To become an occupational therapist (OT) or an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) in the state of Massachusetts, you must be certified by the Allied Health Professionals Licensing Board. Before seeking state licensure, you must first attend an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy school to get a degree and meet the minimum qualifications to pass the necessary NBCOT exam.

The occupational therapy industry works to provide treatment and enhance, overcome, and maintain everyday life and work skills for people that may experience physical, cognitive, or mental disorders. The occupations in this industry are both demanding and rewarding. The job outlook for occupational therapists is projected to grow at 18% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapist salaries in the U.S., as of 2019, differ by state, though the national average is $84,270. The average salary for Massachusetts is lower than the national average at $78,998.

The employment outlook for occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow at an even faster rate than occupational therapists, at 31% from 2018 to 2028. The estimated average salary of occupational therapy assistants in the U.S. was $60,220 based on 2018 data, only slightly higher than the average salary for OTA’s in Massachusetts, which was $58,302.

The highly anticipated growth of this industry and its typically high annual salaries make the occupational therapy industry an appealing choice for those looking to pursue a career in healthcare. The first step towards entering this field of employment is selecting the best occupational therapy program.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Springfield

Springfield is in western Massachusetts alongside the Connecticut River and is well known as the birthplace of basketball. Springfield is only four miles from the Connecticut state line and has two schools with occupational therapy degree programs. In 2020, occupational therapists in Springfield made an average salary of $92,307. In 2020, the average salary for an occupational therapy assistant in Springfield was $62,277. There is one school in Springfield that offers an occupational therapy assistant degree.

American International College

School of Health Sciences
1000 State Street
Springfield, Ma 01109

For more information, contact Kelsey Sgarlata at kelsey.sgarlata@aic.edu, or call (413) 205-3320. For the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, contact allison.sullivan@aic.edu.

  • Degree Level: The American International College offers multiple degree programs for occupational therapy including a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (BS, MSOT) and a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). The Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy has two tracks. Track one is a combined track that takes 5 years to complete both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Track two is a Master of Science Degree that takes three years to complete. The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate is designed to take only 21 months.
  • Tuition: BSOT/MSOT program is $21,910 per term until the final year of the MSOT which is $16,430 for the spring term and $5,480 for the summer term. The OTD program is $1,070 per credit.
  • Application Due Dates: N/A
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: N/A

Springfield College

Department of Occupational Therapy
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109-3739

For more information, contact Diane Carignan at ot@springfield.edu or (413) 748-3581.

Springfield Technical Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant
One Armory Square
Springfield, MA 01102
For more information contact, (413)781-7822

  • Degree Level: Springfield Technical Community College offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate of Science degree with an estimated program length of two years, with total completion of 68 credits.
  • Tuition: Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time.
  • Application Due Dates: Application dates may vary by year and by start date.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Admission requirements include proof of high school transcript, GED, or HISET, a short essay, SAT scores.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in East Longmeadow

East Longmeadow is located five miles south of Springfield and is known for its famous brownstone and redstone quarries. In 2020, occupational therapists in East Longmeadow made an average salary of $92,307. There is one school that offers an occupational therapy program in this city.

Baypath University-East Longmeadow Campus

Masters of Occupational Therapy
588 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106

For more information call (413) 565-1331 or email graduate@baypath.edu.

  • Degree Level: There are multiple ways to pursue a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree at Bay Path University. If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you may pursue a Master of Occupational Therapy Degree, which consists of 85 credits. There is also a Master of Occupational Therapy – Bridge program. The bridge program has two tracks. The MOT Bridge track one for students with an Associate’s degree and at least one year of full-time work experience as an OTA or PTA. The MOT bridge track one consists of 101 credits. The MOT Bridge track two is for students with an Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree and one full year of full-time work experience as an OTA or PTA. The MOT bridge track two consists of 70 credits.
  • Tuition: The total estimated cost to complete an MOT degree is $124,547. The total estimated cost to complete an MOT track one degree is $142,403. The total estimated cost to complete an MOT track two-degree is $108,922.
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may be subject to annual changes.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Each program entails a specific set of requirements and prerequisites.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Weston

The town of Weston is only 15 miles from downtown Boston, and nearly equidistant from New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The town is known for its residential feel, with a large emphasis on preservation of historic areas, parks, fields, wetlands, and forests.

Regis College

Occupational Therapy
235 Wellesley Street
Weston MA 02493

For more information contact (781) 768-7000, or email graduatedepartment@regiscollege.edu.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Salem

Salem is known for its maritime history as well as the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692. In 2020, the average salary for occupational therapists in Salem was $99,590.

Salem State University

Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970

For more information call (978) 542-6630 or email sami.ansari@salemstate.edu.

  • Degree Level: Salem State University offers two options for a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. There is an OT undergraduate/graduate degree bridge program that is available to those who have an Associate’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited school. The total credit accumulation for the bridge program is roughly 160 credits. Salem State University also offers a direct entry graduate degree program. This program is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree and accumulates 93 credits.
  • Tuition: Tuition and fees are subject to change by year. The following may is for 2019-2020:
    • In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $11,284.
    • Out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $18,064.80.
    • In-state graduate tuition and fees are approximately $8,460.
    • Out-of-state graduate tuition and fees are approximately $10,080
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are accepted to the bridge program on a rolling basis. Applications to the direct MSOT program may change on an annual basis. Contact admissions@salemstate.edu or call (978) 572-6200.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Each program and application has different requirements and prerequisite coursework.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Medford

The city of Medford in Massachusetts is one of the oldest English settlements in the United States. Medford rests on the Mystic River and is known for being the home of Tufts University, which has one occupational therapy program. In 2020, the average salary of occupational therapists in the city of Medford was $73,522.

