Compare occupational therapists and physical therapists side by side: goals, patients, education, licensing, pay and outlook, so you can choose your path.

<p class="">Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) often work side by side, sometimes with the same patients on the same day. So it is no surprise that people mix them up. While both help people recover and live fuller lives, they focus on different goals and use different approaches.</p>
<p class="">In this guide, we compare OTs and PTs across the things that matter most: what they do, who they treat, how long school takes, how licensing works, what they earn and where they work. By the end, you will have a clear sense of which path fits you best.</p>
<h2 class="">Quick Answer: What Is the Difference Between an OT and a PT?</h2>
<p class="">The simplest way to remember it:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Physical therapists help people move.</strong> They focus on improving mobility, strength, balance and pain, often with a focus on the legs, back and whole-body movement like walking.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Occupational therapists help people do.</strong> They focus on the everyday tasks a person needs and wants to do, like dressing, bathing, cooking, writing, working and caring for others.</li>
</ul>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="">For example, after a knee replacement, a PT helps a patient walk again and climb stairs. An OT helps that same patient safely get in and out of the shower, put on socks and get back to cooking dinner.</p>
<h2 class="">OT vs PT at a Glance</h2>
<p class=""></p>
<table class="">
  <tbody class="">
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="1" class=""><br class="" /></td>
      <td data-row="1" class=""><strong class="">Occupational Therapist (OT)</strong></td>
      <td data-row="1" class=""><strong class="">Physical Therapist (PT)</strong></td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="2" class=""><strong class="">Main focus</strong></td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">Daily activities and independence</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">Movement, strength and pain relief</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="3" class=""><strong class="">Typical goal</strong></td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">"I want to dress myself and return to work."</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">"I want to walk without pain."</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="4" class=""><strong class="">Entry-level degree</strong></td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">Master's or doctorate (MOT, MSOT or OTD)</td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="5" class=""><strong class="">Typical program length</strong></td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">2 to 3 years</td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">About 3 years</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="6" class=""><strong class="">National exam</strong></td>
      <td data-row="6" class="">NBCOT OTR exam</td>
      <td data-row="6" class="">National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="7" class=""><strong class="">Median pay (May 2025)</strong></td>
      <td data-row="7" class="">$100,330</td>
      <td data-row="7" class="">$102,760</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="8" class=""><strong class="">Projected job growth (2025 to 2035)</strong></td>
      <td data-row="8" class="">15%</td>
      <td data-row="8" class="">12%</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="9" class=""><strong class="">Jobs in 2025</strong></td>
      <td data-row="9" class="">About 169,600</td>
      <td data-row="9" class="">About 283,700</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<p class=""></p>
<p class=""><em class="">Pay, job and growth data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025 data).</em></p>
<h2 class="">What Occupational Therapists Do</h2>
<p class="">OTs evaluate and treat people with injuries, illnesses or disabilities so they can take part in daily life. They look at the whole picture, including physical ability, thinking skills, emotions and environment.</p>
<p class="">Common OT tasks include:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Teaching new ways to complete daily tasks after an injury or illness</li>
  <li class="">Improving fine motor skills, like gripping, writing and buttoning</li>
  <li class="">Recommending adaptive equipment and home changes, like grab bars or shower chairs</li>
  <li class="">Helping children build skills for school and play</li>
  <li class="">Supporting memory, attention and planning after a brain injury or stroke</li>
  <li class="">Helping people with mental health conditions build daily routines</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="">What Physical Therapists Do</h2>
<p class="">PTs help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. According to BLS, they often play a key role in rehab, preventive care and managing long-term conditions.</p>
<p class="">Common PT tasks include:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Assessing how patients stand, walk and move</li>
  <li class="">Building exercise and stretching programs to restore strength and range of motion</li>
  <li class="">Using hands-on techniques to reduce pain and stiffness</li>
  <li class="">Training patients to use canes, walkers, crutches or wheelchairs</li>
  <li class="">Helping athletes and active people recover from injuries</li>
  <li class="">Creating wellness and fall prevention programs</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="">Patients and Conditions: Where OTs and PTs Overlap</h2>
