Interested in becoming an occupational therapist? Now’s the ideal time, as the projected 10-year growth of the field is 18%, making it a very secure field to get into. In Michigan, this number is even higher, at 23%. According to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor of Statistics, there were just under 4,600 occupational therapists in Michigan, which represented 3.6% of all occupational therapists in the nation. They earned a mean hourly wage of $37.47. While lower than the national average, this is higher than Missouri, Florida, or North Carolina.
How can you become eligible to become an occupational therapist in Michigan? Which schools are accredited and able to put you on the path to success in this field? This guide will help you find the answers to these questions.
The Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists is responsible for the licensure of occupational therapists in the state. Those looking to become an occupational therapist in the Great Lakes State need to meet some requirements before they can be licensed. You must have:
- Earned a degree in occupational therapy from an accredited school;
- Worked for at least two months under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist;
- Passed the National Board of Occupational Therapists COTA examination;
- Two professional references;
- Passed a criminal background check;
- Passed a brief “moral character” questionnaire to confirm that you will perform your role as an occupational therapist in an ethical manner.
You can find the application online. Note that completing it requires a fee of $102.70 via check or money order, payable to the State of Michigan. If you need more information on the license application process, consult the Michigan Occupational Therapist Licensing Guide, provided by the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Detroit
The most populous city in Michigan, Detroit is popular for its extensive automotive and musical histories. It’s also a great place to be an occupational therapist, as the median salary for the occupation in this city was $90,340, or $45.17 per hour, as of early 2020. This is 7% higher than the national average. There are two accredited occupational therapy programs in Detroit.
Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor’s/Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy Programs
Marshall Building, Room 353
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
sholt5@emich.edu
- Degree Level: Both of these programs are designed to help individuals looking to become occupational therapists. The undergraduate degree (58-60 credit hours) provides a foundational understanding of occupational therapy, while the master’s program (71 credit hours) helps students become certified and ready to enter the workforce.
- Tuition: All undergraduate courses have a tuition fee of $437.50 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,070 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Graduate courses have a tuition fee per credit hour of $787.50 to $908 for in-state students and $1,400 to $1,585 for out-of-state students.
- Application Due Dates: Domestic and international students must apply by July 1 for programs beginning in autumn, and by November 1 for programs beginning in the winter. Domestic students should apply by April 1 for classes starting in winter, whereas international students have a deadline of March 1.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can apply for either program online at the Eastern Michigan University website.
Wayne State University
Master’s of Occupational Therapy Program
259 Mack Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
ad8560@wayne.edu
- Degree Level: This master’s program has a 2+3 structure, meaning it is a dual-degree program that allows students to earn a combination of a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with fewer credit hours than would traditionally be required for each individually. This entry-level program enables students to graduate and enter the workforce as a fully-credentialed occupational therapist in as little as five years.
- Tuition: The in-state graduate tuition rate is $657.51, while the out-of-state rate is $1,424.18.
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline is November 1 of each year.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: If you want to review admission requirements, you can do so on the program’s brochure. You can find application instructions on the Wayne State website.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Grand Rapids
The second-largest city in Michigan is Grand Rapids. The many historical sites in the area, as well as the Grand River itself, brings thousands of tourists to the area each year. As with Detroit, occupational therapists in Grand Rapids also earned a higher median salary than the national average: $86,029, or $43.01 per hour, as of early 2020. There are two accredited programs in Grand Rapids for aspiring occupational therapists.
Grand Valley State University
Master of Occupational Therapy Program
Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall
500 Lafayette Ave NE, Suite 204
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
OSTgrad@gvsu.edu
- Degree Level: The two-year master’s program (60 credit hours) is an entry-level degree for prospective occupational therapists. You review the specifics for this program at the Grand Valley State University website. Further, there is an OT Hybrid Program, designed for nontraditional students, that covers all pre-professional requirements. This program covers the same content as the master’s program, but it takes place over three years instead of two.
- Tuition: The tuition rate per credit hour is $733, meaning the overall program will have an approximate tuition cost of $43,980.
- Application Due Dates: For the master’s program, you must apply by February 1. The deadline for the OT Hybrid Program is January 15.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can view prerequisites for eligibility here. If you have any admissions questions, you can email chpss@gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-5900. You must apply online.
Western Michigan University
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program
200 Ionia Avenue, SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy & Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Program
1903 W. Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Program contact: Sarah Anderson
- Degree Level: Both the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo branches of Western Michigan University offer a master’s degree for aspiring occupational therapists. The Kalamazoo location also offers a 4+1 dual-degree program that enables students to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services in four years, then a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy in just one more year.
- Tuition: The tuition rates vary for residents and non-residents, and the fees also vary depending on when you enroll. Review the tuition rates on the Western Michigan University website.
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline for both the graduate degree and the 4+1 program is January 15.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can see prerequisites for both programs on their respective pages linked to above. Those interested in applying can do so online.
