Best 15 Occupational Therapy Schools in New York

Occupational therapy schools in New York groom therapists to help with barriers that affect a person’s emotional, social, and physical needs.

Also Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. OT can help them regain independence in all areas of their lives.

Occupational Therapy Schools in New York

  1. Clarkson University

The Occupational Therapy program at Clarkson is committed to fostering therapists who are prepared to respond to both current and emerging societal needs that influence individuals’ occupations.

They integrate experiential learning to help students develop internalized working models for practicing occupational therapy in culturally diverse, innovative practice settings.

Additionally, they have a state-of-the-art Smart Simulation Lab and Assistive Technology lab, both of which offer simulated living experiences and cutting-edge technology.

Between the labs, they can simulate an actual living space and incorporate high-tech solutions to everyday challenges, such as low vision supports, adaptive driving equipment, simulators, assistive technology devices and environmental controls.

They have a vigorous science-based curriculum that gives students in-depth knowledge of the human body through cadaver dissection and classroom instruction.

The school has a robust research program affording students the opportunity to engage in practical, clinical research that holds promise of impacting clinical practice.

Finally, the Occupational Therapy Department at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., serves the health needs of the community by preparing you to engineer occupational therapy solutions that enable health and well-being throughout an individual’s lifespan.

Address: 8 Clarkson Avenue, Box 5883 Potsdam NY 13699-5883

Phone: 315-268-4412

Checkout: Best Occupational Therapy Schools in Alabama 2022

  1. Columbia University

Programs in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons are proud to be one of the oldest yet exceptionally progressive programs to prepare occupational therapists as superior clinicians, administrators, educators, and researchers.

Their nationally distinguished faculty mentor students on both the masters and doctoral levels to meet the challenges of their complex health care systems.

As part of the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at one of the world’s most renowned health care centers, their mission is to advance practice through education and research.

This is why they are consistently ranked among the top programs by U.S. News and World Report. Master of Science

The Occupational Therapy Program’s mission is to educate and prepare a diverse and eclectic group of occupational therapists to promote health and well-being through occupation as practitioners, consultants, educators, and researchers.

Address: Georgian Building, 3rd Floor, 617 West 168th Street New York NY 10032-2603

Phone: 212-305-5267

 

  1. Hofstra University

The 68 credit Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York is designed to prepare graduates to become registered and licensed occupational therapist practitioners.

Their graduate-level curriculum of 68 credits is divided into six semesters, including a summer semester, of didactic instruction plus six months of Level II fieldwork placements which must be completed within 18 months following completion of the didactic instruction.

The full-time, on-campus program is offered weekdays and evenings, providing a sequential curriculum that integrates laboratory experiences with classroom instruction.

Conclusively, the mission of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Hofstra University is to facilitate the development of effective, compassionate, evidence-based practitioners with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and competencies needed to be lifelong learners with the ability to meet professional standards and societal occupational needs.

Address: School of Health Professions and Human Services, 220 Hofstra University, 120 Dome Hempstead NY 11549-0001

Phone: 516-463-5307

 

  1. Iona College

Their exceptional program and skilled faculty members will teach you the latest developments in the OT field.

You will gain insights on providing your patients with the highest standard of care to help them on their path of rehabilitation.

Through unique partnerships on campus, you’ll be engaged in a curriculum that focuses on community engagement, service, entrepreneurship and innovation.

You will learn to channel your passion into helping others, and pioneering new ideas to meet the occupational needs for your patients.

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Department at Iona University is to educate students in an environment that promotes intellectual curiosity, development of self as a person and professional, community engagement, and appreciation of diversity.

It commits its energies and resources to develop graduates who are recognized for their ethical, evidence-based and client-centered practice of occupational therapy.

Address: 715 North Avenue New Rochelle NY 10801-1830

Phone: 914-633-2574

 

  1. Ithaca College

Ithaca College is excited to announce that they will be transitioning to offer a new six-year entry level doctoral program, with the first class entering in Fall 2023.

You will earn two degrees in six years – a BS in Occupational Science and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). This program will replace their combined BS/MS degree program.

Their dual degree BS/OTD is a six-year program which will prepare you for a rewarding and in-demand career as an occupational therapist.

Once accepted into the combined BS/OTD program, you will move directly from the undergraduate program into the doctoral degree professional program without having to re-apply, provided you maintain the academic status requirements.

Address: 321 Smiddy Hall, 953 Danby Road Ithaca NY 14850-7079

Phone: 607-274-1975

 

  1. Le Moyne College

The Master of Science program in Occupational Therapy at Le Moyne College is a professional entry-level degree for students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy.

They are a full-time program of study, completed in a cohort format over 24 months.

Address: School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 1419 Salt Springs Road Syracuse NY 13214

Phone: 315-445-5432

 

  1. Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

LIU Brooklyn’s Occupational Therapy programs are is designed to educate entry-level occupational therapists whose skills and training prepare them to practice competently in the rapidly changing urban health care environment and to equip patients and clients with skills for the workplace and for home.

The Occupational Therapy curriculum offers students the opportunity to focus on individual professional growth, to participate in community-service learning, to refine cultural sensitivity and practice skills, to use health promotion in community settings, to utilize activity to promote health and independence, and to develop the skills required to treat the whole person.

A master’s degree or higher in occupational therapy from an academic program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) is required in order to practice.

