Accredited online programs occupational therapy

Students will take classes on campus on the weekends and complement the face-to-face instruction with online coursework. However, this option will make the program last a little longer.

Students will only be required to attend classes every third weekend, with the rest of the program delivered through online coursework. The quick online MSOT program can be completed in 6 consecutive semesters. Students will be placed in 3 Level 1 fieldwork experiences and 2 Level 2 ones.

Firstly, this program will be presented in a blended format, so it will be important for you to live in or near the Philadelphia area. Students will go to campus every other weekend for intensives at least 8 times a semester.

All additional coursework will be completed in an online format. Students in this program will have tremendous collaborative opportunities, including community or inter-professional partnerships and fieldwork. Over half of the coursework can be completed online.

Classes will be offered on-campus one day a week. Students will benefit from engaged faculty, practical learning experiences, and a flexible hybrid program. Two week fieldwork experiences are required. Students will go to campus 2 weekends a month for instruction and then complete coursework online. A week fieldwork experience will be required after year one and year two. The program can be completed in 2. The program is broken down into 3 parts:. While the first almost two years will be fully on-campus, the 6-month fieldwork experience will also include an online learning component.

So—this degree might be the best fit for students living in or wanting to live in Wisconsin. An Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree is also available. The program will be delivered in three parts: weekend classes, online classes, and a community placement. Occupational therapists work with people who have mental and physical challenges to improve the patient's' abilities to perform daily tasks.

Baker College of Muskegon offers a bachelor's degree program in pre-occupational therapy. The program is designed to prepare students to pursue higher education and become licensed occupational therapists. Under this program, students must earn a total of credit hours for the major requirement and 60 credit hours for the general education requirement.

After completion of the coursework, students are required to complete the clinical training. Some courses are available online as part of the Baker Online Curriculum. Classes start every fall semester. To meet the high demands for occupational therapy assistants, the Pennsylvania College of Technology offers an associate's degree in occupational therapy assistance to students who wish to pursue entry-level careers in occupational therapy.

Students are required to complete a total of 59 credit units within five semesters. In the final semester, students are required to complete six credits of clinical fieldwork. Upon completion of the courses, students are eligible for graduation and for the National Certification Exam.

The program starts during the summer semester, and students are required to complete a total of 71 credit units which includes 9 units of clinical field work. Graduates can also pursue higher learning opportunities. The program requires students to complete certain prerequisites. Those who have not taken the prerequisite courses can join the bridge program which allows students to complete general education requirements and transition seamlessly into the major.

Students in the OT program at University of Louisiana at Monroe are taught skills needed to become certified occupational therapists and work in different healthcare environments. Students must complete academic coursework, which typically takes around two years, as well as the Level II fieldwork for a minimum of 16 weeks in an affiliated institution.

Upon the completion of the coursework and clinical training, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Graduates can also take the state licensure in the state where they want to practice.

Established in , the occupational therapy assistant program offered by Rutgers University in New Brunswick aims to provide an excellent job outlook to students pursuing careers in the occupational therapy service. This program requires students to complete 74 credits 32 credits of general education and 42 credits of professional coursework. Graduates receive an associate of science degree and can take National Certification Examination to become certified OTAs.

The regional college of Kent State University at Ashtabula offers the associate of applied science degree in occupational therapy assistant technology to prepare students for providing rehabilitative services to people with disabilities. The program requires the students to complete a minimum of 65 credit hours which includes academic coursework and clinical training.

Students also need to accumulate at least 40 hours of volunteer time to an accredited healthcare facility. Upon completion of the entire coursework, students are eligible to take the National Certification Examination for occupational therapy assistants. Many graduates also pursue higher education by enrolling in a bachelor's program. Offered by the South Texas College as a two-year program, the associate's degree in occupational therapy assistance helps prepare students for careers in healthcare.

Many graduates have acquired jobs shortly after their graduation from South Texas College. The OTA program is a credit program wherein students earn 51 credits of general education and major courses in four semesters, and complete the remaining 9 credits of practicum at an affiliated institution. The program is designed for full-time students able to take daytime classes beginning in the fall.

Once all courses have been completed, students can take the National Certification Examination to become certified OTAs. Recently established, the associate's program in occupational therapy assistance from Remington College's Heathrow Campus aims to provide the job market with a qualified workforce that can meet the demands of the community. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education ACOTE and requires the students to meet two requirements - the academic coursework and the fieldwork.

The program is flexible and convenient, with some courses available online. However laboratory exercises must be done on-campus during the duration of the program. Once students complete the coursework, they are eligible to take the National Certification Exam to receive OTA certification. With its Students are trained by certified occupational therapists, learning and practicing theories and skills that will help them succeed once they find work in the industry.

