What Are the Prerequisites for an Occupational Therapy Program?

Anyone with a nurturing spirit and a passion for helping others may want to consider a career in occupational therapy (OT). Occupational therapists play a vital role in the healthcare system; they help people with injuries, medical conditions, and disabilities recover and function to the best of their abilities. It’s a challenging yet rewarding occupation with many specialties to choose from, including brain injury treatment, diabetes education, geriatrics, mental health, pediatrics, and stroke rehabilitation.

If you’re mulling an OT career, here’s some encouraging news: demand for occupational therapists is on the rise. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted 133,000 occupational therapy jobs nationwide in 2020, with job growth projected at 17 percent by 2030.

And it’s remunerative; OTs earned an average median annual salary of $86,280 in 2020 (with the top ten percent earning more than $122,670). Potential employers include:

• Hospitals (public and private)
• Offices of physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and audiologists in private practice
• Elementary and secondary schools (public and private)
• Nursing care facilities and rehabilitation centers
• Home healthcare services

So, what are the prerequisites for an occupational therapy master’s program? This article addresses this question and also discusses:

• What is an occupational therapy master’s?
• What are the top schools offering an occupational therapy master’s?

What are the prerequisites for an occupational therapy master’s program?

A bachelor’s degree (so you can pursue your occupational therapy master’s)

Several graduate programs lead to occupational therapy careers. You can earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) or Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) (some opt for a Doctor in Occupational Therapy, including those who already have their OT master’s and others who want to pursue a career in academic research). It should go without saying, then, that you need a baccalaureate degree to become an OT.

If your undergraduate degree isn’t in the health sciences (biology, kinesiology, psychology, or sociology), you’ll be required to take prerequisite courses in biology, human anatomy and human physiology, human development, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, sociology, and statistics before starting your graduate-level OT coursework.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores

Some/ occupational therapy master’s programs require GRE scores among their admissions requirements. Others make standardized testing optional, and a few won’t consider standardized test scores. Check the admissions requirements for all your prospective programs.

Completed OT observation hours

Most occupational therapy programs require applicants to have completed 40–50 hours of observation time under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist before they apply to an OT program.

Both the applicant and the OT program benefit from this requirement. The OT observation hours help potential OT students determine whether an occupational therapy career is a good fit for them (and is a way of showing demonstrated interest in the field). It also provides the admissions committee additional valuable information on which to assess your application.

Other common admissions prerequisites for occupational therapy programs

Although the admissions process for OT programs differ for each school, admissions criteria typically include:

• Official transcripts from your undergraduate program showing a cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 3.0.
• Three letters of recommendation, especially from individuals who have taught or overseen clinical activities for the applicant in an academic context.
• A personal statement in which the applicant outlines their professional goals, talents, skills, and experiences that will help them succeed in school and the workplace (for example, the University of Pittsburgh requires a brief statement discussing interest in the field of study and reasons for applying).

Please note that the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) allows prospective occupational therapy students to create one OTCAS application which they can submit to multiple programs.

What is an occupational therapy master’s?

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires practicing occupational therapist to hold a master’s degree. Other OT roles—such as occupational therapy assistants and aides— don’t require graduate-level education, but you’ll need that master’s to obtain state licensure and gain entry-level OT employment.

OTs must be licensed in all 50 states. As well, all OTs need to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. To qualify for the NBCOT, candidates must have completed all fieldwork and obtained an occupational therapy degree from an accredited institution.

How long does it take to earn an occupational therapy degree?

A master’s degree in occupational therapy takes two to three years to complete, depending on the school and program.

Curriculum

Occupational therapy master’s degree programs focus on teaching the skills and training needed for OTs to practice and succeed. Students learn how to assess clients’ functional needs and develop and implement treatment plans to help them become more self-sufficient. Below are examples of occupational therapy master’s coursework from the University of Pittsburgh:

• Foundations of Occupation
• Neurorehabilitation Theory & Practice
• Biomechanical Theory & Practice
• Neurobehavioral Science
• Developmental Theory and Practice
• Productive Aging Theory and Practice
• Psychosocial/Cognitive Theory and Practice

OT students must also complete two levels of fieldwork. The first level is a practicum in which students observe licensed OTs working in various settings and only participate in some parts of the therapy process (and then only under direct supervision). All programs at accredited institutions build a minimum of 24 weeks of full-time level II fieldwork, which is hands-on and more like an internship. Students provide occupational therapy services in various clinical settings under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

Specialization

Occupational therapists typically specialize after earning their master’s degree and working in the field. They accomplish this by earning a certificate from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or other certificate-granting body. Common OT certificates include:

• Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification (ATRIC)
• Basic DIR Floortime Certification
• Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)
• Certified Industrial Ergonomic Evaluator (CIEE)
• Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist (CSRS)
• Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS)
• Certified Neuro Specialist (CNS)
• Seating and Mobility Specialist (ATP/SMS)
• Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)
• Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPSC)

What are the top schools offering an occupational therapy master’s?

The American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has approved 220 master’s in occupational therapy programs in the United States. Students must have completed an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy program to sit for the NBCOT exam.

According to US News & World Report, well-regarded occupational therapy programs in the US include:

• Boston University
• Colorado State University
• Columbia University
• New York University
• Thomas Jefferson University
• Tufts University
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Southern California
• Washington University in St. Louis

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