What stops you from becoming one of the best occupational therapists in Florida? Is the difficulty in looking for the schools one of them? Then, you are definitely in the right place as we have compiled a list of top occupational therapy programs in Florida.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s report, Florida has about 24 accredited OT programs. That is, 10 ACOTE accredited occupational therapy schools that offer entry-level masters degree and 3 accredited schools for doctoral programs. In addition, 11 ACOTE accredited occupational therapy assistant schools that offer associate degrees.
These OT schools in Florida will train you to become one of the best occupational therapists (OT) or occupational therapy assistants (OTA) ever.
Therefore, this article will explain in detail what occupational therapy is, who an occupational therapist or assistant is, their duties, salaries and job outlook. Also, vital information on the top occupational therapy programs in Florida, schools that offer them, ranking system, and FAQs on the topic.
Table of contents
- What Is Occupational Therapy?
- Occupational Therapy Treatment
- Who is an Occupational Therapist?
- Who is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
- Occupational Therapy In Florida
- Ranking Factors for Occupational Therapy Programs in Florida
- Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida
- Accredited Schools For An Associate Degree Program in Occupational Therapy
- Conclusion
- References
- AUTHOR’S RECOMMENDATION
What Is Occupational Therapy?
The young and the old have a common job: the job of living. However, several challenges may hinder us from enjoying this, which is where occupational therapy practitioners come in.
Occupational therapy is a client-centered allied health profession that uses assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the significant activities or occupations of individuals, groups, or communities. In other words, its focus is on promoting health and well-being through occupation.
OT treatment focuses on helping people with a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), it is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do what they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations).
In occupational therapy, occupation refers to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. It includes things people need to, want to, and are expected to do.
For instance, everyone has an occupation of living. Some of the occupations of life include: are among the “occupations” of life.
- Learning
- Growing
- Playing
- Working
- Managing our homes
- Caring for our families
Occupational Therapy Treatment
The primary goal of occupational therapy is to help people participate in the activities of their everyday lives. It teaches us how to adjust by providing treatment that can help if you have pain, injury, illness, or a disability that makes it hard to do your job or schoolwork, care for yourself, complete household chores, move around, or take part in activities.
From the explanation above, we can see that children can receive occupational therapy treatments just like adults. This is because a child’s main job is playing and learning. Therefore, occupational therapists can evaluate kids’ skills for playing, school performance, and daily activities and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that age group.
The occupational therapist and the assistant carry out occupational therapy treatments.
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Who is an Occupational Therapist?
According to Wikipedia, an occupational therapist (OT) is a health care professional who uses evidence-based practice, research, scientific evidence, and a holistic perspective to promote independence, meaningful occupations, and the patient’s functional ability to achieve daily routines/roles of choice.
They treat people with injury, illness, disability, or psychological dysfunction through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
What do Occupational Therapists Earn?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics report, occupational therapists typically earn $84,270 annually, that is, $40.51 per hour.
However, from Glassdoor’s report, an occupational therapist earns $80,782/yr.
What is the Job Outlook of Occupational Therapists?
According to BLS, the employment of occupational therapists is expected to grow 18 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Furthermore, occupational therapy will continue to be an essential part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism, or limb loss.
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Who is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
An occupational therapy assistant helps patients develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. They can work in occupational therapists’ offices, hospitals, and nursing care facilities.
What do Occupational Therapy Assistants earn?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of OTAs is $57,620 per year and
$27.70 per hour. Also, the report states the median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants as of 2018 as $60,220.
Meanwhile, Glassdoor reports that occupational therapy assistants earn $30/hr.
What is the Job Outlook for OTAs?
Still, from BLS, the overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Occupational Therapy In Florida
Occupational therapy will continue to be essential to treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities. From the statistics above, you can say that occupational therapy is a profession that will last the test of time.
Therefore, to pursue a career in occupational therapy, you need to enroll in an occupational therapy (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program. In Florida, most OT programs are offered at the master’s level, while OTA programs are majorly offered at the associate level.
Notwithstanding, Florida occupational therapy practitioners and students belong to the Florida Occupational Therapy Association (FOTA).
Incorporated on October 7, 1997, FOTA is a state-based professional organization and public voice for the occupational therapy profession in Florida. It is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides a professional community for its members.
The association’s main role is to promote the occupational therapy profession, create public awareness, support the therapist in continuing education, and improve and maintain the quality of the occupational therapy profession in Florida. The FOTA is an affiliated state body of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Other important bodies
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)
- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT)
Ranking Factors for Occupational Therapy Programs in Florida
Below are the factors used in ranking Florida’s top occupational therapy programs.
