How many hours do occupational therapists work?

Occupational therapists have different kinds of hours and shifts depending on the environment they are employed in. Most occupational therapists work full-time hours, with weeks in the traditional 40-hour range. However, there are some occupational therapists that can work more or fewer hours than this, depending on if they are part-time or other factors.

Here are some different medical locations that employ occupational therapists and the work hours these professionals have at these facilities:

• Hospitals

Most hospitals operate on a 24-hour schedule, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Occupational therapists in this working environment might have any given shift around the clock. This includes early mornings and late nights.

It is likely that most hospitals have more occupational therapists working during the day, and slightly fewer at night and in the early morning hours, but those working in hospitals can expect shifts beginning and ending at all types of times. Occupational therapists in this environment may put in 40 or more hours per work week.

This setting might also dictate the need for occupational therapists to work weekends and on some holidays.

• Educational settings

Many educational settings that can employ occupational therapists operate during traditional business hours, like 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Occupational therapists in this work environment are most likely to work traditional business hour shifts of eight hours for five days a week, for a 40-hour total work week.

Those who work part-time likely still work eight-hour shifts, but only work three to four days per week, resulting in the range of 25 to 35 hours per work week.

• Private practices

Occupational therapists that work in private practices have more flexible work scheduling options. This might result in them choosing to work part-time hours in the range of 25 to 35 per week, the traditional full-time hours of 40 per week, or a schedule of over 40 hours per week.

• Occupational therapists at schools

Occupational therapists that work in a school setting generally work traditional hours of 9 am to 5 pm, or whatever the specific institution's school hours are. These occupational therapists are known to put in shifts between six and eight hours per day. In some cases though, they might have to work overtime when attending after-school events or meetings.

• Those with multiple jobs

Some occupational therapists hold multiple jobs or work in various environments doing occupational therapy. This can impact an occupational therapist's total work hours in a variety of ways.