The state of Tennessee offers nine occupational therapy programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Each program provides either an associate’s, master’s, or doctorate of occupational therapy. Belmont University, however, offers both a master’s and a doctorate degree.

All licenses in the state are administered by the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy. In order to apply for licensure, individuals must complete an accredited program and pass the state-mandated exam. Exams will cover topics explored throughout occupational therapy degree programs and careers alike.

Those who successfully complete a doctorate degree program in Tennessee go on to earn an average salary of about $79,956 per year, higher than their neighbors in West Virginia. Seasoned occupational therapists in the state can go on to earn more than $100,000 per year, depending on location. For more information regarding accredited degree programs, continue reading below:  

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Nashville

The capital of Tennessee, Nashville lies in the center of the state. Occupational therapists in the city tend to make more money on average than those who reside in rural areas of Tennessee. According to Salary.com, occupational therapists in Nashville earn an average salary of $81,614 per year, slightly higher than the state average. For aspiring occupational therapists in the city, there are two schools that offer postgraduate programs certified by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE): Belmont University, Tennessee State University, and Nashville State Community College. Below is specific information regarding those schools.

Belmont University

School of Occupational Therapy
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212-3757
otd@belmont.edu

  • Degree Level: Belmont University offers two degrees to successful applicants: the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT).  
  • Credit Hours: The OTD program at Belmont consists of 108-110 credit hours; the MSOT program is 76 credit hours exactly.  
  • Tuition(In-state): Tuition for the OTD program is set at $40,360 per academic year; tuition for the MSOT program is set at $28,420 per academic year. Belmont’s tuition and fees rise between 3 and 5% each year.
  • Application Due Date: Applications for the OTD degree are due by October 1st of each year; those for the MSOT degree are due by January 1st of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Application requirements can be found on the OTD and MSOT’s respective admissions pages. Further information regarding tuition and fees, admissions dates, and admissions contacts can also be found here.

Tennessee State University

College of Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Department
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
rtroxtel@tnstate.edu

  • Degree Level: Tennessee State University offers a Masters of Occupational Therapy (MSO) program that can be completed in 7 semesters, 2 of which are in the summer.
  • Credit Hours: The MOT program consists of 72 credit hours.
  • Tuition(In-state): Tuition is set at $523 per credit hour, making the total cost of the program $37,656, without factoring in additional costs.
  • Application Due Date: Applications for the MOT program at Tennessee State University are due November 15th of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Admissions requirements are similar to other programs: a minimum GPA of 3.0, completion of the GRE, and a minimum number of observation, volunteer, or work hours as an occupational therapist in two separate settings. Further requirements can be found on the admissions requirements page for the occupational therapy program.  

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Memphis

Known for Elvis Presley and blues music, Memphis sits in the far southwestern corner of Tennessee. Similar to Nashville, occupational therapists in Memphis earn a high average salary compared to rural areas. According to Salary.com, their average salary is $81,558 per year. The best-paid can earn well over $100,000 per year. For those interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy, Memphis has one school offering a master’s program in the subject. Below is information regarding the program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center:

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

College of Health Professions
Department of Occupational Therapy 930 Madison, Suite 614
Memphis, TN 38163-0002
azachry@uthsc.edu

  • Degree Level: University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) Occupational Therapy Department offers a master’s in the field for interested applicants.
  • Credit Hours: With 21 months of academic coursework followed by 6 months of field place, the occupational therapy program consists of 96 credit hours in total.
  • Tuition(In-state): In-state tuition is estimated to be $23,370 per year.
  • Application Due Date: Early admission applications are due by January 5th; standards admission applications are due by March 5th.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Prerequisite coursework is similar to other occupational therapy programs and includes general biology, anatomy and physiology, general psychology, and statistics, among other courses. Further requirements, including those regarding GPA and GRE scores, can be found on either the program’s prerequisite coursework page or their application checklist.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Chattanooga

Chattanooga is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in the southeastern part of the state. Certified occupational therapists in Chattanooga earn an average salary of $79,347 per year. Aspiring occupational therapists in the state can attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and receive in-state tuition for their OTD program. Below is information regarding the program:

