# What qualifications should a therapist providing occupational therapy have?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-occupational-therapy-have
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

An occupational therapist for your child should hold a recognised OT degree (BOT or MOT) from an approved institution and be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India, ideally with paediatric experience and supervised training. You are always entitled to ask about qualifications and registration. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*Choosing someone to support your child's everyday skills starts with one fair question — is this person properly qualified?*

## In short
An occupational therapist supporting your child should hold a **recognised occupational therapy degree** (a Bachelor's — BOT — or Master's — MOT) from an approved institution, and be **registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)** as required for rehabilitation professionals in India. For children specifically, look for **paediatric experience and supervised training** in areas like sensory processing, fine motor and daily-living skills. A good therapist will happily share their qualifications and registration — you are always entitled to ask.

## What to look for
- **A formal OT qualification** — a BOT (typically 4.5 years including internship) or an MOT from a recognised university or institute.
- **RCI registration** — India's [Rehabilitation Council of India](https://rehabcouncil.nic.in) maintains the register for rehabilitation professionals; registration signals recognised training and accountability.
- **Paediatric experience** — working with children needs specific skills in play-based therapy, sensory integration, fine motor development, handwriting readiness and self-care routines.
- **Supervised practice and ongoing learning** — newer therapists working under experienced clinicians, and senior therapists who keep their skills current, both point to good care.
- **Clear communication with you** — a strong therapist explains goals in plain language, coaches you for home practice, and works alongside your child's wider team.

It is completely reasonable to ask a prospective therapist where they trained, whether they are RCI-registered, and how much of their work is with children. A confident, caring professional welcomes these questions.

## The Pinnacle way
AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. Across [70+ centres in 4 states](/), our [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) is delivered by qualified, RCI-aligned therapists within a 700+ strong clinical team, each child's plan shaped by a clinician-administered [structured assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) built around their strengths.

## Trusted sources
Rehabilitation Council of India — registration framework for rehabilitation professionals in India. American Occupational Therapy and ASHA professional resources on the scope and training of paediatric therapists.

**Next step —** Want to meet a qualified therapist for your child? [Book an occupational therapy assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- Rehabilitation Council of India — registration of rehabilitation professionals: https://rehabcouncil.nic.in
- ASHA — roles and training of paediatric therapy professionals: https://www.asha.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/therapies
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Adaptive: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/adaptive
- Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support
- Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan
- Occupational Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/occupational-therapy
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

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- How can I support occupational therapy goals at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-occupational-therapy-goals-at-home

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