Occupational therapy licensing is handled on a state level in Wyoming through the Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy. The board reviews the credentials of applicants and sets regulations and professional guidelines for those practicing in the field.
Occupational therapists in the state of Wyoming must have the following educational credentials:
- Entry-level master’s degree in occupational therapy or OTD degree;
- Program-approved in-field experience.
They must present documentation of these educational credentials, submit an application, and pass a certification exam. It takes approximately 5 to 6 years to complete the training needed to become an occupational therapist.
According to a 2018 report on occupational employment and wage estimates in
Wyoming from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was estimated that 320 practicing occupational therapists resided in the state of Wyoming (with a relative standard error of 24.4% on this survey estimate) as of 2018. The median hourly wage for occupational therapists was $38.12, and the average annual wage was approximately $82,010. This is very similar to the income of occupational therapists in neighboring Utah, as well as the $85,350 national annual income for occupational therapists in the United States at large. However, it is significantly less than the average annual income of occupational therapists in nearby Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado.
There are no recent reports about the demand for occupational therapists in the state of Wyoming. However, according to an Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 18% from 2018-2028 nationwide.
Practitioners in this field can be either occupational therapists, or certified occupational therapy assistants.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Casper
Casper, Wyoming, is the second-largest city in the state. The average income of an occupational therapist in Casper is about $38 per hour, and $78,524 per year. Meanwhile, the average income of a certified occupational therapy assistant in Casper is $27.56 per hour, and $63,868 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in not only Casper, but in the entire state is the University of North Dakota at Casper College.
University of North Dakota at Casper College
University of North Dakota Occupational Therapy
School of Medicine & Health Sciences
125 College Drive
Casper, WY 82601
admissions@caspercollege.edu
The University of North Dakota offers an undergraduate degree in pre-occupational therapy (90 credits) and a doctorate of occupational therapy (124 credits) at the Casper College campus. Each of these degrees takes approximately 3 years to complete. Tuition is $7,410 per semester, the cost of room and board is estimated at $7,260, and books and supplies cost about $1,350. The acceptance rate for the University of North Dakota is 83%. Occupational therapy courses are available year-round.
Casper College also offers an occupational therapy assistant program.