Students are required to complete both academic coursework and the clinical fieldwork. Students must earn 67 credits within three years. Some courses are available through online instruction. Once the credit units are completed, students are qualified to sit for the certification exam. The goal of occupational therapy is to provide rehabilitative and support services to clients who have lost certain abilities, for example, through an injury. Occupational therapists also help clients who have a developmental disability or a permanent condition, such as cerebral palsy, learn or re-learn how to perform daily tasks.

Occupational therapy aides provide support to licensed occupational therapists by cleaning and preparing treatment areas and equipment. Aides may also perform clerical tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering telephones, and help with billing and insurance forms. As of March , aides are not eligible for licensure. Technical institutes and vocational schools offer training for high school graduates who want to study for a limited period of time and then enter the workforce.

These programs may offer a certificate or diploma for occupational therapy aides, which can be completed in a matter of months. Such training can help individuals pursue a career as an occupational therapy aide or gain experience before enrolling in a degree program.

Vocational schools offer targeted coursework in professional practices, instead of requiring other subjects such as English, math and history. Community colleges with occupational therapy programs usually offer either a certificate or an Associate of Applied Science AAS degree. Students thinking about earning a certificate in occupational therapy should investigate whether they can apply those credits toward an associate degree program. Public colleges may provide non-credit certificates, such as Carroll Community College's continuing education program for physical and occupational therapy aides.

The AAS degree could pave the way for entry-level employment as an occupational therapy assistant. Compared to vocational schools, community colleges embrace a more well-rounded approach, and students are required to take more classes outside the major in academic subjects like math and history. At some occupational therapist assistant schools, all students have to take program prerequisites including classes as such as composition and reading, introduction to cell biology and medical terminology.

Occupational Therapy Assistant. Often referred to as OTA, occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing care to patients. Assistants help patients with therapeutic activities, such as stretches and other exercises. Those who work with children with disabilities use playtime as a time to teach coordination and socialization. In other areas, OTAs teach patients with disabling diseases how to use devices that make eating easier. People of all ages and abilities may need to seek the help of an occupational therapist OT someday.

OTs help kids improve their cognitive, sensory, and motor skills. For adults facing injury or illness, OTs help them with day-to-day tasks like learning how to dress themselves again. For aspiring OTAS, occupational therapist assistant schools have two main purposes. First, they can provide a competitive edge for graduates in the workplace. Secondly, such programs build a solid foundation for students who plan to continue their education at the graduate level in order to become occupational therapists.

Four-year programs focus on delivering an education that combines a broad knowledge of academic topics with a specialization in occupational therapy. As a result, students may spend the first two years taking classes in English, math and physical sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities, along with occupational therapy classes.

The final two years, on the other hand, could be devoted entirely to the pre-professional program. Aspiring occupational therapists can take advantage of their four-year degree to get a well-rounded education.

Many graduates pursue degrees in the sciences. For example, a degree in biology helps students understand the human circulatory, nervous, and organ systems work together.

Occupational Therapist. Master's degrees are designed for those planning a career as a practicing occupational therapist, while doctorates can serve a broader range of opportunities, from research to management to education. Experience is often a prerequisite for admission to graduate programs. For example, an online post-professional doctorate from Boston University requires two years of clinical practice. Different roles in the profession come with varying levels of qualifications and responsibilities, as shown here.

A related question concerns the distinction between occupational and physical therapy. Occupational therapy includes some aspects of counseling, such as helping clients understand their current limitations and develop strategies to overcome them, while physical therapy emphasizes rehabilitation and provision of allied health services.

The field of occupational therapy encompasses a greater range of non-medical settings such as the home, school or workplace. While occupational therapy programs vary from school to school, certain common traits are desirable. These guidelines can help ensure that students are making the best possible use of their time, money and efforts. Accreditation for occupational therapy programs is only available to graduate programs.

Programs have to meet certain educational qualifications to be accredited, so this official endorsement is critically important when selecting a program.

If the school is not accredited, those students will not be able to apply for federal student loans and other types of federal financial aid. In addition, earned credits may not transfer to another school. Just because a program is accredited does not automatically mean that credits transfer to another occupational therapist school. For example, certificate programs may award continuing education rather than academic credits. Transfer scenarios vary widely — perhaps you are working on an associate degree at one college and want to transfer to another institution to complete this degree.

To be on the safe side, always find out in advance if credits will transfer to another school before you enroll. Another important factor to consider when choosing an occupational therapy program is the quality of the instructors. The vast majority of the teachers should be professors, adjunct professors and instructors who are occupational therapists and have themselves graduated from programs that are accredited by organizations like ACOTE. The institution should also have an evaluation program that regularly critiques the performance of instructors.

An occupational therapist school should offer relevant courses that provide the type of knowledge and skills necessary.

Students should learn such information as the history, practice and philosophy of occupational therapy and the therapeutic process. Other key topics include differences in therapy for pediatric, adult, geriatric and other segments of the population as well as the role of mental health in occupational therapy. Occupational therapist assistant schools build additional skills in areas such as critical thinking and decision making, and programs should incorporate internships or other opportunities for students to gain experience in professional settings.

