Master of Occupational Therapy

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Occupational Therapy takes six academic semesters including 24 weeks of fieldwork education to prepare graduates to practice as generalists in the profession of occupational therapy.

It is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Students are required to obtain and utilize a broad liberal arts education prior to entry into the professional program. The M.S. in occupational therapy program prepares students to function in a wide variety of settings, utilizing principles and intervention approaches related to occupation, and to supervise occupational therapy support personnel.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

The OTCAS Portal for the Next FGCU Application Cycle Will Open on July 18, 2025 for Matriculation in August 2026. Application Deadline is November 15, 2025.”

Accreditation

Toggle More Info

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

This entry-level Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814, ACOTE's telephone number is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduation Rate

The total number of graduates from the FGCU Master of occupational therapy program during the 3-year period of 2022-2024 was 94 with an overall graduation rate of 98%.

GRADUATION YEAR	STUDENT ENTERING / GRADUATING	GRADUATION RATE
2022	32/31	97%
2023	32/30	94%
2024	32/33	103%
Total	96/94	98%

National Certification Examination Requirements:

The National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1987 to protect the public from incompetent and unethical occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. There are two primary mechanisms that the board uses to carry out their mission. One is by requiring that an individual make a minimum passing score on the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapist. After successfully passing the certification examination, an individual may use the initials OTR (Occupational Therapist Registered) after his/her name. However, in many states with licensure, an individual cannot identify themselves as an OTR unless they are also licensed in the state.

An occupational therapist is certified for five years. After five years, an occupational therapist may apply for recertification by NBCOT.

Specific information regarding the application process for taking the exam will be provided during the final year of the student's program. For more information on the recertification program, please contact NBCOT. Telephone: 301-990-7979, email: 'Info' info@nbcot.org . Student performance on the NBCOT exam by program can be found by selecting the state, program level, and year.

IMPORTANT: A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the certification exam required by the National Board for Certification in occupational therapy and/or affect the graduate's ability to obtain a license to practice. Increasing numbers of clinical placement sites are requiring criminal background checks before accepting students for class or fieldwork experiences. The program therefore requires that accepted students obtain an approved criminal background check while in the program. Information regarding criminal background checks will be provided during the first semester by the Fieldwork Coordinator.

Admissions Information
Toggle More Info
Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
Masters in Occupational Therapy Process

The Occupational Therapy Program at Florida Gulf Coast University participates in the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. Applicants applying to the Master of Occupational Therapy Program will apply online using the OTCAS application (https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login). Students manage their applications online and may apply to more than one school at a time.

Application process opens July 21st. Deadline for completed FGCU application on OTCAS is December 1st. Click the link for OTCAS frequently asked questions (https://help.liaisonedu.com/OTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center).

It can take up to four weeks before an application is verified by OTCAS and released to us for review. We recommend that you submit your OTCAS application at least four weeks prior to our deadline. All application materials must be received in order for your application to be reviewed by FGCU.

Program Admission Requirements
- Submit an application and fee through Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
- Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation) or equivalent foreign institution; degree may be pending completion at time of application. GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- GPA of 3.2 or higher in prerequisite courses (listed below).
- Completed Documentation of Volunteer/Shadowing Hours forms documenting at least 20 hours of volunteer or shadowing experience in at least two (2) OT practice environments in accordance with Guidelines for Volunteer/Shadowing Hours. Must be signed by an OT or COTA including credentials.
- International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
- Personal statement in accordance with Personal Statement Guidelines.
- Interview (arranged by invitation when all other application materials have been received and reviewed).
- The following prerequisite courses or the equivalent must be completed with a grade of C or better (a grade of C- or less is not acceptable). Students may complete three prerequisites in the Summer session after provisional acceptance into the program. All requirements must be completed before beginning the graduate level of study. Courses noted in parentheses are FGCU courses that meet the requirement:
  - Two courses in human anatomy & physiology w/lab (BSC 1085C & BSC 1086C). It is highly recommended that labs not be completed online. Must be completed before taking OTH3417C & OTH3429C
  - Any approved abnormal psychology or psychopathology course (CLP 4143)
  - Any approved lifespan human development course (DEP 2004)
  - Research course with health professions or behavioral research focus (IHS 4504)
  - Any approved musculoskeletal anatomy course w/lab (OTH 3417C)
  - Any approved neuroanatomy/neurophysiology course (OTH 3429C)
  - Any approved introductory physics or qualified physical science course [covers mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism] (PHY 2020, PHY 2048 or 2048C/2048L or PHY 2053 or 2053C/2053L)
  - Any general psychology course (PSY 2012)
  - Any statistics course (STA 2023 or STA 2037)
  - Any sociology or anthropology course with a multicultural theme (SYG 2000, SYG 2010, SYG 2250, ANT 2000, or ANT 2410)
- Accepted students are expected to complete a Medical Terminology class by November 15th of their first semester in the program.
Applicants to the occupational therapy program submit all required documentation through OTCAS, but will be required to submit additional documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions following an offer of admission.

