Occupational therapy is a rewarding healthcare profession that comes with its fair share of educational requirements. If you’re just starting out, it can be hard to know how to get from point A to OT.

Chances are, your head is swirling with questions: What degree do you need for occupational therapy? What does an occupational therapist do? How do you choose specializations?

Enter Alliant International University, here to answer those doubts and more in our comprehensive guide to becoming a registered occupational therapist. Keep reading to learn about potential undergraduate studies, advanced degrees, required board certification, practice areas, and more.

The Path to Becoming an Occupational Therapist

So, you’ve chosen occupational therapy as your healthcare specialty—what path lies in store? Graduating from an undergraduate institution comes first. Let’s break down the steps to kick off the OT journey.

Bachelor’s Degree – The First Step

Earning an undergraduate degree remains the starting point for most health professions. Bachelor’s degrees typically take four years to complete, but they can also be completed in a shorter or longer time frame, depending on course load.

What degree do you need for an occupational therapist? For occupational therapists starting out, unlike many other disciplines, educational institutions don’t commonly offer dedicated bachelor’s degree programs. Instead, most future OTs study a related subject to prepare for the field.

Relevant bachelor’s of science degrees for occupational therapy include:

• Biology
• Psychology
• Health sciences
• Sports or exercise science

Depending on the university, a track designed for pre-OT students may be available, with a specific curriculum to prepare those who intend to pursue a Master in Occupational Therapy. Bachelor’s of arts, such as education and sociology, also provide useful skills for a future career in occupational therapy—just make sure to complete the science prerequisites for a graduate program.

No matter what you study, it’s important to make sure that your courses fulfill the prerequisites for a graduate OT program. Not only does this make you a more qualified candidate, but it ensures you meet the requirements to even apply to grad school.

Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT)

As a registered occupational therapist, what degree do you need for a successful career? The short answer: a Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT). Pursuing this degree is the next step in the OT journey, as completing an MOT is the minimum requirement to practice as a licensed occupational therapist in the United States.¹

A Master in Occupational Therapy prepares students with:

• Hands-on experience
• Clinical practice
• Specialized coursework
• Expert guidance

There are many program formats and lengths to choose from, depending on your needs, but students often wonder how long is OT school? Typically, a master’s degree in OT takes about two to three years to complete.

Why a Master’s Degree is Required for Occupational Therapy

When it comes to practicing occupational therapy, a bachelor’s degree is just the first step. Here are several reasons why an occupational therapy master’s degree is required.

Comprehensive Training and Hands-On Experience

An MOT program provides in-depth training in both the theory and practice of occupational therapy, helping students become equipped with the skills and knowledge to help clients to their fullest abilities.

MOT training also includes clinical internships, offering crucial fieldwork preparation that allows students to try out different areas of practice, practice daily responsibilities, and learn from experienced therapists.²

Meeting Certification and Licensing Requirements

Earning an MOT degree makes graduates eligible to sit for the NBCOT® Exam, the national qualification required for practicing occupational therapy. After being certified, you are able to apply for a state license application. Obtaining this licensure is the second legal requirement to practice as an occupational therapist.

Keep in mind that there may be a few additional steps, such as:

• State or federal criminal background check
• Official transcript

Regardless, earning a national certification and state license meet the baseline requirements for all occupational therapists. Any additional requirements depend on where you live.³ 

Key Components of an MOT Program

A Master’s of Occupational Therapy is an invaluable part of not only your education but your ability to best serve individuals in your community. Course essentials of an MOT program include:

• Anatomy
• Neuroscience
• OT theory
• Evidence-based practice
• Fieldwork

After learning the foundations of OT in the classroom, you’ll apply this knowledge in fieldwork assignments.

Clinical Rotations

A crucial part of an MOT program is the chance to gain real-world experience through clinical internships and fieldwork. Gaining this hands-on training during an occupational therapy master’s degree allows students to:⁴

• Apply classroom skills – Fieldwork is the bridge between theory and practice.
• Solve problems – Students combine critical thinking skills with what they’ve learned to meet client needs and serve diverse populations.
• Shadow professionals – Fieldwork allows students the chance to learn from existing occupational therapists in real time.
• Explore different roles – Fieldwork can involve medical, educational, research, or administrative sectors of occupational therapy, giving students the opportunity to discover their preferences.  
• Fulfill license requirements – Students cannot earn a degree or license without fulfilling a minimum number of fieldwork hours (at Alliant International University, we require 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork in our ACOTE-accredited MOT program).

Overall, clinical rotations help prepare students for graduation and a thriving occupational therapy career to come.

Practice Areas

Throughout the course of an MOT program, you will be able to try the various different practice areas of occupational therapy. There are many areas to choose from, including:⁵

• Pediatrics
• Mental health
• Geriatrics (productive aging)
• Developmental disabilities
• Rehabilitation
• Home health
• Acute care

Additionally, after gaining experience, you can pursue specialty certifications in occupational therapy to further enhance your expertise and career opportunities. If you don’t already know which area you are most interested in, an MOT is the ideal place for trial and error as you determine the best fit.  

