Hand therapy is a specialty setting in occupational therapy and physical therapy
Although it is called hand therapy, it involves treating all of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder)
Occupational therapists can become certified hand therapists (CHTs) by meeting the following criteria:
Minimum of three years as a licensed occupational therapist
4000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy
Pass the comprehensive four hour, 200-question CHT exam
OT programs focus on preparing students so they are ready to work in a wide variety of settings and with multiple populations
Hand therapy is a highly specialized area that requires advanced clinical reasoning, anatomy knowledge, and hands-on skills, which are typically gained through post-graduate experience
References
Hand Therapist: What is a CHT, OT, Or PT? (n.d.). American Society for Surgery of the Hand - Handcare The Upper Extremity Expert . https://www.assh.org/handcare/about-hand-therapy