<p class="">OTs and PTs often treat the same conditions, just from different angles. Both may work with patients recovering from:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Stroke</li>
  <li class="">Joint replacements and fractures</li>
  <li class="">Spinal cord and brain injuries</li>
  <li class="">Arthritis and other chronic conditions</li>
  <li class="">Neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis</li>
</ul>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="">Some areas lean more toward one profession. OTs are more involved in pediatric development, school-based services, hand therapy, mental health and memory care. PTs are more involved in sports injuries, orthopedic rehab, balance and fall prevention, and heart and lung rehab.</p>
<p class="">The best outcomes often come when OTs and PTs work as a team. Learn more in <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/teamwork-in-healthcare-how-collaboration-improves-care-%26-careers" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">Teamwork in Healthcare: How Collaboration Improves Care and Careers</a>.</p>
<h2 class="">Education and Licensing</h2>
<h3 class="">Becoming an OT</h3>
<p class="">OTs need a master's or doctoral degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Programs include at least 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork. After graduation, OTs pass the NBCOT exam ($540 online application) and apply for a state license.</p>
<h3 class="">Becoming a PT</h3>
<p class="">PTs need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program. BLS notes that DPT programs typically last about 3 years and include supervised clinical rotations. After graduation, PTs pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), offered on fixed dates four times a year. The NPTE registration fee is $485, plus a separate test center fee. Some PTs then complete a residency or earn board certification in a specialty, like orthopedics or sports.</p>
<h3 class="">Working Across State Lines</h3>
<p class="">Both professions now have interstate compacts that make multistate work easier. The PT Compact has been issuing privileges for years. The OT Licensure Compact began issuing privileges in 2026, and as of October 2026, 10 states were actively issuing, with 37 states signed on overall. This is great news for therapists interested in travel careers.</p>
<h2 class="">Pay and Job Outlook</h2>
<p class="">Both careers offer strong pay and job security. According to BLS:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">OTs</strong> earned a median of <strong class="">$100,330</strong> in May 2025, with jobs projected to grow <strong class="">15 percent</strong> from 2025 to 2035 and about 10,000 openings each year.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">PTs</strong> earned a median of <strong class="">$102,760</strong> in May 2025, with jobs projected to grow <strong class="">12 percent</strong> from 2025 to 2035 and about 13,400 openings each year.</li>
</ul>
<p class=""><br class="" /></p>
<p class="">For both, pay tends to run highest in home health and skilled nursing settings. In May 2025, home health OTs earned a median of $106,300, and home health PTs earned a median of $114,740.</p>
<p class="">In short, pay is close. Your setting, location, specialty and work style, like travel or per diem, often matter more than the title on your badge.</p>
<h2 class="">Work Settings</h2>
<p class="">OTs and PTs work in many of the same places, but in different proportions. Here is where each profession was employed in 2025, according to BLS:</p>
<p class=""></p>
<table class="">
  <tbody class="">
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="1" class=""><strong class="">Setting</strong></td>
      <td data-row="1" class=""><strong class="">OTs</strong></td>
      <td data-row="1" class=""><strong class="">PTs</strong></td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="2" class=""><strong class="">Therapy offices and outpatient clinics</strong></td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">28%</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">36%</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="3" class=""><strong class="">Hospitals</strong></td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">26%</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">26%</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="4" class=""><strong class="">Schools and educational services</strong></td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">13%</td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">Not in top five</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="5" class=""><strong class="">Home health services</strong></td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">8%</td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">11%</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="6" class=""><strong class="">Nursing and residential care facilities</strong></td>
      <td data-row="6" class="">7%</td>
      <td data-row="6" class="">6%</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="">One standout difference: schools. School-based therapy is a big part of OT, because OTs help students with handwriting, sensory needs, organization and classroom participation.</p>
<h2 class="">OT or PT: Which Is Right for You?</h2>
<p class="">Both are rewarding, people-focused careers. Here is a quick way to think about fit.</p>
<h3 class="">You Might Love Occupational Therapy If You:</h3>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Enjoy creative problem solving and finding new ways to do everyday tasks</li>
