The Master of Occupational Therapy program at Worcester State University provides you with the theoretical and practical knowledge to become a competent, compassionate practitioner who helps people of all ages build or regain the skills needed to live full and productive lives. Our full-time day program is an exceptional value: As a participant in the 4+ Occupational Therapy program, you will graduate with a sought-after master’s degree in occupational therapy approximately one year after completing your undergraduate Occupational Studies program.
An integral component of our curriculum, Level II Fieldwork provides you with valuable, real-world experience—and helps you establish important professional connections that may lead to permanent jobs. During your 2 full-time, 12-week sessions, you will work alongside licensed, registered occupational therapists, helping individuals who have psychosocial and physical disabilities in settings such as hospitals, mental health facilities, and outpatient clinics.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to conduct hands-on research in an area that interests you, culminating in a thesis paper. In recent years, students’ research has been published in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Special Interest Sections Quarterly newsletters, and OT Practice Magazine.
Graduates of Worcester State’s MOT program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination, for which this program boasts a consistently high pass rate. A passing score on this examination allows the graduate to apply for a license to practice that is required by most states within the United States, including Massachusetts. For further information regarding certification contact: NBCOT, One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20878; (301) 990-7979.
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This program is recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
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Applicants must have the following:
During the junior year, students will submit a Notice of Intent to the Graduate Program Coordinator. In July following their junior year, students’ GPAs will be reviewed. Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the OT courses and prerequisites to be considered for conditional acceptance to the graduate program. Once conditionally accepted, senior BSOS students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 in the OT major courses to receive full acceptance into the MOT program.
Level I Fieldwork is to provide the student with an opportunity to develop professional behaviors and basic understanding of a particular client population.
Level II Fieldwork is to offer an in-depth practical experience that will enable you to become a competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapist. In addition to those experiences designed to complement specific program courses (Level I Fieldwork), the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires a minimum of 24 weeks’ full-time Level II Fieldwork.
Worcester State requires that students complete 2 12-week Level II Fieldwork placements, one fieldwork in physical disability (OT 920) and one in psychosocial disability (OT 921).
All students must complete all required fieldwork within 12 months of completion of the academic program. In addition, students must complete all fieldwork requirements before they are eligible to sit for the national certification examination.
AOTA ACOTE NBCOT NEOTEC
HIPAA training and certification for our students is provided by HIPAA EXAMS, Inc.
¹ Subject to change, based on 24-25 University Catalog ² Approximate cost to purchase ³ After initial, one-time subscription fee, cost would depend on FW requirements (as needed) Does not include living expenses (room and board), meal plans, health insurance or FW-related costs (transportation)
¹ Subject to change, based on 24-25 University Catalog Does not include living expenses (room and board), meal plans, health insurance or FW-related costs (transportation)
*Denotes the number of students entering the 900-level courses (graduate courses) **Due to COVID-19, students delayed for Level II Fieldwork ***Delayed for various reasons