- Employability ratio
- Number of programs
- Acceptance rate
- Exam Success rate
- Graduation rate
- Accreditation
Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida
Using the ranking factors above, below is the list of the top 13 schools for occupational therapy programs in Florida:
- AdventHealth University
- Barry University
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale Campus
- Florida International University
- Nova Southeastern University
- University of Florida
- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Florida Campus
- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Miami Campus
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University of Florida
P.O. Box 100164 Gainesville, FL 32611-0154
Tuition
$12,740 per term
Graduation Rate
Students to Faculty Ratio
Since 1961, the University of Florida OT program has received continued accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®).
The UF Department of Occupational Therapy offers an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) beginning from the Fall semester of 2018. The program has recently got the Candidacy Status by the ACOTE.
The Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program has ACOTE accreditation status. However, the MOT program has stopped accepting new intake for proper transitioning to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Notwithstanding, current and UF Pre-OT Health Science students can complete their degree programs.
Biology with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab; Abnormal Psychology; Introduction to Statistics; Sociology or Anthropology; Oral Communications ( public speaking, therapeutic or personal communication); Medical Terminology.
Nova Southeastern University
3200 S. University Drive Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018
Tuition
Masters: $30,094
Masters Graduation Rate
97%
Doctorate Graduation Rate
85%
Nova Southeastern University offers 2 entry-level occupational therapy programs: Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) & Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD).
In addition, NSU also offers 2 post-professional occupational therapy programs: a Clinical Doctorate (Dr.OT) & Research Doctorate (Ph.D.). The OT post-professional programs are online programs.
- Human anatomy and physiology (including lab)
- Physics with lab (general, college) OR Kinesiology
- Biology with lab (introduction, general, or principles of)
- English composition Other humanities (e.g., art, communications, literature, foreign language, history, philosophy.
- Psychology.
- Human growth and development or developmental psychology.
- Other social sciences (e.g., ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, ethics).
- Statistics.
- Medical terminology (college).
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Click here to read more about Barry University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
334 Palmer Avenue, Room 318 Tallahassee, FL 32307-3500
Tuition
$3,651.00 (for 9 credits per term)
Graduation Rate
96%
Students to Faculty Ratio
The Division of Occupational Therapy, one of the five Divisions within the School of Allied Health Sciences, was established in 1989.
Before now, the university offered bachelor’s degree programs in occupational therapy, with over 200 students graduating from the program before the program’s transition to an entry-level master’s program.
However, as of 2006, the last set of students graduated from the program, with the first set of masters in the OT program graduating in 2007.
Basically, a master’s in occupational degree program consists of 81 credit hours, including 2 years of academic coursework and 6 months of fieldwork.
General biology and labHuman growth and development or lifespan class fundamentals of chemistry college physics and lab or kinesiology anatomy and Physiology I and IIIntroduction to psychology abnormal psychology research
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AdventHealth University
671 Winyah Drive Orlando, FL 32803
Tuition
- Masters – $72,000 (for 7 trimesters)
- Associate Degree – $42,325 (for 3 semesters)
Graduation Rate
98%
Students to Faculty Ratio
8:1
The Occupational Therapy Department provides an environment where students can pursue expertise in occupational therapy same time, developing themselves spiritually, intellectually, and socially. The university offers both accredited masters and associate degree programs in occupational therapy.
In addition, this OT school provides standard facilities to the students. For instance, the department has many important labs, such as the occupational lab, occupational therapy performance lab, and skills therapy.
- A bachelor’s degree;
- GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework;
- GRE score (combined score – 300, writing 4.0)
- 3 letters of reference;
- A personal statement;
- An essay;
- A resume
- English proficiency
Masters Program
Typically, a master’s of science degree in OT consists of 27 months of course work broken into 5 trimesters of on-campus work and 2 trimesters of a full-time internship.
Prerequisite Course work
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II (with labs);
- General Psychology;
- Developmental Psychology;
- Abnormal Psychology;
- Sociology/Anthropology;
- Statistics;
- Medical Terminology;
- Four credits of biology, physics, or chemistry with lab.
Associate Degree
With a graduation rate of 97%, the occupational therapy assistant program provides core and program-specific classes that prepare students for handling real-world situations with a human touch while upholding the highest professional standards.
Furthermore, the program consists of 4 core areas of practice:
- psychosocial
- geriatrics
- adults with physical disabilities
- pediatrics.
Each core class has a corresponding practicum, which gives students the room to learn in the classroom while applying their knowledge in a clinical setting.
Basically, an associate degree for occupational therapy assistants consists of three semesters.
The first two semesters have one OTA class, each with several general education courses.
On the other hand, the last semester of the OTA program consists of two (2), eight (8) week level II internships.
