Early career principles and standards for occupational therapists
01 April, 2026
Guiding principles and standards for new Occupational Therapists
We've launched these Early career principles and standards to support newly registered, returning and internationally educated occupational therapists during their first three years of practice – and to help employers provide consistent, high-quality support.
Created by the profession, for the profession
The Early career principles and standards set out what good support looks like in the first three years after registration. They give early career occupational therapists and employers a shared reference point for supervision, development, belonging and wellbeing – and a practical way to evidence high-quality early career support across different services and settings.
Being fortunate enough to be part of the Expert Advisory Group allowed me to share not only my recent experience of being an occupational therapy student but it also allowed me to pass on my first-hand experience of working as a newly registered occupational therapist. Both the new Early career principles and the revised Learning and development standards will support future occupational therapy students and newly qualified professionals entering the workforce in turn strengthening our profession.’
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Anna Fischer, Early Career Occupational Therapist
What's in the document
Five principles capture what matters most in a successful transition into autonomous practice. Each principle is underpinned by employer-focused standards to show how it should work in practice:
- Belonging and connection
- Structured supervision
- Professional development and career planning
- Wellbeing
- Professional identity and networking
The Principles complement existing national guidance (including the HCPC Principles for Preceptorship and country-specific preceptorship quality marks) with a profession-specific lens for occupational therapy.
These principles and supporting standards bridge the space between education and practice by focusing on what early career occupational therapists tell us they need. They provide clear, practical expectations that nurture confidence, identity and a strong sense of belonging as people take their first steps into the profession.
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Carolyn Hay, Head of Education
Who the standards are for
- Early career occupational therapists – anyone in their first three years after HCPC registration who should use the principles to shape supervision, CPD and career conversations; understanding what good support looks like. This would include:
- newly registered practitioners
- those returning to practice
- those transitioning from international settings.
- Employers and leaders – use the standards to design or strengthen early career programmes, demonstrate quality and consistency and foster supportive team cultures.
- Education partners – align placement and transition preparation with the principles to improve continuity into practice.
How employers can use them
Embed the standards in local induction, supervision and CPD.
They’re designed to work alongside your existing processes and can be adapted for services of any size, across health, social care, independent and third sectors.