Occupational therapists treat and assist individuals who are unable to perform daily
tasks such as learning, communication, mobility, self-care, interpersonal interaction and
relationships due to disease, injury, or disability. There are significant benefits to pursuing
this career in New Zealand, including high job prospects, salaries, and opportunities for
permanent residency in New Zealand. For those passionate about healthcare careers
other than nursing, becoming an occupational therapist could be a rewarding option.

The reasons for choosing to study Occupational Therapy in New Zealand are as follows
• High demand and job opportunities: Occupational Therapy is in demand in New
Zealand due to the increasing ageing population. Employment chance is good for
those with experience and average for graduates, with a variety of health care
settings.
• Competitive salaries: Wages for occupational therapists varies according to their
employer, experience, and qualifications. Occupational therapists usually earn
NZ$58,000- $119,000 a year.
• Quality Education and Training: Universities in New Zealand is known for
outstanding education and training. Courses are accredited by the World
Federation of Occupational Therapists, guaranteeing that graduates fulfill global
requirement.
• Exposure and Diversity of Cultures: Students have opportunity to experience a
wide range of different cultures and healthcare practices while studying in New
Zealand, which enhances their education and equips them for a global workforce.
• Pathway to Permanent Residency: upon completion of the courses, students will
have at least 2 years for their post study work visa and then have a high opportunity
to be permanent Resident in New Zealand.

Below are examples of Occupation Therapy programs available for international
students:
Otago Polytechnic
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (3 years)
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)(online) (1 year)
• Master of Occupational Therapy (online) (1 year)
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
• Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) (3 years):
Wintec
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (3 years)

• English requirement: The English language requirement to enter the courses is
an equivalent IELTS (Academic) 6.5 or 7.0 overall with no bands under 6.5,
depending on the universities.
• Academic requirement:
You must have completed one of the following qualifications (or equivalent) in order
to enroll in an Occupational Therapy program.
o NCEA Level 3, or
o A level 4 qualification (NQF) equalling 60 credits completed in one year, or
o Successful completion of university courses/units equalling at least 50 % of
the workload required of first-year students in one year.

The tuition fee for the course ranges from NZ$ 25,000 – NZ $38,146 per year.

The following are some of the tasks that occupational therapists may perform:
• Evaluate clients’ capacities and assist them in acquiring or regaining skills.
• Plan and oversee therapy sessions, which may include social and physical
activities.
• Conduct assessments of home or workplace safety
• Provide equipment recommendations or suggest alterations to the house or
workplace
• Suggest clients to change their lifestyles in order to assist them with daily tasks
• Track and document the progress of your clients.

• Graduates will be occupational therapists who can work in a variety of health care
settings such as hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, primary health
Organisations (PHOs), private clinics, nursing homes and community health
services.
• Occupational therapists can advance into contract work, management, teaching,
or research positions. Occupational therapists may choose to specialise in one of
the following fields: burn management, hand therapy, mental health and
addictions, geriatrics (elder people), paediatrics (children).

Occupational Therapist belongs to Tier 1 of the Green list. Therefore, individuals who are
working for an accredited employer or just having a job offer from an employer and
getting paid at least the median wage ($NZ 31.61) or above, will be eligible for applying a
Straight to Residence Visa.