For more information on the AdventHealth University, visit the link below:
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Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale Campus
1500 NW 49th Street Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
Tuition
–
Graduation Rate
84%
Students to Faculty Ratio
–
Keiser University is one of the top occupational therapy schools. It offers the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Bridge Program for the Certified Occupational therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, the OT program includes an on-campus and online way of learning. Furthermore, the occupational therapy program integrates didactic, face-to-face, and clinical experiences to prepare students to achieve success on the NBCOT® exam.
- Abnormal Psychology;
- Life Span Development.
- Human Anatomy
- Physiology I & II with lab;
- Statistics;
- College Algebra;
- English Composition I & II;
- Introduction to Psychology;
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Florida Campus – 1 University Boulevard St. Augustine, FL 32086-5783
Miami Campus – 11410 NW 20th Street Miami, FL 33172
Masters Tuition
- $14,022 per trimester for Full-Time MOT students
- $8,824 per trimester for Flex MOT students
Graduation Rate
91%
Doctorate Tuition
Full time – $12,948 per trimester for OTD students
The University of St. Augustine offers a master of occupational therapy program at 3 campuses, 2 in Florida and one in Texas. Also, all the MOT programs are accredited by the ACOTE.
USAHS offers two tracks towards the MOT: residential and flex (weekends and online). The residential/full-time programs last for 2 years, 6 trimesters. On the other hand, the flex (online/weekend) MOT programs last for 3 years, 9 trimesters.
In addition, USAHS offers a doctorate program in occupational therapy at the Florida main campus. Furthermore, they offer their students two paths to earn their Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. While the full-time program lasts 2.7 years with 117 credit hours over 8 trimesters, the flex program lasts 4 years with 117 credit hours over 12 trimesters.
- Biology with lab;
- Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab;
- Abnormal Psychology;
- Introduction to Statistics;
- Sociology or Anthropology;
- Oral Communications ( public speaking, therapeutic or personal communication);
- Medical Terminology.
Gannon University – Florida Campus
105 Commercial Center Drive Ruskin, FL 33570
Tuition
$17,110 per semester
Graduation Rate
Students to Faculty Ratio
Ganon University is one of the top schools to enroll in for an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. This Bachelor’s to Doctorate program offers opportunities for in-depth study of, and clinical experiences with, clients of all ages who have limited capacity to perform to their expectations in their everyday lives or are at risk of developing a limiting condition.
- Intro to Psychology
- Psychopathology or Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology throughout the lifespan or equivalent
- Intro to Sociology or a course in diversity
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (total of 8 credits)
- Physics I
- Statistics
Accredited Schools For An Associate Degree Program in Occupational Therapy
Below is a list of ACOTE accredited schools that offer associate degree programs in occupational therapy in Florida. Do well to click on any of these OT schools for more information on the program.
- Concorde Career Institute-Miramar
- Daytona State College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Keiser University – Daytona Beach us, Fort Lauderdaleeiser University, Fort Myers; Jacksonville, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Pembroke Pines Campus, Tallahassee Campus, Tampa Campus, West Palm Beach Campus
- Polk State College
- Remington College-Orlando
- South University-West Palm Beach
- South University-Tampa
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
- The Praxis Institute-Hialeah Campus
Frequently Asked Questions on Top Occupational Therapy Programs in Florida (FAQs)
An occupational therapist works with people of all ages, from premature babies to young children, adults in midlife, and seniors.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in any field may apply to the program. However, having a bachelor degree in a related course and meeting up with the requisite course works will be an added advantage.
OTA program accepts students from numerous age levels and backgrounds. A typical class might include recent high school graduates, single parents, individuals seeking a career change, and adults re-entering the workforce.
Notwithstanding, a mature and committed student makes for a successful OTA.
A master’s degree is the entry level for becoming a practicing occupational therapist, and admission to occupational therapy degree programs is competitive.
An average master’s degree program takes a student two to three years.
To become an occupational therapiust in Florida, you must follow these steps:
1. Earn a masters degree in occupational therapy from an accredited school.
2. Complete the Internship.
3. Get a National Certification in OT.
4. Apply for Licensure.
5. Maintain Professional Credentials.
Yes, there are online OT programs. However, according to Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, no accredited entry-level occupational therapy programs are offered entirely online.
Notwithstanding, many OT programs offer some courses or parts of courses online.
Conclusion
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics report, occupational therapy is projected to be among the fastest-growing careers in the United States. Therefore, pursuing a career in occupational therapy will certainly not be a bad idea.
I hope this article guide you as you make your choice.
Good Luck and Success!!!
References
- wfot.com – About Occupational Therapy
- study.com – Florida Occupational Therapy Universities with Program Overviews
- occupationaltherapy.schools – Occupational Therapy Schools in Florida
- topoccupationaltherapyschool.com – Occupational Therapy in Florida: Schools, Certification Procedure and Salary
- kidshealth.com – Occupational Therapy
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