Tufts University

Department of Occupational Therapy
574 Boston Avenue
Medford, MA 02155

For more information contact (617) 627-6259, or BSOT@tufts.edu.

  • Degree Level: Tufts University offers three degree programs, as well as certification programs.
    • Entry-level Doctoral Program: This program is designed for students entering with a degree in a field other than occupational therapy. It is a full-time, nine-semester program.
    • Post-Professional Master’s Degree: The Post-Professional Master’s degree is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. This program is available on a full-time or part-time basis and requires the completion of 30 total credit hours.
    • Post-Professional Doctoral Program: The Post-Professional Doctoral Program is designed for those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in occupational therapy. The program may be completed on a full or part-time basis and requires the completion of 30 credit hours.
    • Certificate Programs: The part-time Certificate of Advanced Professional Study is designed for occupational therapists who are looking to expand and strengthen their experience. There are multiple certification programs available.
  • Tuition: Tuition and aid vary by program, certification, and ancillary fees.
  • Application Due Dates: Application deadlines vary by program, full and part-time attendance, and when you intend to start.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applications and prerequisites vary by program. Refer to the above links for more information.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Worcester

Worcester has a central location in Massachusetts, it is known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth.” Its central location makes the occupational programs in Worcester, Massachusetts the closest occupational programs in MA to the states of Vermont and New York. There are two accredited occupational therapy schools in Worcester; one that offers a master’s degree, and one that offers an associate’s. In 2020, the average occupational therapist salary in Worcester was $93,013. In 2020, the average salary for a certified occupational therapist assistant in Worcester is $62,295.

Worcester State University

School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences
Department of Occupational Therapy
Ghosh Science & Technology Center
486 Chandler St, Suite ST-210
Worcester, MA 01602

For more information contact (508) 929-8624. For information specific to the graduate program, contact (508) 929-8895 or email ttrudell@worcester.edu.

  • Degree Level: The Worcester State Department of Occupational Therapy offers two OT degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies, and a Master of Occupational Therapy. It is important to note that only the MSOT is accredited to allow graduates to sit for the national examination administered by the NBCOT, which is necessary for a license to practice in most states. The BSOT may be completed to fulfill prerequisites for the MSOT program but does not guarantee entrance. The following information will only represent the accredited three-year, nine-semester, MSOT program.
  • Tuition: Graduate students may expect to pay $169 per credit hour, along with additional costs and fees.
  • Application Due Dates: Applicants that are applying for post-baccalaureate admission must complete applications by March 1st. Current occupational studies students that are applying on conditional terms must complete applications by July 1st.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants to the graduate program must complete all prerequisite courses with a C or better and must have maintained a GPA of 3.0. Applicants must present scores on the verbal quantitative and writing sections of the GRE around the 50th percentile.

Quinsigamond Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
670 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA 01606

For more information contact (508) 853-2300 or otassistant@qcc.mas.edu.

  • Degree Level: Quinsigamond Community College offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associates in Science Degree. The program typically takes four semesters or two years to complete 68 credits.
  • Tuition: Tuition may vary by semester and year. Tuition and fees cost approximately $205 for in-state, $411 for out-of-state or international students.
  • Application Due Dates: For more information on due dates admission, and enrollment, contact admissions@qcc.mass.edu.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Admission requirements for applicants include a highschool diploma or GED, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisite Math, English, and Biology courses must have a grade of B or higher. If the student has no college-level courses they must take a Math and English placement test.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in New Bedford

The city of New Bedford is known as nicknamed “The Whaling City,” as it was once one of the world’s most important whaling ports in the nineteenth century. In 2020, the average salary of certified occupational therapist assistants in New Bedford was $62,355 per year.

Bristol Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
800 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

For more information contact (774) 357-4000, or email newbedford@bristolcc.edu. You may also contact the Department Chair and Professor of Occupational Therapy Johanna Duponte at johanna.duponte@bristolcc.edu.

  • Degree Level: Bristol Community College offers an Associate in Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree. The program requires completion of 73 credits. The courses are offered as both traditional and hybrid. All options are located in New Bedford. The program generally requires two years till completion, and all courses must be taken in the predetermined sequence.
  • Tuition: The total cost of tuition and fees per credit hour for Bristol Community College is $199 per credit.
  • Application Due Dates: N/A
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program requires the completion of pre-admission courses, which must be completed with a grade of B- or better. Applicants are required to attend a program information meeting upon admission.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Danvers

The town of Danvers is located on the Danvers River. The town was originally known as Salem village and is widely associated with the Salem witch trials. In 2020, the average occupational therapy assistant salary in Danvers was $68,610 per year.

North Shore Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1 Ferncroft Rd
Danvers, MA 01923

For more information contact the Department Chair of the OTA program, Maureen Nardella at (978) 762-4176, or mnardella@northshore.edu. For information on admissions, applications, and tuition, contact info@northshore.edu or call (978) 762-4160.

  • Degree Level: North Shore Community College offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate Degree in two options: traditional and fast track. The traditional option is a full-time option that is designed to be completed in two years, or three years as a part-time student. The accelerated option is a full-time program that is designed to be completed in an extended three-semester format that takes roughly 14 months. The total program credits amount to 70.
  • Tuition: N/A
  • Application Due Dates: N/A
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Students must complete pre-requisite classes with a minimum of “C” or higher prior to application to the program.