Occupational Therapy

Overview

Occupational therapists work with clients to build or restore their abilities to perform daily tasks or "occupations" by utilizing a holistic approach. Each client is evaluated to determine not only the reason abilities have been impacted, but also to establish a personalized therapy plan that considers an individual’s responsibilities and everyday environment.

The Occupational Therapy program from Walsh University is in the process of developing a hybrid program.  While students would still attend some classes in a face-to-face format, several classes will be offered exclusively online. 

Why should I choose a Master’s program instead of a Doctoral program? 

We get this question a lot!  The most obvious answer is that Master’s programs are shorter in length, so you can graduate and start your OT career sooner!

Graduates of a master’s program and doctoral program take the SAME certification exam from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) even though doctoral students attend classes for additional semesters and have to complete a 16-week experiential component in addition to 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork experience. National board certified occupational therapists only need 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork to apply for licensure in any state.

Employers do not differentiate between an entry-level master’s degree or entry-level doctoral degree in occupational therapy.  Since both are considered “entry-level” degrees, there is no difference in pay after graduation.

Both degrees are appropriate for someone who wants to work as an occupational therapist. The entry-level doctoral degree offers additional semesters focusing on topics such as research, administration, policy development, education, and theory development. An entry-level doctoral degree is appropriate for students who would rather focus on these areas of practice.  Seasoned clinicians often recommend waiting to obtain a doctoral degree until a therapist has been working for a few years and determines an area of OT he or she would like to specialize. At that point, a doctoral degree focused on the therapist’s intended career path can be pursued, making it easier to transition to the intended area of practice.