The state of Kentucky has 6 schools in total that offer programs in occupational therapy; 3 of those programs provide entry-level master degrees, while the other 3 provide an associate, allowing graduates to become certified occupational therapy assistants. Licensure is administered through the state, with aspiring occupational therapists needing to receive an education through an accredited school. Once they’ve successfully completed a program, applicants apply for their license through the Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapists. The time it takes to complete all certification requirements depends largely on the degree.

Occupational therapists in Kentucky make an average salary of $82,816 per year, slightly higher than their neighbors in Tennessee and West Virginia. Throughout several U.S. states, occupational therapists earn high salaries, making it a lucrative career choice. According to the Kentucky Occupational Outlook To 2024, occupational therapy is one of the fastest-growing fields in the state, and is expected to keep growing.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Richmond

Richmond, Kentucky lies just over 50 miles southeast of Frankfurt, the state’s capital. The average salary for an occupational therapist in this area is $82,191 per year. Eastern Kentucky University is the only school in this area offering occupational therapy programs.  

Eastern Kentucky University

Department of Occupational Therapy
Dizney 103
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475-3135
ot@eku.edu

  • Degree Levels: Kentucky State University offers three degree levels for occupational therapy, those being: the Undergraduate Program in Occupational Science, the Entry Level Graduate Programs in Occupational Therapy, and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program begins courses 3 times per year.
  • Credit Hours: Credit hours for the graduate programs are as follows: 61 hours for the Entry Level Graduate Program and 40 hours for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy. The Undergraduate Program, on the other hand, is achieved through the typical four-year college career, with general education requirements included.
  • Tuition(In-state): The total cost of tuition is estimated to be $37,776 for a two-year postgraduate program; this includes meals, books, and supplies, among other costs. The estimated cost of the undergraduate program is $8,379, excluding two years of general education requirements. Tuition for the doctorate program is set at $675 per credit, with 40-61 required credits depending on current degree standing.
  • Application Due Dates: Applications for the undergraduate program are due by March 15th of each year. The online doctorate degree program begins courses 3 times per year
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Each program entails its own prerequisites and requirements. Refer to the foregoing links for details.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Louisville

The biggest city in Kentucky, Louisville sits far north on the state’s border with Ohio. The average salary of an OTD therapist in Louisville is $83,145 per year. Spalding University is the only school in Louisville to offer postgraduate degrees in occupational therapy. However, Jefferson Community and Technical College offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program for those interested.

Spalding University

Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy
845 South Third Street
Louisville, KY 40203-2188
ASOT@spalding.edu

  • Degree Level: Spalding University offers an Entry-Level and a Post-Professional Program that leads to a Doctor of Occupational Therapy.
  • Credit Hours: 110 credit hours (84 didactic hours and 26 clinical hours)
  • Tuition(in-state): $900 per credit; $99,000 for the total program
  • Application Due Dates: Applications for the Entry-Level OTD program are due between December and February of the following year, for each year. Applications for the Post-Professional OTD Program are due by late April of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Application requirements and prerequisites are dependent on whether you are applying to the Entry-Level or Post-Professional OTD Program.

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Downtown Campus
109 East Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202-2005
pam.smithy@kctcs.edu

  • Degree Level: Jefferson Community and Technical College offers an Occupation Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program to interested applicants.
  • Credit Hours: 67 credits total; 35 hours of OTA credits; 32 hours of general education credits
  • Tuition(in-state): $174 per credit hour; $11,658 for the total program
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are due in October of each year, with a new class beginning each following spring.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Admissions requirements are conducted on a points system, with the highest GPAs, ACT scores, and degrees being awarded the most points. Further information can be found on the school’s Curriculum Guide page.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Paducah

Murray State University is located in the southwest corner of the state in the town of the same name. The average salary of an OTD therapist in Murray is $63,274 per year. Murray State University is the only school of its kind to offer OTD programs in the town.

Murray State University

Occupational Therapy Program
4430 Sunset Avenue
Paducah, KY 42001-4805
spowers8@murraystate.edu

  • Degree Level: Murray State University offers a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. The university also has traditional and accelerated tracks for the program. The accelerated, or 3+2, track, is intended for students with no bachelor’s degree from a related field; through this track, students earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. The traditional track, on the other hand, is solely a master’s program.
  • Credit Hours: N/A
  • Tuition(in-state): $600 per hour
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are generally open from mid-July to mid-January of the following year, with admitted students beginning in the fall semester.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Admission requirements for Murray State’s OTD program are dependent on whether you are applying to the traditional or accelerated track.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Madisonville

A home rule-class city, Madisonville sits in the western part of the state. In Madisonville, an OTA averages a salary of $48,798 per year. Madisonville Community College is the only school in the town that offers an OTA program.

Madisonville Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
750 North Laffoon Street
Madisonville, KY 42431-1636
kim.qualls@kctcs.edu

  • Degree Level: Madisonville Community College’s OTA program provides successful graduates with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS). The program can be completed in 18 months.
  • Credit Hours: N/A
  • Tuition(in-state): N/A
  • Application Due Dates: Interested parties must inquire for more information.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants are required to send in information regarding their high school transcript and SAT scores, among other OTA-specific requirements.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Hopkinsville

Situated in the southwestern part of Kentucky, Ross College lies close to the state’s Tennessee border. The average salary of an OTA in the area is $53,538 per year. Ross College is the only school of its kind in the area to offer an OTA program.

Ross College in Hopkinsville

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
4001 Ft. Campbell Boulevard
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
(866) 815-5578

  • Degree Level: Ross College’s OTA program offers admitted students the opportunity to complete an AAS degree. The programs run for 92 weeks. Successful graduates are eligible to take the certification exam for OTAs through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
  • Credit Hours: N/A
  • Tuition(in-state): N/A
  • Application Due Dates: Interested parties must inquire for more information.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: N/A