Those attending occupational therapy schools are studying to become medical professionals that assist patients with mental, physical, or social disabilities that prohibit them from carrying out everyday tasks. These disabilities may have been present since birth, or may be related to accidents, illness, or aging. They can expect a wide variety of patients from young to elderly. The Department of Safety and Professional Services is responsible for licensure and occupational regulation of this profession in Wisconsin. In order to earn a license in occupational therapy in the state of Wisconsin, you will need to do the following:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in an occupational therapy assistant program that is accredited through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE);
- Carry out six months of training under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist within Wisconsin;
- Pass a criminal background check;
- Take and pass the National Board of Occupational Therapist examination;
- Find the online application for credentialing for the state of Wisconsin.
All documentation — such as $150 licensing fees, official transcripts, score reports, and application forms — should be mailed to:
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
If any additional issues arise, contact the department via phone or email:
Phone: (608) 266-2112
Email: dsps@wisconsin.gov
The average occupational salary in Wisconsin was $87,007 per year as of February 2020. This is right on par with the national average for occupational employment wages, and more than double the average occupational therapy assistant salary for the same period.
Those who choose to become occupational therapists need to go to an accredited program. The importance of accreditation is to recognize and validate a program or institution that meets — or goes beyond — the minimum standards of quality. Accredited programs help create parallel standards to follow in order to ensure a high quality of education. In Wisconsin, there are three accredited occupational therapy programs.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Mequon
Mequon is located in the eastern part of the state in Ozaukee County. The 2020 Mequon population was around 24,385. The average salary of occupational therapists in Mequon came in at $57,070 in 2020. There is one accredited occupational therapy program in Mequon.
Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia Wisconsin Campus
12800 N Lake Shore Drive
Mequon, WI 53097
admission@cuw.edu
Program: Masters of Occupational Therapy
School: Private
City: Mequon, Wisconsin
Contact: (262) 243-5700
Cost: $25,000/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the 31st largest city in the United States. It lies along the eastern side of the state and the Milwaukee population was 592,025 in 2020. The average occupational therapist salary in Milwaukee ranges between $73,000 and $102,000 per year, according to data from 2020. There is one accredited occupational therapy program in Milwaukee.
Mount Mary University
Mount Mary University
2900 North Menomonee River Pkwy
Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597
wisemanj@mtmary.edu
Program: Master/Doctorate of Science in Occupational Therapy
School: Private
City: Milwaukee, WI
Contact: (414) 930-3000
Cost: $19,000/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Madison
The current capital of the state, Madison, Wisconsin separates Lake Mendota and Lake Monona from one another. The population for Madison in 2020 was just over 250,000 people. Occupational therapist salaries in Madison averaged out at $86,918 per year in 2020. There is one accredited occupational therapy program in Madison.
University of Wisconsin
UW Department of Kinesiology
2000 Observatory Dr
Madison, WI 53706-1121
kines@education.wisc.edu
Program: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
School: Public
City: Madison, Wisconsin
Contact: (608) 263-2400
Cost: $20,000/year
Requirements: Admission Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Appleton
Appleton, Wisconsin is located in the north-eastern part of the state, and it overlooks the Fox River. The population in 2020 for Appleton was 74,526. The average occupational therapy assistant salary in Appleton ranges between $51,000 to $63,000, as of data collected in March 2020. There is one accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Appleton.
Fox Valley Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College
1825 N Bluemound Dr
Appleton, WI 54912-2277
Web Contact Form
Program: Occupational Therapy Assistant
School: Public
City: Appleton, Wisconsin
Contact: (920) 735-5600
Cost: $12,000/year
Requirements: Admission Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Madison
As stated above, the population of Madison comes in at around 250,000 and it is the current capital of Wisconsin. The average salary for occupational therapy assistants in Madison was $58,108 based on 2020 estimates. There is one accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Madison.
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College
1701 Wright St
Madison, WI 53704
Web Contact Form
Program: Occupational Therapy Assistant
School: Public
City: Madison, Wisconsin
Contact: (608) 246-6100
Cost: $11,000/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Milwaukee
To reiterate from above, Milwaukee has the largest city population in Wisconsin at just under 600,000 people. The salary for occupational therapy assistants in Milwaukee ranges from $53,000 to $65,000 per year based on 2020 data. There is one accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 W State St
Milwaukee, WI 53233
info@mathc.edu
Program: Occupational Therapy Assistant
School: Public
City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Contact: (414) 297-6282
Cost: $8,865/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Ashland
Ashland, Wisconsin is located between two counties in the state: Ashland County and Bayfield County. In 2020, the population of Ashland was 15,513. The average hourly wage for occupational therapy assistants in Wisconsin was $20.87 in 2020. At forty hours a week, that comes out to about $44,000 per year. There is one accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Ashland.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College – Ashland
2100 Beaser Ave
Ashland, WI 54806
ashland.admissions@witc.edu
Program: Occupational Therapy Assistant
School: Public
City: Ashland, Wisconsin
Contact: (715) 682-4591
Cost: $13,732/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin lies along the Mississippi River in the western part of the state. The 2020 population in La Crosse was around 51,000 people. The salary for occupational therapists in La Crosse averages out at around $79,000 in 2020, with highs of $90,000+ and lows of about $66,000.
Western Technical College
Western Technical College
400 7th Street North
La Crosse, WI 54601
HetherD@westerntc.edu
Program: Occupational Therapy Assistant
School: Public
City: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Contact: (608) 785-9200
Cost: $9,777/year
Requirements: Admissions Requirements