The keyword for OTs in Denmark is rehabilitation and participation in daily life. The 6000 Danish OTs work to prevent and solve health-related problems connected with human daily activity and work.

The OTs in Denmark work within the fields of children's health, the health of elderly people, mental health, somatic health, vocational health & public health.

The OTs' work takes place in schools, in special institutions, in psychiatric hospitals and social institutions, in rehabilitation in hospitals and activity centers, in the client's own homes or in work places/industry. The OT is a resource in relation to information, guidance, education and instruction to the citizens in the municipality and to other health employees.

More than 90 % of the Danish OTs work in the public sector, both in hospitals and in community based practise. Only a few work in the private sector, either as freelance therapists or in private institutions, such as the Industrial Health Service and the National Working Environment Authority.

You can read more about OT in Denmark under "History" and "News" in the left menu.

Etf - the association

Almost every OT in Denmark is a member of the Danish Association of Occupational Therapists called Ergoterapeutforeningen (Etf). Etf is located in Copenhagen and in 3 regional offices around the country. Etf is a combination of a professional association and a trade union. We employ approx. 35 persons - including 5 full time politicians.

OT Education in Denmark

There are 7 Schools of Occupational Therapy in Denmark, all connected to university colleges.

The training of Occupational Therapist takes 3½ years, and leads to a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy (B.Oc.T.). OTs are authorized by the National Board of Health. Master degrees within different fields of health are offered by the universities. The OT school located in Næstved is a partner of the European OTMaster.