Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists help people of all ages and in different life situations to cope well with everyday life.
The most important goal here is to improve your ability to act: occupational therapy uses everyday activities to determine which abilities or skills you can still use fully and which you can only use to a limited extent. To this end, actions and activities are analyzed and practiced.
The aim of the exercises is to enable you to carry out important activities as independently as possible and to participate in social life. Often your living environment also needs to be redesigned, for example by making adaptations to your home. The aim of occupational therapy is to maintain or improve a person's quality of life.
You can get occupational therapy, for example
- outpatient, i.e. in a rehabilitation facility, in hospital, in an insurance facility, in a primary care center, in a facility for people with disabilities, in an institute for physical medicine or in a day center,
- as an inpatient, i.e. during a stay in a rehabilitation center, spa or hospital, in a care facility, hospice or facility for people with disabilities,
- in a practice or as part of a home visit,
- in kindergartens and schools as well as in many companies, corporations and businesses.
If you click on the following link, you will be taken to a video. Here you can see what is done in occupational therapy, for example:
In the case of injuries, illnesses or accidents, you need a referral for occupational therapy. You can obtain this from your family doctor or a specialist. If you would like to take advantage of occupational therapy as part of health promotion or preventive care, you do not need a referral.
If you go to a contract occupational therapist, the therapy is usually free of charge for you. The prerequisite for this is that your health insurance has a contract with the chosen occupational therapist. A prescription from your family doctor is also required. In many cases, authorization from the head physician is also required. You must obtain this from your health insurance provider. Ask your social insurance provider for more information.
If you go to an elective ergotherapist, you have to pay yourself. However, you will be reimbursed part of the costs by your insurance company if you apply for this. To do this, you will need the prescription approved by your health insurance company and the fee notes from your therapist. Ask your insurance company for more information.
A list of all contract ergotherapists of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) can be found here:
Further information for SVS (Social Insurance for the Self-Employed) insured persons can be found here:
You can find a list of healthcare facilities for SVS insured persons here:
Further information for BVAEB (Insurance Institution for Public Servants, Railways and Mining) insured persons can be found here:
Information on the costs for KFA (Krankenfürsorgeanstalt der Bediensteten der Stadt Wien/Healthcare institution for employees of the City of Vienna) insured persons can be found here:
Information on the Professional Association of Occupational Therapists can be found here:
Last update: August 7, 2025
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