Occupational therapy residencies are designed to advance a practitioner’s performance and interpersonal skills, critical and ethical reasoning, and overall expertise in a focused area of practice. Residency Programs offer opportunities for didactic learning, mentored practice, and scholarship for occupational therapists who have graduated and completed the requirements for licensure. By participating in a Residency Program, individuals have the opportunity to advance their clinical skills and become more marketable in the field of occupational therapy as specialized practitioners.
AOTA-Approved Residency Programs are between 9 and 12 months long and may be based in hospital systems, schools, or in the community, including within a company. Although Residency Programs may differ in some aspects—including program length, admissions process, focus, and curriculum—a program’s central learning objectives and curriculum design must remain consistent with guidelines and standards set forth by AOTA.