Admission to the program is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
(Please note: When selecting these documents below, they will download for you to view or print)
Program Requirements
Toggle More Info
Program Requirements for the 2025-2026 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must earn a grade of B or better in all required coursework in order to progress in the program.
- Students are evaluated on professional behaviors as well as academic performance.
- Successful completion of assigned fieldwork integrating academic material and professional behaviors is a required part of the program.
- Students must provide evidence of immunizations, CPR training, health insurance, malpractice insurance coverage, Level 1 Criminal Background clearance, Level 2 FBI fingerprinting, Biosafety (Bloodborne Pathogens) Training, and HIPS Training through FGCU’s Office of Research & Graduate Studies, as detailed in the Program's Student Handbook.
- Submit an application for graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- Completion of the degree in Occupational Therapy, which includes the prescribed fieldwork, is required for eligibility to sit for the Certification Examination and to obtain a license to practice as an Occupational Therapist.
- Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
- Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
- Earn a minimum of 70 credits.
Program Requirements
Required Courses in the Major (70 credits)

OTH 6002 OT History and Foundations (2)
OTH 6009 Theory in Occupational Therapy (3)
OTH 6018 Professional Practice (3)
OTH 6026 Group Process and Management (3)
OTH 6106C Technology in Practice (3)
OTH 6226C Evaluation of Perform Issues (3)
OTH 6235C OT Interventions (4)
OTH 6325C Practice in Behavioral Health (2)
OTH 6415C Human Motion in Activity (4)
OTH 6436C Adult UE Rehabilitation (4)
OTH 6523C Practice with Children (4)
OTH 6536C Occupational Performance Issues I (3)
OTH 6605C Occupational Performance Issues II (3)
OTH 6707 Management and Supervision in Occupational Therapy (3)
OTH 6725 Community Practice Seminar (3)
OTH 6751C Occupational Therapy Research (3)
OTH 6853 Level I Fieldwork A (1)
OTH 6854 Level I Fieldwork B (1)
OTH 6855 Level I Fieldwork C (1)
OTH 6845 Level II Fieldwork A (6)
OTH 6846 Level II Fieldwork B (6)
OTH 6910 Directed Study (3)
OTH 6973C Project Implementation (2)
Total Credits Required: 70 HRS
Degree Map
Toggle More Info
Course Descriptions
Toggle More Info
Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
Toggle More Info
Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
Toggle More Info
Graduates of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy will be able to:
1. Use clinical reasoning skills to determine appropriate assessments for a given client, conduct and interpret those assessments, and establish a treatment plan consistent with best practices in occupational therapy.
2. Utilize content knowledge and clinical reasoning gained in the program of study to determine appropriate practice responses to various challenges in clinical context.
3. Interact with clients, caregivers, other professionals, representatives of funding sources, and support staff in a respectful manner, using language appropriate for the context.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance

Toggle More Info

Tuition and Fees
Current Cost	MS OT Program 1st Fall	MS OT Program 1st Spring	MS OT Program 1st Summer	MS OT Program 2nd Fall	MS OT Program 2nd Spring	MS OT Program 2nd Summer	Total Cost of Program
Tuition* In-state	$5,600.70	$5,974.08	$4,853.94	$5,227.32	$4,107.18	$373.38	$26,136.60
Tuition** Out of state	$19,509.90	$20,810.56	$16,908.58	$18,209.24	$14,307.26	$1,300.66	$91,046.20
Equipment Fees	$129.00	$129.00		$129.00	$129.00		$516.00
Course Fees	$342.00	$51.00	$5.00	$90.00			$488.00
Textbooks (Hard bound, new)	$877.00	$438.00	$155.00	$233.00			$1,703.00
					In-state		$28,843.60
					Out of state		$93,753.20
							REV: 2024

* Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance also available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

**It takes one year to establish FL residency.

Fees are subject to change.

In addition to typical FGCU student cost, occupational therapy students can anticipate additional cost (estimated/subject to change) related to the following:

CPR: (Infant, Child, & Adult): $48.00 or higher

Medical Terminology: $95.00

Medical Documentation Management: $35.00

Level 1 Criminal Background Check: $62.74

Level 2 FBI Fingerprinting: $68.76

Professional Liability Insurance: $18.00

Fieldwork sites also require additional information including an annual physical, 2-step PPD, and influenza shot; medical insurance, TDAP, and titers (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, & Hepatitis B); some fieldwork sites require additional requirements such as a Hepatitis C titer, urine/blood drug screenings and COVID vaccinations. Students will be required to obtain all site requirements before completing fieldwork.

In the event of a negative titre, students will be required to obtain additional vaccines and will not be permitted to attend fieldwork until a positive titre is recorded. Additional costs for MMR : $87; Hepatitis B: $50.

Students must provide own transportation to fieldwork sites.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment. Visit https://www.fgcu.edu/graduatestudies/financinggradstudies#InStateISGraduateStudentTuitionSupport for information about Graduate Studies tuition support.

Scholarship Information

Occupational Therapy Advisory Council Endowed Scholarship Fund

Recipients will be students who have been accepted into and are enrolled in the occupational therapy program at FGCU.
Recipients will have a history of service to the community. This can be through service-learning courses or direct service without credit.
Awards will be based on academic merit and need. Merit will be the first criterion, with financial need being the deciding factor when merit is similar (though not necessarily exact) amount candidates. Merit will be based on a combination of undergraduate GPA and GRE scores.

To apply for the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council Endowed Scholarship or to find information in regards to other scholarships please visit FGCU Foundation/Scholarship.