Some programs even place students before they graduate. Most good programs have forged relationships with employers at physical and occupational therapy facilities, as well as hospitals, nursing and resident care facilities, and other organizations. Additional services provided by career placement programs include helping students with writing cover letters and resumes, mock interviews and so on.

Advice From an Occupational Therapist. In order to be an occupational therapist, you have to be passionate about others and helping them problem solve to learn to be independent in daily life. Joy D. This profession involves several levels of education. Entry-level programs offer certificates or diplomas for occupational therapy aides. These undergraduate degrees can lead to an occupational therapy assistant position or serve as a basis for further education. The Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree can involve specialized research projects and prepare occupational therapists seeking advanced roles as educators, managers or clinicians.

While the minimum requirement is a high school education, occupational therapy aides can earn a certificate in the field, or sometimes a certificate in physical and occupational therapy. These certificates and diplomas are usually offered at vocational or technical schools and community colleges. Courses are designed to provide a brief overview that prepares students for entry-level positions.

Aides work under the supervision of occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. Introduction to Occupational Therapy. Overview of the history, practice and philosophy of occupational therapy. Documentation Guidelines. Focus on the correct procedures for documenting and reporting occupational therapy services.

Occupational Therapy for Adults. Analysis of factors such as injuries, work duties, aging and disease that can result in occupational therapy. Practicing Therapeutic Interventions. Course offers knowledge regarding best practices in the therapeutic process, in addition to an understanding of the structure of physician offices and clinics. Although requirements may vary by school, the Associate of Applied Science degree in occupational therapy generally requires 62 credit hours and takes about two years to complete.

Students in the associate degree program gain more in-depth knowledge of occupational therapy than in a certificate program, and learn how to provide treatment and procedures to clients. In addition to general education requirements such as English and social sciences, courses in associate degree programs could include the following.

Physical Dysfunction. Course discusses how to treat clients who are physically and cognitively challenged. Therapeutic Interventions. Studies focus on how to help clients enhance functional ability to perform daily tasks. Applied Neurology. Baccalaureate programs are offered at four-year colleges and universities. They also study how the body works, experiences injury and can be repaired. Standard core requirements for college include courses to enhance communication skills such as English.

Fieldwork is also a vital part of the program. Human Physiology. Students enter as college freshmen and take about five years to complete the program, although it may be less depending on the applicant's prior experience. Another choice is the bridge program for occupational therapy assistants moving to occupational therapist status. Students study how to the nervous system affects human movement as well as the cardiorespiratory system that pumps blood to nourish the bones and muscles.

Neurological Rehabilitation. Students learn the latest research and clinically relevant information in the areas of neural plasticity, motor learning, behavioral sciences and cognition Physical Rehabilitation. This level of education is required for practicing occupational therapists.

The degree can also serve individuals who wish to move into more advanced clinical or managerial roles. The program includes two semesters of fieldwork. Subjects cover topics such as systems theory and ethics as well as emerging research and trends relating to professional practice.

In most programs, applicants must have a degree in one of the sciences, psychology, sociology or a related field for admittance. Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy. Students learn to analyze theories, along with concepts of application and evaluation. Meaningful Living Through Occupation. Class focuses on understanding the value of occupation in the context of time, daily activities and performance.

Adult Learners. The occupational therapy doctoral program typically lasts two to three years. This advanced practice degree is for occupational therapists that want to pursue roles in clinical research, education and management.

A doctorate is required for teaching and research at the university level. In some programs, additional prerequisites may include classes in anatomy and physiology, abnormal psychology, sociology, physics, statistics, and human growth and development. Clinical doctorate programs prepare graduates to be expert clinicians in specialty or emerging practice areas.

Students are given the opportunity to specialize in a specific area when working with clients. From mental health to cardiac rehabilitation, to hand therapy, students build their knowledge with evidence-based literature and assessments. Hand Therapy and Physical Agent Modalities. Students learn the role of physical agent modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and light therapy.

Therapeutic Communication. Students explore the principles and practice of a variety of therapeutic communication skills to include motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Focusing on the interaction between the worker, work tasks, and work environments, students learn how these relationships can be used to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders and improve occupational performance.

Doctorate programs with an emphasis in research typically emphasize in occupational science and research methodologies.

Students are trained to implement evidence-based studies in clinical settings and collect data. This education prepares students to better bridge research projects and clinical implementation upon graduation.

Beginning with an overview of qualitative research traditions, students get a basis for integrating qualitative and quantitative design components in a mixed methods study. Students gain experience with procedures for data collection, analysis, and strategies. School Directory. Add your contact info to a mailing list to receive additional information about OT programs.

There are no accredited entry-level occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant educational programs that are offered in the online format.

Some educational programs may offer some courses or parts of courses online, but there are no entry-level educational programs offered entirely online.