Occupational therapy licensing and regulation is handled on a state level in Illinois by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In order to obtain an occupational therapy license in the state of Illinois, aspiring occupational therapists must (at minimum) hold a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, provide proof of at least 6 months of supervised fieldwork, and pass the NBCOT OTR exam.

According to the 2018 report on occupational employment statistics for Illinois, there were approximately 5,230 practicing occupational therapists in the state. The median hourly wage for occupational therapists was $40.78, and the average annual income was $83,940. This is very similar to the income of occupational therapists in neighboring Iowa, Kentucky, and Indiana, as well as the average annual income of occupational therapists in the United States at large. It is also slightly higher than the income of occupational therapists in nearby Missouri, and much higher than the average income of occupational therapists in Wisconsin.

There are no recent reports about the demand for occupational therapists in the state of Illinois. However, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 18% from 2018-2028 nationwide.

Practitioners in this field can be either an occupational therapist or a certified occupational therapy assistant.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois, and one of the largest cities in the United States. The average income of an occupational therapist in Chicago is about $45 per hour and $93,461 per year. There are 3 schools that offer occupational therapy programs in Chicago: Chicago State University, Rush University, and University of Illinois.

Chicago State University

Chicago State University Occupational Therapy
9501 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60628
grad-admissions@csu.edu

Chicago State University offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and a combined Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Master of Occupational Therapy (BS/MOT). A master’s degree takes approximately 6 years to obtain. Graduate tuition is $325 per credit, and the acceptance rate is about 78%.

Rush University

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
600 S. Paulina St.
Chicago, Illinois 60612
gc_admissions@rush.edu

Rush University offers an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). Doctorate degrees take approximately 8 years to obtain. Tuition for this program is $13,789 per term. The acceptance rate at Rush University is about 37%.

University of Illinois at Chicago

Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Applied Health Sciences
1919 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60612
gradcoll@uic.edu

University of Illinois at Chicago offers a Master of Science (MS) in occupational therapy and a post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). A master’s degree usually takes 6 years to obtain, while a doctorate usually takes 8 years to obtain. Tuition and fees are about $44,574 per year for the OTD program. The acceptance rate at University of Illinois at Chicago is about 77%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Downers Grove

Downers Grove is a village in northern Illinois. The average income of an occupational therapist in Downers Grove is about $45 per hour and $93,109 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Downers Grove is Midwestern University – Downers Grove Campus.

Midwestern University – Downers Grove Campus

Occupational Therapy Program
College of Health Sciences
555 31st Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
admissil@midwestern.edu

Midwestern University offers an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). It takes about 8 years to obtain a doctorate degree. Tuition for this program is about $45,752 per year. The acceptance rate at Midwestern University is not publicly available information.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Elmhurst

Elmhurst is a city to the northwest of Chicago. There is little information available about the income of occupational therapists in Elmhurst. However, the average annual income of an occupational therapist in nearby Chicago is about $45 per hour and $93,461 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Elmhurst is Elmhurst College.

Elmhurst College

Elmhurst College Occupational Therapy
190 Prospect Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
admit@elmhurst.edu

Elmhurst College offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT). It takes about 6 years to complete a master’s program. The annual tuition for this program is about $33,500. The acceptance rate is about 71%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in University Park

University Park is a suburb of Chicago. There is little information available about the income of occupational therapists in University Park. However, the average annual income of occupational therapists in Chicago is about $45 per hour and $93,461 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in University Park is Governors State University.

Governors State University

Department of Occupational Therapy
1 University Parkway,
University Park, IL 60484-0975
admission@govst.edu

Governors State University offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT). A master’s degree takes about 6 years to complete, while a doctorate takes about 8 years to complete. Tuition for the doctorate program is approximately $797 per credit for residents. The acceptance rate at Governors State University is about 66%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Bedford Park

Bedford Park is a very small village. There is little information available about the income of occupational therapy assistants in Bedford Park. However, the average annual income of occupational therapy assistants in nearby Chicago is about $30 per hour and $62,596 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Bedford Park is Fox College.

