact phrases from the posting for required skills but keep the wording natural for human readers.

Save the file as a clean PDF unless the job asks for a Word document, and avoid headers or footers for critical contact details because some ATS tools cannot read them. Use standard section titles like Education and Clinical Experience.

Use consistent bullet formatting, clear dates aligned to the right, and 0.5 to 1 inch margins for a polished appearance. Avoid decorative fonts, dense blocks of text, and tables for core content because these can confuse screening tools.

If you include a portfolio link, make sure sample documentation respects HIPAA by using deidentified case descriptions. Keep your resume focused on qualifications that match the job you want.