About Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists help patients recover from injuries, overcome disabilities, and live independently. These highly trained professionals work to improve patients’ physical, social, and emotional skills so they can enjoy their daily activities.

Mission

The mission of New York Institute of Technology’s Occupational Therapy program is to prepare students to become self-directed professionals, innovative problem-solvers, and critical thinkers who base the practice of occupational therapy on evidence and science. Our students have the skills necessary to facilitate inclusive participation in meaningful occupations across diverse populations, communities, and global societies.

Vision

The Occupational Therapy program’s vision is to become widely recognized for preparing students to be influential leaders within the field of occupational therapy. Our graduates will effectively utilize evidence, technology, and science to translate knowledge into clinical practice to meet the continually changing occupational needs of local, national, and global societies. Our graduates will be the next generation of interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary, and multidisciplinary practitioners, research leaders, and inspirational educators in the profession.

Program Outcomes

Our programs are highly successful in preparing students for careers in occupational therapy. View our recent pass rates for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam.

Patient-Centered Approach

A patient-centered approach means caring for people holistically while respecting their personal beliefs, experiences, and values. This is essential when treating patients in today’s world, which is more globally and culturally diverse than ever. Here, you’ll adopt a holistic mindset in our classrooms and high-tech labs, and in clinical practice. Upon graduation, you’ll be able to treat patients from a wide spectrum of clinical populations and practice settings.

Graduation Requirements for the M.S. and OTD Programs

To graduate, you must:

• Fulfill all requirements for your degree (as listed in the catalog in effect on the date of admission/readmission). See our Graduation Evaluation Guidelines for additional information.
• Meet the minimum cumulative GPA required for your program.
• Apply for graduation online via the Student Service HUB—Your Home for University Business.
• Be recommended by your advisor, who will submit a signed degree audit evaluation to the Office of the Registrar.
• Comply with application deadlines listed on the academic calendar.

Scholarships

In addition to the full slate of scholarship opportunities available to New York Tech students, occupational therapy students are eligible to apply to the Teach NYC Jose P. Graduate Scholarship Program for Occupational and Physical Therapy offered through New York City’s Teach NYC program.

*THE TEACH NYC JOSE P. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MASTERS-LEVEL STUDENTS AT THIS TIME.

Accreditation

Occupational Therapy, M.S.

New York Institute of Technology’s master’s program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814-6519 or at acoteonline.org or by phone at 301.652.2682.

Graduates of the occupational therapy master’s program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion of the exam will result in certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

All states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note: a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For further information, contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877; phone: 301.990.7979. For additional information about state licensing and other restrictions, contact your local State Board of Occupational Therapy.

New York Tech’s master’s program in occupational therapy was initially accredited by ACOTE in 2003. On April 10, 2021, the program received ACOTE re-accreditation for 10 years: 2020–2021 through 2030–2031.

This program is approved by the New York State Education Department.

M.S. Program Graduation Data

Occupational Therapy, OTD

New York Institute of Technology’s entry-level doctoral program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814-6519, or at acoteonline.org or by phone at 301.652.2682.

Graduates of the entry-level doctoral occupational therapy program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion of the exam will result in certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

All states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For further information, contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877; phone: 301.990.7979. For additional information about state licensing and other restrictions, contact your local State Board of Occupational Therapy.

New York Tech’s entry-level OTD program in occupational therapy received an initial accreditation from ACOTE in 2022. The initial accreditation period is seven years.

This program is approved by the New York State Education Department.

OTD Program Graduation Data