Fox College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
6640 S Cicero Ave
Bedford Park, Illinois 60638

Fox College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy. An associate degree takes about 2 years to complete. Tuition is about $15,000, and the acceptance rate is about 61%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Champaign

Champaign Illinois is a college town that plays host to two major college campuses. The average annual income of occupational therapy assistants in Champaign is $27 per hour and $55,474 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Champaign is Parkland College.

Parkland College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
2400 West Bradley Avenue
Champaign, IL 61821
hpinquiry@parkland.edu

Parkland College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy. Associate degrees take about 2 years to complete. Tuition for Illinois residents is about $386 per credit. The acceptance rate is 100%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Chicago

The average annual income of occupational therapy assistants in nearby Chicago is about $30 per hour and $62,596 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Chicago is Wright College.

Wright College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
4300 N. Narragansett Ave
Chicago, IL 60634

Wright College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy (75 credits). This will take approximately 2 years to complete. In-district tuition is about $1,752 per semester. The acceptance rate is about 97%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a city in northern Illinois. The average annual income of an occupational therapy assistant in Crystal Lake is about $28 per hour and $59,082 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Crystal Lake is McHenry County College.

McHenry County College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
8900 US-14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012
OTAINFO@mchenry.edu

McHenry County College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy (72 credits). This will take approximately 2 years to complete. Tuition is about $13,566 total for in-district residents. The acceptance rate is 100%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Godfrey

Godfrey is a small city in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. There is little available information about the income of occupational therapy assistants in Godfrey. However, the average income of occupational therapy assistants in St. Louis is about $28 per hour and $58,143 per year.

Lewis & Clark Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
5800 Godfrey Road
Godfrey, Illinois 62035
dwitsken@lc.edu

Lewis & Clark Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy. Associate programs take about 2 years to complete. In-district tuition is about $125 per credit. The acceptance rate is 100%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Herrin

Herrin is a small city in southern Illinois. The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Herrin is about $23 per hour and $54,123 per year. The only accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Herrin is at Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market.

Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
3213 South Park Avenue
Herrin, IL 62948
siccm@siccm.com

Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market offers an occupational therapy assistant program. Such programs usually take 2 years to complete. Tuition varies. The acceptance rate for this institution is not publicly available information.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Peoria

Peoria is a city along the Illinois River. The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Peoria is about $27 per hour and $57,039 per year. The only accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Peoria is at Illinois Central College.

Illinois Central College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1 College Dr
East Peoria, IL 61635-0001
info@icc.edu

Illinois Central College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in occupational therapy (66 credits). Associate programs usually take 2 years to complete. Tuition for in-district residents is about $125 per credit. The acceptance rate is 100%.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in South Holland

South Holland is a small village south of Chicago. There is little available information about the average income of occupational therapy assistants in South Holland, but the average income of occupational therapy assistants in nearby Chicago is about $30 per hour and $62,596 per year. The only accredited occupational therapy assistant program in South Holland is at South Suburban College of Cook County.

South Suburban College of Cook County

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
15800 South State Street
South Holland, Illinois 60473-1200

South Suburban College offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in occupational therapy. The program consists of 69 credits, and takes approximately 2 years to complete. In-district tuition is about $2,280. Information about this institution’s acceptance rate is not publicly available.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Springfield

Springfield is the capital of Illinois. The average income of occupational therapy assistants in Springfield is about $26 per hour and $54,906 per year. The only accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Springfield is at Lincoln Land Community College.

Lincoln Land Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
5250 Shepherd Rd.
Springfield, IL 62794-9256
info@llcc.edu

Lincoln Land Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in occupational therapy. Associate degrees usually take 2 years to obtain. In-district tuition is about $133 per credit. The acceptance rate is 100%.