Occupational Therapist Jobs in Tennessee
Occupational Therapist jobs in Tennessee represent an active and growing market, with strong demand concentrated in healthcare systems, pediatric clinics, school districts, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities at levels from new graduate through senior clinician. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville are the state's primary hiring centers, anchored by large systems like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Baptist Memorial Health Care, and Covenant Health. The most in-demand specialties include pediatrics, hand therapy, and neurological rehabilitation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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General Purpose
The Staff Occupational Therapist evaluates and treats residents, communicates with families, physicians and other health team members, and maintains documentation of services in the medical records. Conducts in-services and training for facility staff on an ongoing basis.
Essential Duties
- Evaluate residents to determine occupational therapy needs, functional limitations, and rehabilitation potential in accordance with physician orders and facility policies.
- Develop, implement, and update individualized treatment plans to improve mobility, strength, balance, endurance, and functional independence.
- Assist nursing department with training of Restorative Aides.
- Supervise Occupational Therapy Assistants in direct resident care and resident related activities, following state practice act.
- Communicate regularly with physicians, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members, residents, and families regarding progress, goals, and discharge planning.
- Participates in Resident Care conferences, Utilization Review meetings, and Rehabilitation meetings as needed.
- Provides in-services on training programs for other staff in the facility as needed.
- Complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in accordance with facility, governmental, and third-party payer requirements.
- Maintain a safe treatment environment by following infection control, safety, and equipment maintenance protocols.
- Educate residents, families, and caregivers on treatment goals, home exercise programs, maintenance programs, safety techniques, and fall prevention strategies.
- Recommend and facilitate the ordering of necessary durable medical equipment for residents to facilitate independence in ADLs; i.e., adaptive equipment, splints, assistive devices, elevated toilet seats, and grab bars.
- Must maintain confidentiality of residents' information as well as company information.
- Report any problems with department equipment so that it is maintained in good working order.
- Contribute to quality assurance, performance improvement initiatives, and facility rehabilitation program development as assigned.
- Ability to relate positively, effectively, and appropriately with residents/residents, families, staff, and professional colleagues.
Supervisory Requirements
Supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA), aides, and students.
Qualification
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy, prefer graduates of Masters or Doctorate Program in Occupational Therapy. Proficient in computer skills such as inputting data into programs for Net Health and Point Click Care.
Language Skills
Ability to read technical procedures. Ability to read and comprehend policy and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond
to questions from managers, coworkers and families.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Licensed as an Occupational Therapist in the state. Employee must meet continuing education requirements per state practices. Must maintain a license in good standing at all times with the state board. Determine additional certification as appropriate per facility. CPR certification, if required by licensure.
Physical Demands
The essential functions of this position require the ability to stand and walk frequently and sit occasionally, as well as occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as needed to provide resident care and operate equipment. The position requires the ability to reach, push, pull, lift, and manipulate objects and equipment, with exertion that may occasionally exceed 100 pounds, frequently exceed 50 pounds, or constantly exceed 20 pounds to safely move residents or equipment. Effective communication, including talking and hearing, is required to interact with residents, families, and the healthcare team. The ability to perceive and respond to environmental cues, including tactile, auditory, and visual information, is essential for safe and effective resident care. Other essential functions include assisting, supporting, and transporting residents in accordance with safe resident handling practices.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws.
The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, dress, color, sex, childbirth, breast feeding, medical conditions, gender, identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, uniform service, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, and other protected status. The Company complies with affirmative action requirements. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
See All 64 Occupational Therapist Jobs in Tennessee
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Find Occupational Therapist JobsOccupational Therapist Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Occupational Therapist Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Signature HealthCARE17

- Evolve Therapy Services4

- Encompass Health3

- Mt. Pleasant Health and Rehabilitation3

- HiredFirst2H
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in occupational therapist jobs across Tennessee.
- Active Tennessee occupational therapist license issued by the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy
- Master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program
- Passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam
- Minimum one to two years of clinical experience in a relevant practice setting
- Proficiency with electronic health records and documentation platforms
- Strong interpersonal skills for working with patients, families, and multidisciplinary care teams
Occupational Therapist Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an occupational therapist in Tennessee?
To practice as an occupational therapist in Tennessee, you must hold an active license issued by the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy. That requires completing an accredited master's or doctoral program in occupational therapy, completing the required fieldwork hours, and passing the NBCOT certification exam. Once those are complete, you apply to the Board for licensure. Tennessee also participates in the OT Licensure Compact, which can simplify the process for applicants already licensed in a Compact member state.
How much do occupational therapists make in Tennessee?
Occupational therapists in Tennessee earn a median of about $97,700 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,520 for the lowest 10% to over $119,070 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire occupational therapists in Tennessee?
Employers hiring occupational therapists in Tennessee right now include Signature HealthCARE, Evolve Therapy Services, and Encompass Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Tennessee's large integrated health systems, school districts, and rehabilitation networks are consistently among the most active sources of occupational therapist openings across the state.
Which Tennessee cities have the most occupational therapist jobs?
Memphis, Nashville, and Cleveland have the most occupational therapist openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads due to its concentration of major hospital systems, outpatient clinics, and corporate healthcare headquarters, while Memphis is driven by its large academic medical centers and pediatric networks, and Knoxville reflects strong regional health system demand anchored by institutions like the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Are there remote occupational therapist jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Occupational therapy is a hands-on clinical discipline, so the vast majority of roles require on-site patient care. About 0% of occupational therapist openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of August 2026. The portions of the role most likely to be conducted remotely are telehealth consultations, documentation, and care coordination functions within larger health systems.
How can I get hired as an occupational therapist in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for new-graduate or entry-level staff positions at Tennessee's large health systems, which regularly recruit directly from accredited OT programs. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Erlanger Health System, and regional rehabilitation networks in Nashville and Memphis run structured onboarding for new graduates. Completing fieldwork rotations at Tennessee facilities strengthens your candidacy significantly, as does holding current NBCOT certification and a Tennessee license at the time of application. Adjacent roles such as occupational therapy assistant or rehabilitation aide can also open the door to advancement.
Where can I find and apply to occupational therapist jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to occupational therapist jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to the positions that match.
See All 64 Occupational Therapist Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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