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Occupational Therapist Cover Letter Example

An occupational therapist cover letter proven with a neuro rehab caseload, a discharge FIM-gain improvement, and a fieldwork pass rate.

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The occupational therapist cover letter, editable

Morgan Thomas
Occupational Therapist, OTR
Tacoma, WAmorgan.thomas@example.com(253) 555-0104

October 17, 2026

Rehabilitation Director
[Rehabilitation center name]
[City, State]

Dear [Hiring manager's name],

At Harborview Rehabilitation Institute I evaluate and treat 28 to 32 inpatients a week on a 40-bed neurological rehabilitation unit, guiding stroke and brain-injury survivors from full dependence to modified-independent daily living before discharge. I'm applying for the occupational therapist opening at [Rehabilitation center name] because I want that same caseload intensity on a team that treats discharge planning as everyone's job, not just case management's.

I raised our unit's average discharge FIM gain from 18 to 24 points over two years by building task-specific daily-living retraining into every morning session, and my 150-plus home-safety evaluations have been linked to a 22% drop in 30-day fall readmissions after discharge. I also co-chair our interdisciplinary discharge planning committee, which trimmed average length of stay by 1.8 days.

I hold NBCOT board certification, an active state OT license, and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist credential I use heavily in my home-safety work. I precept four Level II fieldwork students a year, and every one of them has passed the NBCOT exam on the first attempt since I started supervising in earnest, which our program director now points to when recruiting new fieldwork sites.

I'd welcome a conversation about your current caseload mix and discharge planning process at [Rehabilitation center name]. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I'm glad to share my FIM and readmission data ahead of an interview.

Warm regards,

Morgan Thomas, OTR/L

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Why this letter works

  1. Paragraph 1

    Names the unit type and weekly caseload

    Rehab directors screen for exact caseload and diagnosis mix first. Naming the neuro unit, bed count and weekly patient volume answers that before they have to ask.

  2. Paragraph 2

    A FIM-gain number tied to a specific change

    An 18-to-24-point discharge FIM improvement, credited to a named practice change, gives a director a number they can compare directly against their own unit's benchmark.

  3. Paragraph 3

    A fieldwork pass rate, not just supervision

    A 100% first-attempt NBCOT pass rate among students Morgan precepted is a concrete, checkable claim that says far more than listing supervision as a general responsibility.

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Questions about occupational therapist cover letters

What should an occupational therapist cover letter emphasize?

Name the patient population you treat, cite one outcome metric like a goal-attainment rate, and confirm your NBCOT certification and license status. Directors are comparing clinical impact, not enthusiasm, so lead with evidence rather than adjectives.

Should I mention specialty certifications like CHT or SIPT in my cover letter?

Yes, if the posting matches your specialty. A hand therapy certification or sensory integration training signals you can handle a narrower caseload without extra onboarding, which shortens the hiring decision for a specialized clinic.

How do I write an OT cover letter with limited paid experience?

Lean on fieldwork rotations. Name the settings where you completed Level II fieldwork, describe a specific case or outcome you contributed to, and note your NBCOT exam status. Supervisors read fieldwork performance as a real predictor of readiness.

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