Program accreditations are a vital component when searching for an occupational therapy program and a prospective online master’s degree must be accredited to qualify graduates to take the NBCOT certification examination. Voluntary accreditations ensure program evaluation, which confirm that the program meets all national curriculum requirements set by the profession. Each school or occupational therapy department cites its accreditation on its website. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) accredits more than 200 occupational therapy master’s programs throughout the country. ACOTE is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.The occupational therapy degree must be approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), failing which students will not be eligible to take the national certification exam, conducted by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). For more details, read the occupational therapy master’s degree accreditation requirements; also find out more about accreditation, on the Accreditation Guide.

Many online master’s programs offer different formats, such as a hybrid program, that blends online learning with in-person lessons. Therefore, how long one would take to complete their occupational therapy education largely depends on factors such as total credits, number of semesters, the number and length of internships, the structure of the program, and the pace of study. All things considered, the range varies from between 2 to 3 years or more.

There can be a dramatic range in tuition depending on the university (public vs private) and the school’s prestige. Prospective students can view the tuition of an occupational therapy master’s degree at each school’s website or, better yet, telephone the university admissions office or the occupational therapy department. At the same time, one can round up information about institutional Grants and Scholarships that can support schooling costs for OT programs. Other forms of financial aid may usually be available as well, such as – Graduate Assistantships, Student Loans, FAFSA, etc.

For information about general financial aid for online master’s students, read the Best Financial Guide.

A masters in occupational therapy online has a wide range of topics that are covered through online coursework. These online courses are tailored to teach students the fundamentals of occupational therapy, along with research methods, while specializations can narrow down the area of study to specific topics such as Human Anatomy, and Health Sciences.

There are several formats of the occupational therapy degree online. Students must evaluate and compare programs between a completely online format, or a hybrid format. There may be considerable differences in the percentage of studies offered entirely online and the number of on-campus visits required for the degree.

An online master of occupational therapy may be entirely self-paced through asynchronous sessions at a chosen time and location. Alternatively, one could combine such sessions with synchronous online classes that meet at specific times for lectures and faculty presentations.

Almost all schools that offer the online master degree program in occupational therapy offer career counseling and guidance to graduates. Some go a step further and provide resume assistance and job placements for roles such as an occupational therapist, or other related roles.

A student who has graduated with a master’s in occupational therapy, and who wants to become an occupational therapist should check whether or not taking the NBCOT certification exam is necessary, particularly for licensure in their state of work. In most cases, this certification, which leads to licensure, will be required, and can ultimately translate to secure and well-paying employment.