Join an immersive and energized OT community
Are you ready to make a difference? Become part of a tight-knit community of engaged faculty and students sharing ideas and knowledge. At USAHS, we’re on a mission to develop outstanding occupational therapy (OT) practitioners and leaders to enter this growing field and positively impact patient lives.
As an occupational therapist, you can help people of all ages with physical, developmental, and social challenges improve their lives by engaging in meaningful daily activities.
Our MOT and OTD Programs
USAHS has the OT degree program to fit your career goals and working life—whether you are new to the field or a longtime practitioner. Both the MOT and OTD programs include two trimesters of supervised clinical experience.
Take this short quiz to determine which OT degree is right for you.
Take the QuizMOT
Help People as a Clinician
If your main goal is to engage in clinical practice—helping people expand their capabilities to their fullest potential—the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) may be the best choice for you.
Two-year Residential MOT
Our Residential MOT path typically takes only two years to complete, which is two fewer trimesters than the Residential OTD.*
Launch your career sooner
Our MOT is a great-value program, putting you in position to launch your career, start earning money, and start making a difference sooner.
Become a clinician
As an OT clinician, you can help people of all ages overcome physical and cognitive barriers and improve their quality of life.OTD
Make an Impact in Expanded Roles
Choose the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) if you want to prepare not only for clinical practice, but also for expanded roles in the profession.
The Future of OT
Because many MOT programs are shifting to the OTD (28% of accredited MOT programs in 2018),** earning an OTD positions you to be more competitive in the OT job market.
More open doors
The OTD is helpful for those who seek roles in practice leadership, on boards of occupational therapy associations, in patient advocacy, and in research.
More in-depth knowledge
In the Residential OTD program’s additional two trimesters of study beyond the Residential MOT, you will gain extra knowledge and skills in emerging practice areas and learn about leadership, advocacy, and policymaking.Occupational Therapy Programs
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
Become an occupational therapy practitioner and help people of all ages overcome physical and cognitive barriers and improve their quality of life. Our Residential MOT is designed to take two years to complete.** Visit program page
Flex Master of Occupational Therapy (Flex MOT)
If you want to earn the identical MOT degree but in a more flexible format, including on-campus lab classes held on scheduled weekends rather than weekdays, the Flex MOT is the path for you. Visit program page
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Choose the OTD if you want to prepare not only for clinical practice, but also for expanded roles in the profession. In the Residential OTD’s additional two trimesters of study beyond the MOT, you will gain research experience ... Visit program page
Flex Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Flex OTD)
Designed for working people, the Flex OTD offers the identical curriculum and degree as the Residential OTD in a more flexible format: students meet on campus for lab classes on scheduled weekends rather than weekdays. Visit program page
Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD)
As a current OT practitioner, you can bring your credentials up to the doctoral level with the PPOTD online. Advance your skills within research, leadership, and more. The PPOTD is not accredited by ACOTE. Visit program page
Residential
If you want a more traditional, on‑campus student experience, choose the Residential option. Courses and labs are taught during the week, with some online lectures and coursework.Learning Methodology
On‑campus, weekday classes blended with online lectures and coursework. The Residential path requires a full-time commitment.
Student Lifestyle
Lives near campus and attends school full-time
Flex
If you are working, have other obligations, or live a distance from campus, the Flex option was designed with you in mind. With Flex, students meet on campus for clinical labs over select weekends each month.Learning Methodology
Online courses with on‑campus clinical labs held on alternating weekends. The Flex path also requires a full-time commitment.
Student Lifestyle
Lives near campus or travels to campus on weekends
Why USAHS?
Leader in health sciences education
USAHS has been dedicated solely to graduate education in health sciences for more than 40 years. You will join a community of like-minded faculty and students focused on delivering excellent patient care and taking on advanced roles within their profession.
Leading faculty
Our faculty is composed of clinicians and educators who are experts in their field. Many faculty members currently treat patients, publish research, or serve on the boards of professional organizations. They draw from their diverse expertise to develop our curricula.
Leader in innovation
USAHS is at the forefront of innovative education modes. Our flexible, blended programs combine online learning with hands-on classes in state-of-the-art simulation labs. You will practice solving the problems of mock patients using real medical equipment and cutting-edge EdTech tools.
Five destination campuses
We have campuses in five exciting and beautiful cities: St. Augustine, Florida; Miami, Florida; San Marcos, California; Austin, Texas; and Dallas, Texas. Each of our campuses is its own tight-knit community of engaged faculty and students sharing ideas and knowledge.
Career connections
USAHS has a national network of more than 10,000** accomplished alumni, including thousands of licensed rehabilitation practitioners. Your collaborative relationships with faculty and your peers—and the connections you make during your clinical internships—can help you launch your career.
Social responsibility
USAHS is a certified B CorpTM institution, with a focus on community service, social and environmental responsibility, accountability, and transparency. We offer service-learning opportunities that enhance your clinical experiences, and we work to advance the rehabilitative sciences through student and faculty advocacy.
Interprofessional education
Good patient care depends on harmonious teamwork among healthcare practitioners. That’s why, from your very first trimester, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers in other rehabilitative science disciplines, learning each other’s roles and responsibilities.
Ready to take the next step?
*The program is designed to be completed in this amount of time; however, the time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
**American Association of Occupational Therapy, “Academic Programs Annual Data Report Academic Year 2017–2018,” 2018, p. 3.
***USAHS data as of Nov. 2020.
**American Association of Occupational Therapy, “Academic Programs Annual Data Report Academic Year 2017–2018,” 2018, p. 3.
***USAHS data as of Nov. 2020.
Upcoming OT Events
ThursdayApril 22, 2021
Occupational Therapy Programs (OTD, OTD Flex, MOT, & MOT Flex) – Admissions Webinar
ThursdayMay 6, 2021
Occupational Therapy (OTD, OTD Flex, MOT, & MOT Flex) – Academic Webinar
ThursdayMay 13, 2021