Do You Need a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy?

A doctorate in occupational therapy, or OTD, is not required to become a licensed practicing therapist. That said, a doctorate degree does come with its benefits. Whether or not you take this extra step depends on your career aspirations.

A doctorate degree opens doors for research, teaching, and leadership. There are many potential positives, such as:

• Academic opportunities – With an OTD, it is possible to become a professor of occupational therapy.
• Prestige – An OTD stands out on a resume, unlocking more occupational therapy career options.
• Specialization – Pursuing an OTD allows students to dive deeper into a specialty.

However, there are two sides of every coin. Cons of an OTD include:

• Cost – You will have to take into account the financial cost of completing another degree.
• Time commitment – For some, it can be seen as a steep opportunity cost to dedicate additional years toward a doctorate that could have been spent already practicing.

Since an MOT is sufficient for clinical practice, pursuing a doctorate is all about your personal and professional aspirations in the field. As you do more research, you may find that OT specialities overlap with nursing professions like pediatrics. If you’re considering a career in healthcare, you might be torn between OT or nursing. Both professions offer rewarding opportunities to help others, but they differ in focus and scope.

Why Choose Our MOT Program at Alliant?

So, now that you understand the importance of earning a Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree, it’s time to choose a degree program. Look no further than the master’s of occupational therapy from Alliant International University, a dynamic and comprehensive hybrid program empowering students to make a difference in their communities.

The Alliant MOT program features:

• Hybrid learning
• Robust curriculum
• Client-centered therapy
• Creative treatment
• Fieldwork placements

Enjoy a flexible schedule that combines online learning with face-to-face on-campus classes and labs.

Comprehensive Curriculum and Expert Faculty

Our MOT features a rigorous curriculum designed to support the practice of occupational therapy. Our faculty are committed to helping students through their courses and fieldwork every step of the way.  

The MOT consists of two academic years, with three trimesters per year. The robust curriculum provides foundational classroom education before students apply these skills in fieldwork hours.

In your first year, you will study essential courses such as Applied Anatomy and Neuroscience and Behavior. Throughout the master’s program, our comprehensive curriculum also provides the opportunity to explore different specialties of occupational therapy. You will study subjects like:

• Occupational Therapy Process in Pediatric Practice
• Occupational Therapy Process for Productive Aging
• Dynamics of Psychosocial & Community Practice

By your fifth and sixth trimesters, you will be focusing entirely on fieldwork and professional seminars.

Fieldwork Opportunities

Unlike other schools, at Alliant, students complete fieldwork placements every semester, from Level I fieldwork during their first year to Level II during their second. This allows you to apply the skills you’re actively learning in the classroom to relevant field experiences.

Through our partnerships with local hospitals, clinics, and schools, we have lots of fieldwork options that provide hands-on learning experiences.

Start Your Journey to Becoming an Occupational Therapist

If you want to help individuals improve their daily living activities and promote their overall well-being, occupational therapy is the career for you. Get started today by following the four key steps in this guide:

1. Bachelor’s degree
2. Master’s degree
3. NBCOT® Certification 
4. State licensure

Completing these steps equips you with everything necessary for a successful career as an occupational therapist. Continuing on to a doctorate (OTD) opens more doors in academia, research, and leadership, but it is not required to practice occupational therapy.

Remember that OT offers many practice areas to choose from. Take advantage of diverse master’s courses and fieldwork placements to determine the areas of practice you’re most interested in. It’s okay to change your mind—fieldwork is the place for trial and error as you determine your ultimate career path.

Check out our dynamic Master in Occupational Therapy to discover the Alliant commitment to inclusion, mentorship, passion, and purpose. Apply today, or request information from our admissions team.  

Sources: 

1. “Program admissions criteria and formats.” American Occupational Therapy Association. 2024. https://www.aota.org/career/become-an-ot-ota/start-your-career-journey/program-admissions-and-formats. Accessed September 18, 2024. 
2. “Program admissions criteria and formats.” American Occupational Therapy Association. 2024. https://www.aota.org/career/become-an-ot-ota/start-your-career-journey/program-admissions-and-formats. Accessed September 18, 2024. 
3. “Learn the steps to licensure.” American Occupational Therapy Association. 2024. https://www.aota.org/career/state-licensure/learn-the-steps-to-licensure. Accessed September 18, 2024. 
4. “Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education: Value and Purpose.” The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, November/December 2022, Vol. 76(Supplement_3), 7613410240. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.76S3006. 
5.  “Special Interest Sections.” American Occupational Therapy Association. 2024. https://www.aota.org/community/special-interest-sections/. Accessed September 18, 2024. 

The content of this page is only for informational purposes and is not intended, expressly or by implication, as a guarantee of employment or salary, which vary based on many factors including but not limited to education, credentials, and experience. Alliant International University explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about the accuracy of the information provided by any prospective employer or any other website. Salary information available on the internet may not reflect the typical experience of Alliant graduates. Alliant does not guarantee that any graduate will be placed with a particular employer or in any specific employment position.