Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Degrees (Bachelor of OTA)

Last reviewed and updated August 20, 2024 by

Brianne Bowser, OT

Occupational Therapist, experience in home health, mental health, and pediatrics, behavioral therapy and autism and development disabilities. Master of Occupational Therapy (Duquesne University).

A Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy degree is one of the undergraduate starting points for working in occupational therapy. A Master's degree in Occupational Therapy (or Doctorate of OT) is required to obtain OT certification and licensure and to treat patients as an Occupational Therapist. Many Master of OT programs require a Bachelor's degree in OTA or a related field for entry into their graduate program.

Are there online Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy programs?

Yes, there are colleges and universities that offer online Occupational Therapy Bachelor's programs. However, typically the programs are considered hybrid programs because in person courses, lab work and field work are necessary to obtain the degree.

There are some online OT degrees that are considered bridge programs that allow a student to earn a Bachelor's degree while working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Why consider an Occupational Therapy OTA Bachelors degree?

Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy is a good stepping stone towards a higher degree, giving students their undergraduate degree (a requirement for most MOT or MSOT programs) and the knowledge needed.

Associates OTA to a Bachelors OTA

Earning a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy would be an appropriate next step for an individual who is an Occupational Therapy Assistant with an Associate's degree. Advancing your Associates OTA to a Bachelor's degree can help Occupational Therapy Assistants secure leadership positions within their current company even if the individual does not decide to pursue a Master's degree.

Many colleges refer to a Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy program as a bridge program between an Associate's degree and Master's degree.

In depth review of Bachelors in Occupational Therapy programs

The following are examples of colleges or universities that offer a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Western Michigan University - Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program

Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, offers a Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. Entry requirements include a minimum GPA of 2.5 in any previous undergraduate coursework, a passing grade of a C or better on all prerequisite courses, and an interview is also required.

Typical coursework

There are 24 credits required as prerequisites and then a total of 65 credits to complete the program. Prerequisite courses include lifespan development, introduction to Occupational Therapy, psychology, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. First year courses include foundations of practice for OTA, human movement and occupation, mental health, documentation, and courses specifically on treating pediatrics, adults and older adults.

In the second year, students will complete Level I fieldwork along with courses on leadership, technology for function, and professional reasoning. The third year includes two 8 week sessions of Level II Fieldwork. Tuition costs range from $630 per credit for residents and $787 per credit for nonresidents. The total required credits including prerequisites are 89.

University of Louisiana at Monroe - Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy degree (bridge)

The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy degree program that is considered a bridge program between earning an Associate's degree and a Master's degree.

Program length and tuition

The Bachelor's level program requires 5 semesters or 2.5 years and includes 16 weeks of fieldwork. The approximate cost of the program is $3000 per semester or $15,000 total for the tuition, not including student fees, books, supplies, and AOTA membership fees. Requirements to apply for the program include completion of Occupational Therapy related activities including 20 hours of observation of an Occupational Therapist as well as an interview with the clinician about practicing in the field. An essay and an interview are also required for admission.

Central Methodist University - OTA Bachelors

Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, offers an online Bachelor's Degree program for current Occupational Therapy Assistants who wish to obtain a higher level degree.

Admissions expectations

Entry requirements include an Associate's degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy) certification as an OTA, and state licensure as an OTA. This university also requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 and transcripts from any school attended. One of the benefits of this program is being able to earn an advanced degree while working as an Occupational Therapy assistant.

Is it worth getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy degree?

Obtaining a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy degree will not allow you to practice as an Occupational Therapist because a Master’s level degree or higher is required to seek certification and obtain licensure, however a Bachelor’s in OT degree would be a stepping stone towards a higher degree.

The benefit to specifically obtaining a Bachelors in OT degree is that the coursework would prepare you for the Master’s level program.

However, other Bachelor’s degrees could also be obtained that would serve as a stepping stone towards an Occupational Therapy degree such as a Bachelor’s of Health Sciences or a Bachelor’s of Science. A Bachelor’s of Occupational Therapy degree is an appropriate next step for a current Occupational Therapy Assistant who would like to further his or her education or eventually apply to a graduate program to become an Occupational Therapist.

Consider ACOTE accredited OT programs

ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) accredited programs are held to a higher standard and regulated to ensure top quality educational programs. Some graduate level programs require the applicant to have a Bachelor’s degree from an ACOTE approved program before being accepted into the Master’s level program.

Programs that are accredited by ACOTE help to prepare the students to take the certification exam and enter the field with confidence because the coursework is standardized to encompass the wide range of practice areas. Schools that pursue accreditation show a dedication to the field and consistently work to progress the program to maintain accreditation as the field progresses. ACOTE works closely with other organizations such as AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) to collaborate as the field advances.

Typical coursework you might take in this degree?

Typical coursework required to obtain an Occupational Therapy degree would include:

• Health sciences
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Psychology
• Activity analysis
• Ethics
• Adaptive equipment training and assistive technology as well as clinical experience and fieldwork.

Courses are also required to teach students development throughout the lifespan in order to prepare the student to treat all ages from pediatric to geriatric.

What should you do after a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy degree?

If your goal is to become an Occupational Therapist, then the next step is a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s of Occupational Therapy degree, you should search out Masters in OT programs, figure out which is the best fit for you and your goals, and enroll in a Master’s level program to then obtain a Master’s of Occupational Therapy

An OT Masters degree (in most states) gives you what you need to become certified and apply for state licensure. Some students may wish to complete an Occupational Therapy Assistant program in order to enter the workforce as soon as possible and then pursue a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree while working as an OT Assistant. Others may wish to obtain a Bachelor’s and then a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in order to enter the field as an Occupational Therapist.

What can you do with an Occupational Therapy degree?

An Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree would allow a student to sit for the certification exam as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, obtain state licensure, and enter the field as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Once you obtain your Master’s level or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy, you must obtain certification and licensure in order to practice as an Occupational Therapist. Occupational therapists can work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, outpatient facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or in home health care or community-based settings.

What can occupational therapists specialize in?

Occupational Therapists can also choose to pursue special certifications such as becoming a certified hand therapist, being trained and becoming certified in pelvic health, or specializing in assistive technology. The field of Occupational Therapy offers a wide range of possibilities. Occupational therapists help people to develop or regain the skills necessary to engage in activities of daily living so this skill can be applied across the lifespan enabling Occupational Therapists to work with any age group from pediatrics to geriatrics.

OT Licensure/State Requirements

State requirements to obtain and maintain licensure vary by state but all 50 states require Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants to be licensed in order to practice.

Once an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant earns an appropriate degree, he or she would be eligible to take the certification exam and then apply for state licensure. Each state also has different licensure requirements for renewal but most require a certain number of continuing education credits.

It is the responsibility of the Occupational Therapist to meet the criteria to maintain a current state license.

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