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Occupational Therapy Department
615 McCallie Avenue, Department 3103
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
susan-mcdonald@utc.edu

  • Degree Level: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga provides an entry-level doctoral program in occupational therapy.
  • Credit Hours: The OTD program consists of 117 credit hours in total.
  • Tuition (In-state): The cost of the full OTD program is estimated to be $47,866 for in-state residents. Further tuition information can be on the program costs page.
  • Application Due Date: Interested parties must inquire for more information.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants must submit their GPA, GRE scores, and transcripts, among other admission criteria.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Elizabethton

Elizabethton is a small town in the far northeastern part of the state. The salary of an occupational therapist in Elizabethton is $66,569 per year. Milligan College is the only school in the town offering a degree program for those interested in the profession. Detailed below is further information regarding the school’s MSOT program:

Milligan College

Occupational Therapy Program
P.O. Box 130
Milligan College, TN 37682
msot@milligan.edu

  • Degree Level: Milligan College offers a MSOT program.
  • Credit Hours: The MSOT program at Milligan College is 79 credit hours in total.
  • Tuition (In-state): Tuition for this program is priced at $790 per credit hour, making for a total cost of $62,410.
  • Application Due Date: Applicants are recommended to submit applications by October 15th, as the program is very competitive and fills fast. However, applications are accepted until November 15th.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants to the program must include relevant undergraduate coursework alongside their GPA, GRE scores, and other related requirements.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs

A certified occupational therapy assistant (OTA) in the state of Tennessee earns an average salary of $53,649 per year. For those interested in becoming an OTA, Tennessee offers four programs accredited by ACOTE. Below are those programs:

Nashville State Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
120 White Bridge Road, Suite D27
Nashville, TN 37209-4515
Piper.Sesnan@nscc.edu

  • Degree Level: Nashville State Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) for an OTA.
  • Credit Hours: The OTA program is two years in length, amounting to credit hours.
  • Tuition(In-state): Interested parties must inquire for more information.
  • Application Due Date: Applications for the Fall of 2020 have an extended due date of April 1st. However, applications typically must be received by an earlier date.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Interested applicants must first apply and be admitted to Nashville State Community College, as well as complete all required Learning Support and ESL classes. Instructions from there are provided in the program’s Application Information Packet.  

Concorde Career College-Memphis

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
5100 Poplar Avenue, Suite 132
Memphis, TN 38137-0132
(877) 735-2929

  • Degree Level: Concorde Career has many campuses offering an OTA program, including one in Memphis.
  • Credit Hours: The OTA program consists of 81.5 credit hours and can be completed in 19 months.
  • Tuition(In-state): Tuition for the program is estimated to be $18,792 in total. Additional costs include books and supplies, housing, and transportation.
  • Application Due Date: Interested parties must inquire to learn more.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Interested parties must inquire to learn more.

Jackson State Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
2046 North Parkway
Jackson, TN 38301-3722
jbezold@jscc.edu

  • Degree Level: Jackson State Community College offers a two-year OTA program in which graduates receive an A.A.S. degree.
  • Credit Hours: Students must complete 70 credit hours to graduate from the program.
  • Tuition(In-state): Tuition is priced at $168 per credit hour for in-state residents. The cost of the program is estimated to be $11,760 in total.
  • Application Due Date: Applications are due by May 31st each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Upon applying to the OTA program, students must include their GPA, ACT scores, and proof of completing a course in anatomy and physiology, among other requirements.

Roane State Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
701 Briarcliff Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
gergent@roanestate.edu

  • Degree Level: Roane State Community College hosts an A.A.S. degree for their OTA program. The program lasts two years in total, with one semester consisting of fieldwork.
  • Credit Hours: Students must complete 70 credit hours to graduate from Roane State’s OTA program.
  • Tuition(In-state): For in-state residents, Tuition is priced at $168 per credit hour. The cost of the program is estimated to be $11,760 in total.
  • Application Due Date: Applications are due by March 31st each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Academic, observation, and other such requirements can be found in the OTA Admissions Packet.