  <li class="">Are interested in how thinking, emotions and environment affect daily life</li>
  <li class="">Want to work with children in schools or clinics</li>
  <li class="">Like variety, from mental health to hand therapy to home safety</li>
  <li class="">Prefer a shorter path to practice (a master's degree is still an option)</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="">You Might Love Physical Therapy If You:</h3>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Are fascinated by movement, the body and how muscles and joints work</li>
  <li class="">Enjoy fitness, sports or exercise science</li>
  <li class="">Like hands-on treatment and building exercise programs</li>
  <li class="">Want to specialize in areas like orthopedics, sports or cardiopulmonary rehab</li>
  <li class="">Are ready for a doctoral program</li>
</ul>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="">Still unsure? Shadow both an OT and a PT in the same setting. Seeing them work with the same patient is one of the fastest ways to feel the difference.</p>
<h2 class="">Flexible Careers for OTs and PTs at Cross Country</h2>
<p class="">Whether you choose OT or PT, your skills are in demand across the country. Cross Country connects therapists with roles that match their goals:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Travel therapy:</strong> Explore new places on assignments with benefits like housing support and travel reimbursement. Browse <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel/travel-allied-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">travel allied jobs</a>, or read our guides to <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/travel-physical-therapy-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">travel physical therapy jobs</a> and <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/find-a-travel-physical-therapy-job-that-fits-your-life" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">finding a travel PT job that fits your life</a>.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Local contracts and per diem:</strong> Stay close to home with flexibility. Learn about <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/local-contract-jobs-for-allied-health-professionals" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">local contract jobs for allied health professionals</a> and the <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/per-diem-vs-local-contract-healthcare-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">difference between per diem and local contracts</a>.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">School-based roles:</strong> OTs can support students through <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/education" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">Cross Country Education</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p class=""><br class="" /></p>
<p class="">Allied health careers are growing fast. See why in <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/the-rise-of-allied-health-professions" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">The Rise of Allied Health Professions</a>.</p>
<p class="">Ready to take the next step? <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/apply-now" rel="noopener noreferrer"  class="">Apply now</a> and a Cross Country recruiter will help you find the right fit.</p>
<h2 class="">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<h3 class="">Is OT or PT better?</h3>
<p class="">Neither is better. They are different. PTs focus on movement and pain, while OTs focus on daily activities and independence. The right choice depends on your interests and the type of work you enjoy.</p>
<h3 class="">Who makes more, OTs or PTs?</h3>
<p class="">PTs earn slightly more on average. In May 2025, the median pay was $102,760 for PTs and $100,330 for OTs, according to BLS. Setting and location often make a bigger difference than profession.</p>
<h3 class="">Is OT school shorter than PT school?</h3>
<p class="">It can be. OTs can enter the field with a master's degree, which usually takes 2 to 3 years. PTs need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which typically takes about 3 years.</p>
<h3 class="">Can OTs and PTs treat the same patient?</h3>
<p class="">Yes. It is very common, especially after a stroke, joint replacement or injury. The PT works on movement, like walking, while the OT works on daily tasks, like dressing and bathing.</p>
<h3 class="">Do OTs work with kids more than PTs?</h3>
<p class="">OTs are more commonly found in schools, where they help students with handwriting, sensory needs and classroom skills. In 2025, 13 percent of OTs worked in educational services, according to BLS. PTs also treat children, especially in pediatric clinics and early intervention.</p>
<h2 class="">Sources</h2>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists</a></li>
  <li class=""><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists</a></li>
  <li class=""><a href="https://www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/National-Exam-NPTE/Schedule-Exam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">FSBPT: NPTE Fees and Scheduling</a></li>
  <li class=""><a href="https://www.aota.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/2026/ot-licensure-compact-begins-issuing-privileges" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">AOTA: OT Licensure Compact Begins Issuing Privileges</a></li>
</ul>



Occupational Therapist vs Physical Therapist: Differences

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Occupational Therapist vs Physical Therapist: What's the Difference?

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