Become an Occupational Therapist:
Choosing an Occupational Therapy School

There are a number of factors to consider as you think about which occupational therapy school to attend. Determining your priorities and gathering information about different occupational therapy programs will help you narrow down your search and settle on the occupational therapy school that's right for you. Here are some questions to consider as you make your choice:

• Are you willing to relocate to attend school?
• Do you need a flexible school schedule?
• Are you interested in online occupational therapy programs?
• What kind of financial aid is available?
• Is the occupational therapy program accredited?
• Will the program allow you to specialize in your area of interest?

Getting Into Occupational Therapy School

A master's degree is the minimum standard for becoming a practicing occupational therapist, and admission to occupational therapy programs is competitive. To get into the occupational therapy school of your choice, focus on earning a high overall grade point average in your undergraduate work (above a 3.3 GPA) and volunteer or work as an occupational therapy aide. Some schools require up to 150 hours of clinical experience prior to admission.

You'll also need letters of recommendation from occupational therapists or science teachers. In addition, most schools require a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Prerequisites for a Master's Degree Program in Occupational Therapy

Unless you choose a joint bachelor's/master's program, your graduate-level occupational therapy program will require a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college or university. Prerequisite course work generally includes the following:

• General biology with lab
• Organic chemistry with lab
• General physics with lab
• Human anatomy with lab
• Human physiology with lab
• Statistics and calculus
• Psychology and social sciences

Occupational Therapy Courses

As an occupational therapy student, you'll take courses ranging from medical terminology and physiology, to mental health and gerontology. Students also need to do six months of supervised fieldwork in clinics or community organizations in order to gain hands-on experience before completing their program.

The average master's degree program takes a student two and a half years to complete. The first year and a half is usually devoted to completing required course work in a classroom setting. In the last year, students gain experience in a clinical setting.

Occupational Therapy Degree Options

As you start your occupational therapy school search, there are a number of degree programs to consider. Find the program that makes the most sense for you in the list below:

Certificate in Occupational Therapy Assisting – These 1-year programs are increasingly rare, and may only prepare you to become an occupational therapy aide, rather than a certified occupational therapy assistant.

Associate's Degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting – These 2-year programs prepare you to take the national certification exam for occupational therapy assistants.

Bachelor's/Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy – Also called 4+2 or 4+1 programs, these joint bachelor's/master's programs allow you to earn both degrees on an accelerated schedule.

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree – Direct-entry MOT programs, also called "graduate entry," "direct entry" or "master's entry" programs, are designed for students who hold bachelor's degrees in other fields. These programs give you credit for having completed your liberal arts requirements and allow you to complete an abbreviated schedule of undergraduate course work before moving directly into your graduate course work—combining preparation for licensure with advanced training in a graduate-level specialty area.

Direct-entry MOT programs typically take two to three years to complete, with the first year being devoted to entry-level course work and the last year to clinical practice.

Transitional Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree – Professional entry master's programs, called "post-professional" or "advanced master's" programs, are for licensed therapists who have a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and want to upgrade their degree and skills. These programs are usually completed in one year with full-time study. Many schools offer distance learning programs which allow practicing therapists to continue working full-time while completing the program.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Degree – Entry-level or direct-entry OTD programs prepare graduates with bachelor's degrees in other fields for entry into the profession of occupational therapy. Most programs can be completed in three years.

Transitional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Degree – Transitional OTD degrees, also called "Post-Professional" doctorate programs, were developed specifically for practicing occupational therapists who want to bridge the gap between their certificate, bachelor's or master's degrees in occupational therapy and earn their Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. Most students complete these programs in two years.