Short answer
Physical therapy centers on improving movement and managing pain; occupational therapy centers on skills and activities that support independence in everyday life. A useful comparison is “How can this person move better?” versus “How can this person carry out daily activities?”—not an absolute boundary between their work. Occupational therapy includes dressing, home activities, and social participation, not just employment. 1 2
On this page
At a glance
Scroll to compare all columns →
| Question or attribute | Physical therapy | Occupational therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Central focus | Movement and pain | Daily living, vocational, and other independence-supporting skills |
| Illustrative work | Recovering mobility after a stroke | Relearning dressing after a stroke |
| Typical entry education | Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Master’s degree in occupational therapy |
| US licensing | Required in all states | Required in all states |
These are BLS descriptions in pages last modified August 27, 2026; licensing is state-based, not a federal credential. 1 2
What each thing is
Physical therapists work with injured or ill people, with care differing between, for example, stroke recovery and sports-injury recovery. Some specialize in areas such as orthopedics or geriatrics. Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities, addressing both their abilities and their environments. Their work can include changes to a home, school, or workplace. 1 2
Key differences
The distinction is most useful at the level of goals: mobility and pain management versus performing activities that support independence. Environmental changes are a prominent part of the supplied occupational therapy description, including workspace modifications and accessibility improvements. Credentials also differ: BLS’s August 27, 2026 descriptions specify a DPT for physical therapy entrants and typically a master’s degree for occupational therapy entrants. Those degree descriptions do not make either profession a substitute for the other. 1 2
How to tell them apart
Look first at the stated purpose, not merely the exercise or equipment. A movement-improvement goal points toward physical therapy; a daily-task or environmental-access goal points toward occupational therapy. This is an identification clue, not an exclusive assignment rule, because the listed activities overlap. 1 2
Where they overlap
Both descriptions include movement-related work and pain relief. Physical therapists use stretching and other techniques to improve mobility and decrease pain; occupational therapists may demonstrate stretching for arthritis relief and teach clients to use mobility aids. Both also oversee assistants and aides. A shared technique therefore does not establish that the professions have identical roles. 1 2
Edge cases
A workplace-related goal does not define the whole of occupational therapy, and a home setting does not identify a session as occupational therapy. BLS lists employment-related modifications among occupational therapists’ activities, but also dressing and social outings; physical therapists may work in patients’ homes. Location and the everyday meaning of “occupation” are unreliable shortcuts. 1 2
Why the distinction exists
The separate labels make different rehabilitation goals visible even when activities intersect. Improving mobility describes one kind of progress; performing a daily task or adapting an environment describes another. BLS presents these as separate professions with separate educational pathways, rather than as interchangeable names for rehabilitation. This comparison concerns their described roles, not a historical explanation of how the professions arose. 1 2
Common misconceptions
“Occupational therapy means job therapy” leaves out daily living and other independence-supporting skills. “Only physical therapists address pain” conflicts with BLS’s occupational therapy stretching example. Conversely, physical therapy is not described solely as recovery after injury: it also includes fitness and wellness programs intended to maintain or improve mobility. 1 2
Examples
After a stroke, recovering lost mobility illustrates physical therapy’s focus; relearning how to get dressed illustrates occupational therapy’s focus. In a hypothetical arthritis case, an occupational therapist demonstrating joint stretches for pain relief would still fit BLS’s occupational therapy description, despite stretching also appearing in physical therapy. 1 2