Every April, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes Occupational Therapy (OT) Month—a time to highlight the incredible, mission-critical work occupational therapists (OTs) do daily to help Veterans rebuild independence and improve their quality of life after illness, injury, or service-related challenges.
If you’re considering a career that blends clinical skill with purpose-driven work, OT at VA is a path worth exploring.
VA Occupational Therapy at a Glance
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the single largest employer of occupational therapists, employing more than 2,000 occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants. OT provides services that promote health and wellness to Veterans who have, or are at risk for developing, an injury, illness, disease or condition spanning physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial domains. OT evaluation and treatment supports Veterans’ engagement in everyday life activities that affect their physical, and mental health and well-being.
Our OTs proudly provide Veteran-centric, state-of-the-art and evidence-based care (including telehealth) to over 500 VA sites. VA OT services are provided at:
- Outpatient clinics
- Inpatient settings
- Community Living Centers
- Veterans’ homes and communities
- Tele-rehabilitation
Helping Veterans Thrive
At VA, we’re all about Veterans. Our OTs work with Veterans of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. As an OT at VA, you might impact:
- Veterans in rural areas. Funded by the Office of Rural Health, the iTeleOT program is an integrated approach to address the needs of post-hospitalized older adult Veterans. iTeleOT is designed to increase access to OT services for rural Veterans in a timely manner through the use of telehealth to optimize patient-centric, whole health, and aging-at-home alternatives to institutionalized care.
- Veterans transitioning from homelessness. OT supports Veterans transitioning from homelessness by providing the skills and home accessibility to remain safely and successfully housed using an innovative model of both synchronous and asynchronous care.
OTs at VA partner with Veterans to find solutions that work for their goals, values, and lives so they can truly thrive.
OT Specializations
OT covers a broad spectrum of neurological, orthopedic, medical, pre/post-surgical, and mental (behavioral) health conditions, as well as health promotion, wellness, and management of chronic conditions. OT specializations include, but are not limited to:
- Return to School and Work
- Home Safety and Accessibility
- Productive Aging and Aging in Place
- Driving and Community Mobility
- Vision Rehabilitation
- Falls Prevention
- Assistive Technology
- Wheelchair Seating and Mobility
- Health and Wellness
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Hand Therapy
A Career that Makes a Difference
Are you ready to make an impact on the life of Veteran? If you are interested in serving those who served, a career in OT at VA might be right for you.
- SEARCH for open OT careers and apply for a position near you.
- WATCH this video to hear from one of our OTs.
- VISIT www.vacareers.va.gov for more information.
