HOW TO HIRE · HEALTH & WELLBEING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an occupational therapist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An occupational therapist in Ireland costs €80–€180 per session, typically around €120. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an occupational therapist in five steps
- Are you on the CORU register for that profession, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — home Modifications — occupational therapists may recommend modifications to a client's home to enhance safety and accessibility.
- How does their experience change the price?A long track record is itself part of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the case change the price?Complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Therapeutic Activities — therapists engage clients in therapeutic activities designed to enhance their physical and cognitive abilities — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a occupational therapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
- Who insures you, and what is the policy number?Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit, because for a hands-on treatment it is the only real recourse — assessment and Evaluation — occupational therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to understand a client's needs and challenges.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
the CORU register
CORU REGULATES BY PROTECTED TITLE, NOT BY WHAT SOMEBODY DOES. Where a title is protected, only a registrant may use it — the physiotherapists' register opened in 2016 and the title became protected once the grandparenting period closed. CORU's registers are open for dietitians, medical scientists, occupational therapists, optometrists and dispensing opticians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers and radiation therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists and social care workers. Search the name on Check the Register at coru.ie before you book, and if the registration number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there. Not restricted: the treatment itself, where the title is the thing protected — so ask what qualification, from whom, and check the register that does exist.
Search the CORU register for that profession for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. coru.ie →
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit, because for a hands-on treatment it is the only real recourse. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Identity
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a occupational therapist coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — home Modifications — occupational therapists may recommend modifications to a client's home to enhance safety and accessibility.
A good answer: A long track record is itself part of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Therapeutic Activities — therapists engage clients in therapeutic activities designed to enhance their physical and cognitive abilities — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a occupational therapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit, because for a hands-on treatment it is the only real recourse — assessment and Evaluation — occupational therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to understand a client's needs and challenges.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the occupational therapist starts, and an itemised invoice after — workplace Occupational Therapy — involves assessing and improving workplace ergonomics and productivity while supporting employee health and well-being.
A good answer: No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately — workplace Occupational Therapy — involves assessing and improving workplace ergonomics and productivity while supporting employee health and well-being.
Getting the quote right
- Their experience — a long track record is itself part of the price.
- Complexity of the case — complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected.
- Complexity of the client's needs — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest.
- Duration of sessions — time spent setting up and clearing away is part of the booking.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the CORU register for that profession, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: their experience — a long track record is itself part of the price
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the case — complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the client's needs — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest
- A price for the occupational therapist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What an occupational therapist costs: €80–€180 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Paediatric occupational therapy and Geriatric occupational therapy each carry their own band. Occupational Therapist price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Occupational therapists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstTheir experience — a long track record is itself part of the price — that is what the occupational therapist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the case — complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the client's needs — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDuration of sessions — time spent setting up and clearing away is part of the booking — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the occupational therapist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, specific interventions required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Occupational therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to understand a client's needs and challenges.
- Therapeutic Activities
- Therapists engage clients in therapeutic activities designed to enhance their physical and cognitive abilities.
- Home Modifications
- Occupational therapists may recommend modifications to a client's home to enhance safety and accessibility.
- Paediatric Occupational Therapy
- Focuses on helping children develop the skills needed for daily activities, including play, self-care, and social interaction.
- Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy
- Supports individuals recovering from surgery or injury, focusing on regaining functional abilities and improving overall well-being.
- Mental Health Occupational Therapy
- Addresses mental health challenges through the use of therapeutic activities that promote emotional well-being and daily functioning.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an occupational therapist: questions people ask
The cost of an occupational therapist can vary based on their experience, location, and the complexity of the case. specialised services or additional assessments may also increase the overall price.
A typical session with an occupational therapist usually lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour. However, initial assessments may take longer due to the comprehensive nature of the evaluation.
Whether you need a general occupational therapist or a specialist depends on your specific needs. For example, if you require help with mental health issues, a therapist with expertise in that area may be more beneficial.
Same-day appointments may be available, but they are often limited and depend on the therapist's schedule. It's best to call ahead to check availability for urgent needs.
Yes, many occupational therapists offer integrated services and can coordinate with other healthcare professionals. Booking multiple sessions may also lead to a more comprehensive treatment plan.
Occupational therapists typically do not provide medical diagnoses or perform procedures that require medical training. Their focus is on rehabilitation, skill development, and support for daily living activities.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in health & wellbeing
Occupational therapists near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CORU — public protection FAQs: which registers are open
- CORU — the registration boards
- CORU — Physiotherapists Registration Board
- Citizens Information — registration of health and social care professionals
- Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1 — exempt activities
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — PHYSIOTHERAPY (Medical and related services) — Exempt
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only