The rapid growth of academic occupational therapy programs in the United States, combined with an increase in senior faculty retirement, requires a new, growing, robust and well-prepared faculty workforce. In addition to the growth of programs, faculty shortages necessitate proactive strategies for preparing transitioning clinicians for successful academic careers. Faculty development training should be a part of preparation to ensure success of early career faculty. However, it is unknown what the perceptions of occupational therapy leaders are towards faculty development training, what components should be included in training, and the importance of these components. Through this survey research, key findings highlight the critical importance of various content areas for early career faculty success. University governance, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) accreditation standards, teaching responsibilities, student assessment, academic advising, and interprofessional collaborative practice were identified as critical areas for faculty understanding, with personnel issues and scholarship ranking as lowest importance. These findings underscore the significance of practical teaching and administrative skills within occupational therapy education, while indicating potential areas for further scholarship development. This research emphasizes occupational therapy education leaders' views about the importance of investing in faculty development for early career occupational therapy faculty. Knowledge in these areas not only prepares educators to shape the future of the profession, but also enhances their adaptability to changing educational landscapes. Faculty development contributes to job satisfaction, retention, and the integration of clinical expertise into academia. Ultimately, it empowers faculty to excel in their roles and advances the field of occupational therapy education and practice. Development and implementation of a robust early career faculty development training model is needed.