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: 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. 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 Occupational Therapy 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 GlendaleGlendale 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 UniversityOccupational Therapy Program 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 MesaMesa 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 MedicineOccupational Therapy Department 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 ArizonaArizona is home to the largest population of any landlocked US state which creates plenty of opportunity for The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners is this Arizona Physical Therapy Certification
Occupational Therapy Assistant:
Registered Occupational Therapist
For a more detailed description for becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered Occupational Therapist, Step 1: Graduate from an Accredited Occupational Therapy Degree ProgramOccupational Therapy Assistant:You must complete a two year program from an accredited OT program and
graduate with an Associate’s degree to serve
Registered Occupational TherapistYou must graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an NBCOT accredited
university to serve as a Registered
Step 2: Complete Supervised Field Work RequirementsMost OT degree programs offer students the opportunity to work under a Registered Occupational Therapist in order to Occupational Therapy Assistants:You must complete 680 hours of supervised field work and submit it to the state licensing body to obtain a license Registered Occupational Therapist:If you are seeking to practice as a Registered Occupational Therapist in Arizona, you must complete 928 hours of Step 3: Pass the National Certification ExamThe
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) offers paper and online exams for both Occupational Therapy Assistants and Registered 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 Step 4: Apply for a LicenseIf you wish to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered
Occupational Therapist in Arizona, you
Occupational Therapist license you must pay a $100 license fee The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners meets Step 5: Maintaining Your LicenseOccupational Therapy Assistant:In order to maintain your Occupational
Therapy Assistant License, you must complete 12 continuing education units 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:
What education do you need to become an occupational therapist?
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:
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.
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