Other Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Michigan
There are other accredited occupational therapy programs in the state to consider. Take a look at the schools below for further options.
Baker College
Master of Occupational Therapy Program in Flint
1116 West Bristol Road
Flint, MI 48507-5508
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program in Allen Park
4500 Enterprise Drive
Allen Park, MI 48101
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program in Muskegon
1903 Marquette Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49442-1490
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program in Owosso
1020 S. Washington St.
Owosso, MI 48867
GetEnrolled@baker.edu
- Degree Level: Different branches of this institution offer accredited programs for those seeking to become either an occupational therapist (the Flint branch) or an occupational therapy assistant (the Allen Park, Muskegon, and Owosso branches). The first is an entry-level master’s program encompassing 38 credit hours, while the second is a program of 28 credit hours. In addition to these programs, the college offers a four-year Pre-Occupational Therapy Bachelor’s Program, which provides foundational knowledge for those looking to enter the field.
- Tuition: Undergraduate courses incur a fee of $405 per credit hour, while master’s degree courses have a fee of $695 per credit hour.
- Application Due Dates: Those wishing to apply to a program at Baker College must do so by September 19 in order to begin in the fall.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can apply for any of the programs listed above, as well as review the prerequisite for each, by visiting the Baker College website.
Saginaw Valley State University
Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy
7400 Bay Road
Saginaw, MI 48710
gradadm@svsu.edu
- Degree Level: Saginaw’s Master in Occupational Therapy program is also an entry-level program that prepares individuals for a career in the field. It is a two-year, 68-credit-hour program. They also offer a post-baccalaureate master’s degree option for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, and this program requires a minimum of 34 credit hours.
- Tuition: For graduate courses, Michigan residents are charged a tuition fee of $622.90 per credit hour (approximately $42,357.20 for the program), while non-residents must pay $1,184.60 per credit hour (around $80,552.80 for the program).
- Application Due Dates: The application deadline for the 2020-2021 academic year is not yet available. The deadline will be published online when it is determined.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can review prerequisites for this program online. You can also check out the application instructions — a process that can be completed online.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Detroit
Occupational therapists in Detroit also earn more than the national average; while the national median pay is $57,620 per year ($28.81 per hour), the median pay in Detroit is $60,505 ($30.25 per hour) as of early 2020. There is one accredited school that offers an occupational therapy assistant program.
Macomb Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
14500 E. 12 Mile Road
Warren, MI 48088
resseguieb@macomb.edu
- Degree Level: Macomb Community College offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program (approximately 60 credit hours), which awards an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy. Graduates should be prepared to take the NBCOT exam to become certified to perform work as an occupational therapy assistant.
- Tuition & Application Due Dates: A comprehensive list of registration due dates and tuition costs can be found on the college’s website. Residents of Macomb County pay a tuition rate of $102 per credit hour, while other in-state students pay $190 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay a rate of $242 per credit hour.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Look into this program, including its prerequisites and application requirements, at the college’s site.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Grand Rapids
In Grand Rapids, occupational therapy assistants earn a median wage of $57,617 ($45.17 per hour) as of early 2020. There is one school in Grand Rapids offering a program for those looking to become an occupational therapy assistant.
Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC)
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
143 Bostwick Avenue NE
Grand Rapids MI 49503
mmekkes@grcc.edu
- Degree Level: This is a two-year undergraduate program designed to get students prepared for work as an occupational therapy assistant.
- Tuition: There is an in-state tuition of $115 per contact hour and an out-of-state tuition of $245 per contact hour. The estimated program total cost is $11,727, and you view a detailed breakdown of these expenses on the GRCC website.
- Application Due Dates: Students must have applied and paid tuition by August 5 to attend this program during the fall (which is the only time it is offered in the academic year).
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: If you’re interested in enrolling in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, you can view admission requirements and apply online.
Other Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Michigan
In addition to the above programs, there is an additional accredited school offering an occupational therapy assistant program in the state.
Mott Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1401 E. Court Street
Flint, MI 48503
kimberly.jeffries@mcc.edu
- Degree Level: Like the other occupational therapy assistant programs in this list, Mott Community College’s program is designed to equip students with the skills and certifications they will need to enter the workforce. This two-year, entry-level program will confer an Associate’s of Applied Science.
- Tuition: This college charges a tuition rate of $143.58 per contact hour for in-district students, $183.40 for out-of-district students, and $261.40 for out-of-state students. The overall estimated cost of the program is $18,296.26 for in-district students.
- Application Due Dates: The application due date depends on the term that you are applying for. Review the academic/registration calendar, and be sure to apply before the deadline.
- Prerequisites/Application Requirements: You can apply for this program online. If you experience difficulties during the application process, you can contact admissions at (810)-235-5533. You can view eligibility requirements online.