Want to become an occupational therapist? This is a great time to enter this field, and Indiana is a great place to do it. Indeed, the field is projected to grow by 25% in 10 years, which is much higher than the national average of 18%. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 3,000 occupational therapists in the state, and in 2018 they earned an estimated mean wage of $38.40 per hour; occupational therapy assistants earned an average of $26.96. While lower than the respective national averages of $41.04 and $29.04 for the year, these rates were higher than neighboring states Kentucky and Michigan for the same period.
If you want to be eligible to become an occupational therapist in The Hoosier State, you need to meet certain requirements and follow the licensing process. Licensing in Indiana is handled by the Occupational Therapy Committee (OTC), which is part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
The requirements you must meet before applying for a license include earning a degree in occupational therapy from an accredited school. You can browse the top occupational therapy schools in Indiana in the sections below. You must also pass the National Board of Occupational Therapists COTA examination, which involves a fee of $65.
If you’ve met the requirements outlined above, you’re ready to fill out an application. Note that this includes an application fee of $100, payable by check or money order to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. You can access the form on the OTC website, which will need to be printed out and mailed to:
Occupational Therapy Committee: Professional Licensing Agency
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
If you have any questions while completing this form, review the application instructions online or reach out to the OTC at (317) 234-8800.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Indianapolis
The state capital of Indiana, Indianapolis, has a population of over 2.4 million people, making it the most populous city in the state. The average occupational therapist wage was $37 per hour, or $74,000 per year, according to estimates for 2020. There are two accredited programs for prospective occupational therapists in Indianapolis.
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
420 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
shhs@iupui.edu
- Degree Level: IUPUI offers an occupational therapy doctoral program which consists of 106 credit hours across nine semesters.
- Tuition: In-state students will pay a fee of $560 per credit hour ($59,360 for 106 credit hours), while out-of-state students will pay a fee of $995 per credit hour ($105,470 for 106 credit hours).
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline for this program is September 15.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: If you’re interested in this program, review the eligibility requirements online.
University of Indianapolis
Master of Occupational Therapy Program & Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
khensley@uindy.edu
- Degree Level: The University of Indianapolis offers two entry-level programs: a master’s program and doctoral program of occupational therapy. The former (a 76 credit-hour curriculum) is focused on evidence-based practice, while the latter (a 105 credit-hour curriculum) is focused on research.
- Tuition: The master’s program tuition is $942 per credit hour, or $71,592 for the whole program. For the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program, the tuition cost is $29,548 for fall/winter semesters and $7,966 for summer terms.
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline for the master’s program is September 1, while the deadline for the doctoral program is October 1.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can review eligibility requirements for the master’s program and the doctoral program online. You can learn more about the application process for both programs on the university’s website as well.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Fort Wayne
The second most-populated city in the state is Fort Wayne. The average wage for occupational therapists in this city was $34.69 per hour, which calculates to $69,380 per year based on 2020 estimates. There is a single accredited occupational therapy program in Fort Wayne.
Huntington University
Occupational Therapist Doctoral Program & OT Assistant Program
1819 Carew St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
admissions@huntington.edu
- Degree Level: Huntington University is a Christian school that offers two programs: a three-year, entry-level doctoral program and a four-year occupational therapy assistant program. You can review admission requirements on the university‘s website.
- Tuition: Tuition costs for the doctoral program are $39,945 for the first and second year and $22,040 for the third. Tuition for the undergraduate OT assistant degree is $25,956 per year.
- Application Due Dates: The application due date for either program is August 1. International students must apply for the autumn semester by June 1 and the spring semester by November 1.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Individuals interested in the doctoral program can review admission requirements on the university‘s website. You can apply to Huntington University online.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Western Indiana
Some other accredited programs can be found along the western border of Indiana, next to the neighboring state of Illinois. Three programs are located in this region.
Indiana State University
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program
567 North 5th Street, Room 261
Terre Haute, IN 47809
Raine.Lee@indstate.edu
- Degree Level: Indiana State offers an entry-level master’s program that includes 81 credit hours to be completed over eight semesters.
- Tuition: In-state students will pay a fee of $419 per credit hour ($33,939 for 81 credit hours), while out-of-state students will pay a fee of $541 per credit hour ($43,821 for 81 credit hours).
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline is November 6.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can find an overview of the application process online, as well as any eligibility requirements.
University of Southern Indiana
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program & Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
515 Bob Jones Way
Evansville, IN 47708
cnhp.advisor@usi.edu
- Degree Level: Individuals looking to become occupational therapists should review the University of Southern Indiana’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program, while those looking to become OT assistants should assess its Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. The former is an entry-level, two-year (75 credit hours) master’s program, while the latter is a three-year program (48 credit hours) designed for either undergraduates or graduates.
- Tuition: In-state students must pay a fee of $492.76 per credit hour, while out-of-state students must pay $869.49 per credit hour. The total tuition cost of the master’s program is $36,957 for in-state students and $65,211.75 for out-of-state students. The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has a tuition of $23,652.48 for in-state students and $41,735.52 for out-of-state students.
- Application Due Dates: Applications for the master’s program must be submitted by February 15, while those interested in the OT assistant program must submit their applications by January 20.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Review application requirements for the master’s program or the OT assistant program online.
Vincennes University
Pre-Occupational Therapy Associate of Science Transfer
1002 North 1st Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
lseals@vinu.edu
- Degree Level: This two-year program is designed for freshmen undergraduates and it is intended to provide foundational knowledge for prospective occupational therapists. In the words of the university: “Our program is closely aligned with both IUPUI and USI’s Bachelor’s Degree requirements. You would complete your first two years of courses at Vincennes University, transfer and complete your Bachelor’s Degree, and then apply to IUPUI or USI.”
- Tuition: In-state freshmen and sophomores can expect to pay a tuition fee of $16.567.40 per school year, while out-of-state students will pay $24,398.
- Application Due Dates: Vincennes University accepts applications on a rolling basis, so there is no application deadline.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can find more information about the application process online.