Occupational Therapy Technician Internships
Occupational therapy technician internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on patient-care and clinical support experience alongside working occupational therapy technicians, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover Healthcare & Medical Services and Government & Public Sector, with Comprehensive Healthcare, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, and Spurwink Services among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Occupational Therapy Technician Internships
Cost Center
168 Activity TherapyScheduled Weekly Hours
40Work Shift
First Second Shift (United States of America)Shift & Status
What Will you Do?
As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Intern utilizes clinical skills associated with current training in area of expertise, the expressive arts therapies, occupational therapies, and psycho-educational interventions to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services. Screen patients' capabilities, needs, interests and goals to support an individualized treatment program consistent with the interdisciplinary team's goals. The Occupational Therapy Assistant intern must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm for the program and the Pine Rest organization.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Screen patient care needs, supports/implements a treatment plan in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and continually reassesses treatment plan according to patient care needs.
- Plans and participates in milieu programming: teaching, skill building, and therapy groups.
- Provides individual treatments as assigned and appropriate.
- Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients.
- Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan while functioning as a team member.
- Responsible for monitoring and reporting to manager and unit leaders any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
- Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
- Responsible for documenting and reporting all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
- Creates a patient friendly environment by following quality improvement standards and maintaining professionalism.
- Is responsible to actively participate in safety management, crisis intervention and prevention. This may include monitoring, assessment, verbal de-escalation, and emergency psychiatric and medical care.
- Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient populations.
- Serves on committees as needed.
- Promotes positive communication amongst all members of the treatment team.
- Collaborates in follow up with disciplinary action.
- Collaborate with AT Clinical Services Manager and Recreational Therapy Leads regarding internships and other departmental activities.
- Responsible to role model the mission and values of the organization, presenting a professional image that is projected in appearance, attitudes and behaviors, time management and communication skills. Provides spiritual, emotional, social, mental and physical support to patients.
- Must maintain annual training and demonstrate competency in the required programmatic training.
- Continuous exposure to potentially adverse physical environment.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What Does the Role Require?
- Enrolled in an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree program for Occupational Therapy Assistant, or similar degree, which leads to ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam.
- Exposure of relevant psychiatric/medical/clinical experience is helpful to plan and implement therapeutic, interactive education group sessions and interventions, though not required.
- Knowledge of current therapy principles in area of expertise associated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducational interventions, expressive arts, and occupational therapies to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services.
Notice:
Pine Rest provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.
Cost Center
168 Activity TherapyScheduled Weekly Hours
40Work Shift
First Second Shift (United States of America)Shift & Status
What Will you Do?
As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Intern utilizes clinical skills associated with current training in area of expertise, the expressive arts therapies, occupational therapies, and psycho-educational interventions to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services. Screen patients' capabilities, needs, interests and goals to support an individualized treatment program consistent with the interdisciplinary team's goals. The Occupational Therapy Assistant intern must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm for the program and the Pine Rest organization.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Screen patient care needs, supports/implements a treatment plan in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and continually reassesses treatment plan according to patient care needs.
- Plans and participates in milieu programming: teaching, skill building, and therapy groups.
- Provides individual treatments as assigned and appropriate.
- Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients.
- Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan while functioning as a team member.
- Responsible for monitoring and reporting to manager and unit leaders any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
- Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
- Responsible for documenting and reporting all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
- Creates a patient friendly environment by following quality improvement standards and maintaining professionalism.
- Is responsible to actively participate in safety management, crisis intervention and prevention. This may include monitoring, assessment, verbal de-escalation, and emergency psychiatric and medical care.
- Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient populations.
- Serves on committees as needed.
- Promotes positive communication amongst all members of the treatment team.
- Collaborates in follow up with disciplinary action.
- Collaborate with AT Clinical Services Manager and Recreational Therapy Leads regarding internships and other departmental activities.
- Responsible to role model the mission and values of the organization, presenting a professional image that is projected in appearance, attitudes and behaviors, time management and communication skills. Provides spiritual, emotional, social, mental and physical support to patients.
- Must maintain annual training and demonstrate competency in the required programmatic training.
- Continuous exposure to potentially adverse physical environment.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What Does the Role Require?
- Enrolled in an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree program for Occupational Therapy Assistant, or similar degree, which leads to ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam.
- Exposure of relevant psychiatric/medical/clinical experience is helpful to plan and implement therapeutic, interactive education group sessions and interventions, though not required.
- Knowledge of current therapy principles in area of expertise associated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducational interventions, expressive arts, and occupational therapies to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services.
Notice:
Pine Rest provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.
Occupational Therapy Technician Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Government & Public Sector
Tips for Your Occupational Therapy Technician Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large hospital networks and national rehabilitation employers recruit summer occupational therapy technician interns the preceding fall, often filling cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller outpatient clinics and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so checking listings consistently across the full academic year keeps you ahead of both hiring windows.
Build clinical proof before your first application
Hiring teams for occupational therapy technician intern roles expect limited work history, so substitute it with documented evidence. Detailed fieldwork observation logs, adaptive equipment lab write-ups, case study summaries from coursework, or patient-interaction reflections give recruiters something tangible to assess your readiness before you have formal experience.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Career fairs surface structured OT technician programs tied to your university, and professors with clinical connections often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to employers running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and reduces your dependence on any single channel.
Practice your interview format out loud before applying
Occupational therapy technician intern screens typically include scenario-based questions on patient handling, equipment setup, and care-plan support. Practice answering out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through clinical situations as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Target structured clinical internship pipelines early
Large hospital systems and rehabilitation networks run cohort-based internship programs built to train people new to occupational therapy support roles. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and offer structured mentorship from licensed occupational therapists. Identify the ones aligned with your clinical interests and submit your application in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the occupational therapy technician internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start reviewing openings, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through positions you can't accept. Knowing your constraints upfront keeps your search focused and your applications relevant.
Occupational Therapy Technician Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an occupational therapy technician internship?
Lead with coursework and clinical documentation rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio of patient interaction logs, adaptive equipment setups, or therapy-plan summaries gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Apply directly to employers and attend campus career fairs, where OT program recruiters often move faster with students they meet in person.
Can an occupational therapy technician internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For occupational therapy technician interns, what drives it most is consistent performance on real patient-care tasks, the team's open headcount at the end of the term, and how early you express interest in returning. Position for it by doing excellent work, but keep other options open in parallel.
When should I apply for occupational therapy technician internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large hospital systems and rehab networks often recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller outpatient clinics and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both waves without missing the early cohorts.
Are occupational therapy technician internships paid?
Most professional occupational therapy technician internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by employer size, clinical setting, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Unpaid arrangements exist in some academic or nonprofit settings, but paid roles are the norm at hospital systems, rehabilitation centers, and outpatient clinics.
What should an occupational therapy technician internship resume include?
Lead with projects and clinical coursework, not work history. Highlight two or three documented experiences, such as adaptive equipment labs, simulated therapy-plan assignments, or fieldwork observation hours, naming the specific techniques and patient populations involved. Add relevant coursework in anatomy, kinesiology, or therapeutic modalities. Keep everything to one page so recruiters can scan it quickly.
Are there remote occupational therapy technician internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the occupational therapy technician internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to focus on administrative support, telehealth coordination, or research assistance rather than direct patient care. These positions fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to find them before they close.
Can international students get occupational therapy technician internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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