How many years does it take to become an occupational therapist

Occupational therapy regulations and license requirements are handled at the state level in Arizona through the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners. In order to obtain a license in occupational therapy, an aspiring occupational therapist in Arizona must:

Complete a Board-approved educational program;
Provide proof of at least 928 hours of supervised fieldwork;
Pass the exam.

A bachelor’s degree takes about 4 years to complete. According to a 2018 report on Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Arizona, there were approximately 2,120 practicing occupational therapists in the state (with an 11.2% RSE) as of 2018. Their median hourly wage was $44, and their average annual wage was $94,800. This is significantly higher than the average salary of occupational therapists in neighboring Utah, as well as the average national annual income for occupational therapists in the United States. Meanwhile, it is very similar to the average salary of occupational therapists in nearby California and lower than the average salary of occupational therapists in New Mexico and Nevada.

There are no recent reports about the demand for occupational therapists in the state of Arizona. However, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 18% from 2018-2028 nationwide.

Practitioners in this field can be either an occupational therapist or a certified occupational therapy assistant.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a city in Arizona near the Colorado Plateau and Mount Elden. The average income of an occupational therapist in Flagstaff is $39 per hour and $81,557 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Flagstaff is Northern Arizona University.

Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University Occupational Therapy
Room 6th-floor Building
Health Sciences Education Building
435 N 5th Street Phoenix AZ
Phoenix, AZ 85004
[email protected]

Northern Arizona University offers an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). It takes about 8 years to complete a doctorate degree. Graduate tuition at Northern Arizona University is about $11,000. The acceptance rate is 81%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Glendale

Glendale is a city north of Phoenix. The average income of an occupational therapist in Glendale is about $42 per hour and $87,368 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Glendale is Midwestern University.

Midwestern University

Occupational Therapy Program
College of Health Sciences
19555 N 59th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
[email protected]

Midwestern University offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT). Master’s degrees take about 6 years to obtain. Tuition for the occupational therapy program at Midwestern University is about $43,880. The acceptance rate is around 50%-60%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Mesa

Mesa is a city east of Phoenix. The average income of an occupational therapist in Mesa is about $41 per hour and $85,702 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Mesa is A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Occupational Therapy Department
800 W. Jefferson St.
Kirksville, MO 63501
[email protected]

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine offers an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and an Advanced Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Studies program. Master’s programs take about 6 years to complete, and doctorate programs take about 8 years to complete. Tuition is about $33,434, and the acceptance rate is not publicly available information.

Occupational Therapy Program

Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)

In This Section

Master of Occupational Therapy - AZ
- College of Health Sciences
- Occupational Therapy Careers
- Our Faculty
- AZ OT Fieldwork Manual

Build a Successful Career

The College of Health Sciences' Occupational Therapy Program is designed to help you build a career as a thoughtful, self-directed, and caring professional therapist. You will be providing important therapy services to clients to help them regain their independence in home, community, and clinical practice settings, and our faculty will work with you to develop the independent judgment, leadership, and self-directed practical skills to provide patient-focused, compassionate care. We will help you make meaningful, ongoing contributions to society as a member of tomorrow's healthcare team.

Program
Master's

Location
Glendale, AZ

Duration
24 months, full-time

Intake
June

Class Size
40

The Occupational Therapy Program offers a curriculum leading to the Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) degree for qualified students. The full-time, continuous, entry-level master’s curriculum is designed to deliver the academic and clinical education required to prepare students for their professional role as key members for the healthcare team and as integral practitioners in the healthcare delivery system. The curriculum for the Master of Occupational Therapy degree is a continuous, full-time program, extending 27 months from matriculation to graduation. The maximum allotted time for completion of this program is 40.5 months. It is also required that all Level II fieldwork must be completed within 18 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program. The general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development of occupational therapists uniquely prepare them to respond to the needs of individuals who face challenges participating in their daily lives.

The Master of Occupational Therapy Program offers a balanced combination of foundational, clinical, and research coursework designed to foster therapists who are self-directed, thoughtful, and caring professionals. The program provides students with a balanced complement of coursework. Approximately half of the course credits are obtained from foundational courses in the sciences, occupational therapy theory, and research. The remaining credits focus on courses related to client evaluation and interventions appropriate for various client populations (e.g., children, the elderly, etc.), specialized coursework in upper extremity intervention, and many opportunities for experiential (hands-on) learning. The practice courses facilitate students' application of content related to client evaluation and intervention using community-based and case-based learning opportunities. In addition to such preclinical learning opportunities, the fieldwork program is extensive and rich in the types of experiences offered to students. Such a strong curricular framework succeeds in preparing graduates who are ready - and able - to enter the profession of occupational therapy and to make a difference in the world.

