Master of Occupational Therapy: FAQs

When comparing these two paths of entry into the profession, both degrees will prepare you with the skills required for entry level practice as an occupational therapist. Based on your timeline and overall career goals, you can decide which path is most appropriate. If your main career focus is clinical practice, an MOT is a faster pathway into the profession, allowing you to launch your career and start earning a salary in a short, two-year time frame. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupational therapists, regardless of their degree, earn a similar salary, with a median annual income of $96,370 in 2024. If you choose to further your education in the future, you will always have an option to select a post-professional doctoral program that aligns with your professional goals.

Here at AHU, we offer a faith-based academic experience in a safe and nurturing learning environment. In conjunction with AdventHealth, a leader in whole-person healthcare, we are able to offer a variety of fieldwork opportunities at the number one ranked hospital in the Orlando area (US News and World Report, 2024). Additionally, we have fieldwork contracts with over 300 community partners in the state of Florida and beyond. Students will participate in four Level I, one-week clinical experiences and two Level II, twelve-week experiences, allowing them to observe and apply what they are learning in classes with real clients in a variety of practice settings. Additionally, students have an opportunity to observe therapy at our Hope Clinic (a free, interdisciplinary clinic) and facilitate group activities at the Wayne Densch Center. Students will also participate in multiple experiences at our state-of-the-art simulation center and engage in inter- and intra-professional opportunities with our physical therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. Through our Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), students also have the opportunity to participate in multiple mission-based activities to enhance learning and serve the community.

The Master of Occupational Therapy Program at AHU is 6 trimesters long. It is designed to be completed in less than 24 months, including all fieldwork experiences.

While the classes are primarily held on campus two days per week, the program is rigorous, and it is designed for full-time study. However, if students do choose to work, we do not recommend working more than 20 hours per week to ensure successful academic completion. Please be aware that there may be other requirements (Hope Clinic, Wayne Densch, Open Labs, Convocation, etc.) in addition to the two days a week you are expected to be on campus for classes. Clinical experiences that take place each trimester are typically five days per week. Therefore, if you choose to work while you are enrolled in the program, it is suggested you select a job that offers a flexible schedule.

The role of the occupational therapist is hands-on, requiring physical contact and interaction with clients that you won’t be able to get in an on-line program. Therefore, the vast majority of your coursework will be held on campus in a face-to-face format. We do offer a few classes online (e.g. research-based courses and a class on leadership), but most classes will be held in person.

Currently, we do not offer a bridge program. While we do encourage COTAs to apply, they are still required to take all the same classes as our other applicants. This is a full-time entry-level master’s degree program, and a bachelor’s degree is necessary for entry.

Fieldwork is an integral part of the curriculum at AHU. While many other OT programs in the state of Florida only offer two Level I experiences, we offer a total of four Level I experiences. While you are in the didactic portion of the program, you will complete a one-week clinical correlating with a core class you took during the trimester, allowing you to integrate the material learned in class with real clients. Then, at the end of the program, you will participate in two twelve-week clinical experiences. Our Academic Fieldwork Coordinator will work closely with each student to identify the best placements, based on their interests and geographical location. AHU has over 300 contracts, both in Florida and out of state. The majority of our students will end up completing a clinical at one of our local AdventHealth institutions.