What is the Difference Between PT and OT?

When asking what is the difference between PT and OT?

The main difference is:

• PT focuses on mobility by reducing pain and improving patient’s body movement through strengthening, stretching, and rehabilitating the body.
• OT focuses on ADL (Activities of Daily Living) and helping patients become more independent in these.

Because of this major difference, more PT professionals work with athletes than do OT professionals.

OT professionals are more often found working with elderly, disabled, and special needs children. (All of whom PT professionals also work with)

PT vs OT: Education, Salaries, and Jobs

The amount of education required to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) or an Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) is nearly identical.

Each profession requires a 2 years associates degree, clinical training, and passing a national exam to become licensed.

Becoming an Occupational Therapist (OTR) or Physical Therapist (DPT) each requires nearly identical amounts of education as well, and both fields offer very similar bridge programs.

Salaries are also very comparable between the PT and OT fields. However, you will find differences between PT and OT in where they work and what they do.

In some cases you will find OT and PT professionals working together with patients who need both types of therapy.

The BLS reports that both fields are growing rapidly and jobs are in demand. However, PT is a larger field at this time.

Either way, both are healthily growing fields with plenty of opportunity and growth in the coming decades.

Checkout our blog post with a few videos covering more details comparing occupational therapy vs physical therapy.