What education is required to be 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.

How to Become an Occupational Therapist Arizona

Arizona is home to the largest population of any landlocked US state which creates plenty of opportunity for
Occupational Therapists. In 2010, the Bureau of Labor and statistics compiled data showing that Arizona employed
approximately 1,200 Occupational Therapists and the sector is expected to grow about 33% faster than the average for
the US economy in the decade of 2010 to 2020. According to the BLS Occupational Therapists in Arizona could expect a
median salary of $76,300 per year.

The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners is this
state’s licensing body, issuing licenses for Occupational Therapists in Arizona or Occupational Therapy Assistants in
the state. To practice as either of these professionals in Arizona, you will need to fulfill the following
steps:

Arizona Physical Therapy Certification

  • Arizona Physical Therapy Certification Requirements

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

  • You must earn an Associate’s degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational Therapy
    Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (AOTE) certified school.
  • Submit proof of at least 680 hours of occupational therapy supervised field experience as part of a practicum
    developed by your school or as paid work experience.
  • Pass a criminal background check.
  • Provide at least two letters of reference from a supervisor or professor.
  • Pass the National Board of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) COTA examination.
  • Complete 12 hours of Continuing Education credits during every two year licensure period.
  • You can find the application form for the Occupational Therapy Assistant here.

Registered Occupational Therapist

  • You must earn a Bachelor or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational Therapy
    Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (AOTE) certified school.
  • Performed at least 928 hours of occupational therapy work experience.
  • Pass a criminal background check.
  • Pass the NBCOT OTR examination.
  • Provide at least two letters of reference from a supervisor or professor.
  • Complete 20 hours of Continuing Education credits during every two year licensure period.
  • You can find the application form for the Occupational Therapist here.

For a more detailed description for becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered Occupational Therapist,
please read the following.

Step 1: Graduate from an Accredited Occupational Therapy Degree Program

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

You must complete a two year program from an accredited OT program and graduate with an Associate’s degree to serve
as a Occupational Therapy Assistant. In Arizona there are four colleges with National Board for Certification in
Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) accreditation:

  • Brown Mackie College-Phoenix
  • Brown Mackie College-Tucson
  • Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
  • Pima Medical Institute-Tuscon

Registered Occupational Therapist

You must graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an NBCOT accredited university to serve as a Registered
Occupational Therapist in Arizona. Arizona currently has two schools with approved OT programs:

  • Midwestern University-Glendale
  • Arizona School of Health Sciences

Step 2: Complete Supervised Field Work Requirements

Most OT degree programs offer students the opportunity to work under a Registered Occupational Therapist in order to
gain firsthand knowledge of this profession and satisfy state licensing requirements.

Occupational Therapy Assistants:

You must complete 680 hours of supervised field work and submit it to the state licensing body to obtain a license
for Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Registered Occupational Therapist:

If you are seeking to practice as a Registered Occupational Therapist in Arizona, you must complete 928 hours of
supervised clinical experience in an internship or paid setting.

Step 3: Pass the National Certification Exam

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) offers paper and online exams for both Occupational Therapy Assistants and Registered
Occupational Therapists. The online exam costs $500, while the fee for the paper exam is $540. If you fail this exam
you may retake the exam after 45 days, and may continue to do so until you pass.

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

You must pass the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) exam to obtain national certification.

Registered Occupational Therapist:

If you wish to acquire national certification as a Registered Occupational Therapist, you must pass the Occupational
Therapist Registered (OTR) exam.

Step 4: Apply for a License

If you wish to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered Occupational Therapist in Arizona, you
must complete the following steps to obtain a license.

  • Submit a signed, notarized application
  • Submit two signed professional recommendations
  • Provide NBCOT notice of verification
  • Submit fingerprint card
  • Provide statement of citizenship and alien status
  • Pay a $100 application fee and a $22 fingerprint fee
  • If you are seeking an Occupational Therapy Assistant License you must pay a $70 license fee; if you are applying
    for an

Occupational Therapist license you must pay a $100 license fee

The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners meets
regularly to review license applications. A license is typically issued by mail within two weeks of the next board
meeting.

Step 5: Maintaining Your License

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

In order to maintain your Occupational Therapy Assistant License, you must complete 12 continuing education units
every two years.

Registered Occupational Therapist:

If you are a practicing Registered Occupational Therapist, you must complete 20 CEUs every two years.

The following state and national professional associations may be able to assist you with further information:

  • Arizona Occupational Therapy Association
  • American Occupational Therapy
    Association

What education do you need to become an occupational therapist?

  • Important Facts About Occupational Therapists
  • College Education. While most postgraduate programs do not require a specific major, the above generally cover the required prerequisite courses for admission.
  • Master's Degree. ...
  • Doctoral Degree. ...
  • Certification and Licensing Requirements. ...
  • Employment Outlook and Salary Info. ...

How much schooling does an occupational therapist need?

To be an occupational therapist, you’ll need a bachelor of science degree in health sciences combined with a master of science degree in occupational therapy. (That's what Touro’s 3-year occupational therapy program comprises.)

How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?

Usually, it takes at least 6 to 7 years to become an occupational therapist. However, this can vary depending on your educational pathway. If you choose to get a doctoral degree instead of a master's degree, it will take around 8 years to become an occupational therapist.

What are the qualifications to become an occupational therapist?

You may also be able to get onto a course with alternative qualifications, including:

  • BTEC, HND or HNC which includes biological science
  • relevant vocational qualifications
  • science-based access course
  • equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications

What degree do most occupational therapists need?

A master's degree is required to become an occupational therapist. Students can either earn a bachelor's degree in a related field, like biology or physiology, before advancing to a master's program, or they can apply for a combined bachelor's/master's program.

How long does it take to get an AZ OT license?

It typically takes between four and six weeks to receive your occupational therapy license in Arizona. This is average compared to other occupational therapy licenses across the United States.

How difficult is it to become an OT?

Getting into occupational therapy school is HARD. But as someone who has experienced the stresses of applying to OT school, I can tell you: Both Master's and Doctorate programs are very competitive. Cohorts typically have 20-40 students per program, and schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each cycle.