Graduates need to pass the national certification exam (NBCOT exam) before applying for licensure in any state.

Address: One University Plaza, Pratt Building, 2nd Floor Brooklyn NY 11201-5372

Phone: 718-780-4508

 

  1. Maria College

At Maria College, their Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is a 70-credit, full-time learning program, completed over two years with face-to-face meetings on weekends, on-campus in Albany, NY.

Upon successful completion, program graduates are eligible to sit for the occupational therapy national certification exam, through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

Passing the certification exam allows graduates to apply for occupational therapy licenses in the states of their choosing.

Maria’s occupational therapy master’s program is designed to emphasize opportunity education and to benefit under-served populations with an emphasis on cultural awareness, wellness and community integration.

This program is great for working adults, in fact many students are able to work part-time while completing their degree.

Address: 700 New Scotland Avenue Albany NY 12208-1798

Phone: 518-861-2517

 

  1. Nazareth College

As a student in Nazareth’s occupational therapy degree program, you learn how to develop or improve a person’s sensory, physical, cognitive/perceptual, and/or psychosocial abilities.

You learn to modify the environment to help the person to be as self-sufficient and productive as possible.

The program prepares you for entry-level general practice and develops your initial skills in areas of specialization such as early intervention, school-based practice, neurological rehabilitation, environmental analysis and modification, ergonomics, and treatment of upper extremity and orthopedic impairments.

Address: 4245 East Avenue Rochester NY 14618-3790

Phone: 585-389-5019

 

  1. New York University

The professional MS in Occupational Therapy is part of their top U.S. News & World Report-ranked program.

This two-and-a-half-year degree provides students looking to begin their careers in OT with a strong curriculum taught by leading occupational therapy educators. It offers a diverse range of fieldwork and research opportunities strengthened by NYU’s dynamic New York City location.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than occupational therapy, this MS will prepare you for a successful career as a registered occupational therapist.

Through classwork and fieldwork, you will learn theoretical and applied applications of occupational therapy for a diverse range of populations, taking courses in human anatomy, kinesiology, neuroscience, evaluation and intervention, and more. Explore the full MS in OT curriculum.

The degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

Address: Steinhardt Sch. of Culture, Education, and Human Development, 82 Washington Square East, Pless Hall 6th Floor New York NY 10003-6680

Phone: 212-998-5825

 

  1. State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University

When you get a master’s in occupational therapy at Downstate, your training is about more than building skills and knowledge. It’s also about immersing yourself in the culture of occupational therapy.

To help people live their best lives, you’ll need the empathy, patience and wisdom to know which strategies and techniques to draw upon.

As an OT student, you’ll learn to mix technical expertise with extensive hands-on training.

And because you’re at Downstate, Brooklyn’s only academic medical center, you’ll learn alongside doctors, nurses and other medical professionals—and even take classes taught by faculty who teach the same subjects at their College of Medicine.

Address: School of Health Professions, 450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 94 Brooklyn NY 11203-2098

Phone: 718-270-7730

 

  1. Touro University

Their three-year Occupational Therapy Program is a dual degree where you’ll earn your BS in Health Sciences and your MS in Occupational Therapy at the same time and gain valuable clinical experience with rewarding fieldwork and community service opportunities.

Address: 225 Eastview Drive Central Islip NY 11722

Phone: 631-665-1600

 

  1. University at Buffalo, State University of New York

UB is the only five-year BS/MS program within the SUNY system where you can complete your entry-level OT degree within five years of high school graduation.

Their five-year program in occupational therapy leads to a bachelor’s degree in occupational science and a master’s degree in occupational therapy.

This program is flexible enough to meet your individual needs and interests while ensuring that you are prepared to pass the national certification exam and state licensure requirements to enter the profession.

The BS/MS program in occupational therapy at UB is accredited through the 2026-2027 academic year by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Address: Department of Rehabilitation Science, 501 Stockton Kimball Tower, 3435 Main Street Buffalo NY 14214-3079

Phone: 716-829-6742

 

  1. Utica University

The Occupational Therapy program at Utica University is distinctive in its collaborative community alliances that enable faculty and students to meet the needs of society while promoting critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and skill development.

Current approaches to adult education are used to facilitate students’ development into highly competent, ethical, entry-level occupational therapy practitioners who are well-prepared to take their place within multiple health care venues in a rapidly changing, global economy.

Their graduates work in a variety of arenas of health care including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, and community programs and private practice.

Students and graduates have presented at national and state conferences and many have published in occupational therapy journals and health related journals.

They are fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

Address: School of Health Professions and Education, 1600 Burrstone Road Utica NY 13502-4892

Phone: 315-792-3150

 

  1. York College

York College offers an accredited combined degree program leading to a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

York College is proud to be one of the senior colleges situated in the City University of New York, the largest urban university system in the United States.

Since 1978, their graduates have successfully entered the occupational therapy profession with distinction and many have taken on roles of certified advanced practitioners, mentors, managers, administrators, educators, consultants, entrepreneurs, and researchers within the profession.

They boast a culturally diverse, small cohort size (40 students) admitted per year, with all of the CUNY student, academic, and library resources at your disposal York College offers an accredited combined degree program leading to a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

The School of Health Professions (SHP’s) Occupational Therapy Program is a graduate 3-year program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

Address: School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard Jamaica NY 11451-9902

Phone: 718-262-2914

 

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