Occupational Therapy Programs

Help people thrive in their everyday lives

At USAHS, you’ll learn to be an exceptional OT practitioner prepared to transform lives and communities as well as a leader in the OT profession. You’ll be immersed in our close-knit occupational therapy community, study using the latest technology and gain hands-on experience using the most effective techniques, all in service of helping others live their lives more fully. Among the many healthcare professions, occupational therapy is one of the better paid and is growing fast. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the OT profession is predicted to increase 14% between 2021 and 2031, with the addition of 18,600 new jobs.

25+

Year Legacy of OT Education

4,000+

OT Alumni Nationwide

200+

Faculty with Expertise in 30+ OT Specialties

1-on-1

Faculty Support and Mentorship

What Does An OT Do?

Explore What an OT Does

A career as an Occupational Therapist can be incredibly rewarding. From helping people with disabilities, to those who may have a had a life changing experience, OT’s help people get back to doing the things they love most and have a better quality of life.

Find out which OT program is right for you.

People choose the field of OT for many different reasons, but what we all have in common is a desire to improve the lives of others. At USAHS, our programs are designed to address a wide variety of wants, needs and goals.

Compare Programs

Each of our programs is unique. Use this helpful tool or watch an informative video to compare each program and help you decide which most closely aligns with your goals.

Program Comparison Table

flex-residential-ot-usahs

Residential, Flex or Hybrid Immersion

Whether you want to study online and come to campus for hands-on labs during the week or combine online study with labs on weekends or concentrated blocks of time on campus, our Residential, Flex, and Hybrid Immersion options have you covered.

Format Comparison Request More Information

MOT
OTD
Work as an OT Clinician
Yes
Yes
Additional Preparation to Work in Expanded Roles
(Leadership, Policy, Advocacy, Research)
No
Yes
# Trimesters
6 Residential / 6 Hybrid Immersion / 9 Flex
8 Residential / 11 Flex
Credit Hours
93
117
Campuses
Residential - All Campuses Flex - San Marcos, Austin, Miami, St. Augustine Hybrid Immersion - Dallas
Residential - All Campuses / Flex - Dallas
Start Dates (by Campus)
Residential - All campuses, All Terms Flex - Miami, St. Augustine, San Marcos - Spring and Fall, Austin - Summer and Fall Hybrid Immersion - Dallas - All Terms
Residential - All campus, All terms; Flex - Dallas - Summer and Fall
Admission Requirements
A Bachelor's or Masters' Degree from an Accredited Institution Official Transcripts from Each Degree Conferring Institution Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae. Two Recommendations from Professional Colleagues
Same as MOT, with an Additional Essay Required
Fieldwork Experiences
2 Trimesters
2 Trimesters

Pick a Path That Fits Your Lifestyle.

Our OT programs offer unique format delivery types.* All of our programs are full-time commitments. Choose the one that best fits your needs.

*Depending on program and campus.

Residential

If you want a weekday class schedule and an on-campus student experience, choose the Residential format. Coursework is blended with content delivered both online and in the classroom, and on-campus clinical labs are held on select weekdays.

Learning Methodology

Blended occupational therapy coursework plus face-to-face lab sessions held on campus.

Student Lifestyle

Live near campus and attend on-campus labs on weekdays. Attend school full-time.

Flex

If you work or have family or other obligations, choose the Flex format. The Flex curriculum includes fewer credits per term which means the program takes longer to complete, but you’ll have the ability to continue to work and manage other priorities.  You’ll access coursework online and attend face-to-face lab sessions on-campus during select weekends.

Learning Methodology

Online occupational therapy coursework plus face-to-face lab sessions held on campus.

Student Lifestyle

Live anywhere within U.S. approved states and travel to campus on select weekends approximately 4-7 times per trimester.

Hybrid Immersion

If you prefer the flexibility of studying from almost anywhere, choose the Hybrid Immersion format (MOT only) that combines interactive, media-rich online learning with immersive, hands-on experiences in our state-of-the art facilities. You’ll access coursework online and attend in-person lab sessions for 3 to 5 days twice per trimester.

Learning Methodology

Online coursework plus two on-campus clinical labs held over 3-5 days each trimester.

Student Lifestyle

Live anywhere within U.S. approved states and to our Dallas campus twice a trimester.

Our OT Programs at a Glance

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Become an occupational therapy practitioner with your master’s in OT. Help people of all ages overcome physical and cognitive barriers and improve their quality of life. We offer the MOT program in three formats: Residential, Flex and Hybrid Immersion.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Our entry-level doctoral program follows the same curriculum as the MOT, plus two additional trimesters focused on expanded roles in the profession. You will gain research experience by completing a capstone project on a topic of your choice. Available in two formats: Residential and Flex.

Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD)

Are you an experienced OT practitioner who wants to advance your credentials to the doctoral level? In our online PPOTD program, you can update your skills within clinical practice, research, and more. The PPOTD is not subject to accreditation by ACOTE.

Why USAHS?

Leader in Health Sciences Education

USAHS has been dedicated solely to graduate education in health sciences for more than 40 years, delivering high-quality OT education for over the past 25 years. As an OT graduate student at USAHS, you’ll join a community of like-minded faculty and students, as well as more than 4,000 OT alumni, focused on delivering exceptional client care and taking on leadership roles.

Leading Faculty

At USAHS, we have more than 200 OT faculty with real-world experience in more than 30 specialties. Our OT faculty is composed of educators and clinicians who are experts in their fields. Faculty members currently work with clients, publish research and serve on the boards of professional organizations. They draw from their diverse expertise to develop our curricula. Our faculty provide one-one-one support and mentoring and treat students as peers and colleagues.

Leader in Innovation

USAHS is at the forefront of innovative teaching and learning models. Our blended learning model combines the best of interactive, media-rich online learning with immersive, hands-on experiences in labs. Our rehab-focused, state-of-the-art simulation centers provide a safe learning environment where students work with mock clients using actual therapy equipment and cutting-edge EdTech tools.

Five Destination Campuses

We have campuses in five vibrant, beautiful cities: San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; Miami, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Dallas, Texas. Our campuses are close, tight-knit communities of engaged faculty and students who are able to access faculty and specialties across all of our campuses to facilitate the sharing of ideas and knowledge with our entire community of OTs.

OT Student Testimonials

Featured OT Faculty

Claribell Bayona, OTD,OTR/L Play Video

Claribell Bayona — OTD, OTR/L

Neurological Rehabilitation

Play Video

Cody Cox — OTD, OTR/L, MED

Geriatrics

Helen Carey, Ph.D, MSc Adv OT, OTR Play Video

Helen Carey — PHD, MSC ADV OT, OTR

Adult Rehabilitation

Keith B. McWilliams, OTD, OTR/L Play Video

Keith B. McWilliams — OTD, OTR/L, DRS

Oncology

Lesley Khan-Farooqi, PhD, OTD, OTR/L Play Video

Lesley Khan-Farooqi — PHD, OTD, OTR/L

Orthopedics

Marcia Hamilton, OTD, MSHS, OTR/L, BCP, BCTS Play Video

Marcia Hamilton — OTD, MSHS, OTR/L, BCTS

Pediatrics

Maureen Johnson, PhD, MS, OT/L Play Video

Maureen Johnson — PHD, MS, OT/L, BCPR, C/NDT, CHSE-A

Adult Rehabilitation

Sean Brim, PhDs, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CEAS Play Video

Sean Brim — PhDs, OTD, MOT, OTR/L

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