Upon completion of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program, graduates are expected to:

Provide evidence-based occupational therapy services in traditional and emerging areas of practice.
Meet the occupational needs of individuals and populations through professional advocacy and leadership.
Apply therapeutic use of occupations to support engagement in activities that promote health, well-being and quality of life.
Sustain continued professional development through lifelong learning activities, and
Uphold the ethical standards, values and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession in order to sensitively meet the occupational needs of a culturally and socially diverse clientele.

These outcomes are accomplished through a curriculum model that is based on:

Intentionally sequenced courses that develop the knowledge required to progress through the curriculum and successfully provide care to improve occupational performance;
Repeated translation and integration of knowledge into new contexts, and to develop increasing depth and complexity, in the competencies required for occupational therapy practice;
Occupation-focused intervention, recognizing the therapeutic value in occupational engagement as a change agent in therapy as well as the ultimate outcome of the therapy;
Client-centered intervention as a means to address unique aspects of individuals, and to empower them to play an active role in directing their own therapy;
Opportunities for both individual and group work that provides active assimilation of new and prior knowledge, exposure to diverse viewpoints and different perspectives, while developing an individual sense of self-efficacy, mastery, and professional growth;
Simulated and authentic learning encounters that provide a means by which new knowledge and skills are assimilated into "live" practice, providing opportunities to test professional judgement, evaluate knowledge and skills, and self-reflect on performance.

Individuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:

Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite coursework (grades of C- are not acceptable).
Completion of the minimum number of prerequisite courses in the prescribed subject areas at regionally accredited colleges or universities.
Satisfaction of the standards set forth by the Admissions Committee, including documentation of academic and professional promise in the prospective student.
Completion of the Occupational Therapy Program's interview process. On-campus interviews are by invitation only. Applicants are invited to an interview based on evidence supportive of excellence in:
1. Academic achievement
2. Oral and written communication skills
3. Articulation of the domain and scope of OT practice
4. Community service
5. Leadership in extracurricular or other activities
Completion of a first aid course within three years prior to enrollment.
Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Level C/Health Care Provider or Basic Life Support of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Students are responsible for maintaining CPR certification at this level while enrolled in the program.
Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
Motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with clients and colleagues.
Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.

PREREQUISITE COURSES

Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or higher (Grades of C- are not acceptable).

Course	Sem Hrs	Qtr Hrs
Human Anatomy*#	3	4
Physiology*	3	4
Statistics	3	4
Human Development	3	4
Abnormal Psychology	3	4
Social and Behavioral Science	3	4
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.
#Human Anatomy must be completed successfully within 5 years of admission to the Program. The lab component with cadaver experience is strongly recommended.

Additional courses in the sciences and mathematics are also recommended, including chemistry, physiology, physics, and biology.

General education electives are also recommended to demonstrate competency in English composition, oral communication, problem-solving behavior, logic, and ethical theories.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students are advised to complete their application files as early as possible to ensure timely consideration. Applicants are required to submit their applications to OTCAS by February 1st.

$84,950 Median Salary

98% Graduation Rate

General Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
Successful completion of prerequisite courses

Class Profile: Class of 2022

Female: 85%
Male: 15%
Average Age: 26
Average Overall GPA: 3.49
Class Size: 40
Top Home States: Arizona, California, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Graduation Rate

Graduation Year	Student Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2017	40/38	95%
2018	40/40	100%
2019	41/41	100%
Total	121/119	98%

Licensure Requirements

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

Occupational Therapy is a registered and/or licensed profession in all 50 states. To become licensed to practice as an occupational therapist in most states (including Arizona), a student must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited or approved educational program and pass the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by NBCOT. Most states require status as an occupational therapist registered (OTR) to become a licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L). Most states require licensure in order to practice. A prior felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts occupational therapy jobs grow to be 16% (much faster than average) between 2019-2029. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm, accessed 1/8/2021.

According to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)*, the top ten areas of practice for primary OT employment are:

Skilled Nursing Facilities
Pediatrics
Rehabilitation
School Systems
Acute Care
Geriatrics
Home Health
Orthopedics
Mental Health
OT Professional Education and/or Research

*NBCOT. (2017). Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered Executive Summary. https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/2017-Practice-Analysis-Executive-OTR.ashx?la=en, accessed 1/8/2021.

Is becoming an occupational therapist hard?

The short answer is: YES, occupational therapy school is hard. But so is physical therapy school, nursing school, medical school, pharmacy school, physician's assistant school, etc. All healthcare degrees are going to be challenging, and for good reason.

Is OT a good career?

Summary: OT is a good career because it offers a flexible schedule, comfortable salary and the ability to choose where you work. While it's true you may have to deal with setbacks and manage tough situations, you'll also get to help people and make a difference.

Is PT better than OT?

The most basic difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is that a PT focuses on improving the patient's ability to move their body whereas an OT focuses on improving the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living.