How to Become an Occupational Therapist: 4 Steps & Cost

How to Become an Occupational Therapist

By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website

To become an occupational therapist: (1) earn a bachelor’s degree and complete the prerequisites, (2) graduate from an ACOTE-accredited master’s or OTD program, including fieldwork, (3) pass the NBCOT exam, and (4) get a license in your state. OTs earn a median $100,330 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Step 1: Bachelor's degree and prerequisites

Programs accept any major, but they require specific courses, most often anatomy and physiology, lifespan development, statistics and abnormal psychology. Many also ask for observation hours with an OT. See OT school prerequisites for the courses programs ask for most.

Step 2: An accredited master's or OTD

Both degrees qualify you to practice. Master’s programs that publish their length run 20 months to 3 years; OTD programs run 2 years to 42 months. Every program includes at least 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork, and OTDs add a 14-week capstone. Many programs take applications through OTCAS, the centralized OT application service. Master’s vs. doctorate.

Find OT programs near you

Step 3: Pass the NBCOT exam

After graduating, you take the NBCOT certification exam to earn the OTR credential.

Step 4: Get your state license

Apply to the occupational therapy board in the state where you will work. How licensing works.

Other routes

Start as an OTA: a two-year associate degree, then work as a COTA. OTA programs.
Bridge later: OTA-to-OT bridge programs are built for working assistants.
Save a year: accelerated and 3+2 programs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?

Usually about six to seven years after high school: a four-year bachelor’s degree, then an entry-level master’s (20 months–3 years) or OTD (2 years–42 months), then the NBCOT exam and a state license. Combined 3+2 programs can shorten this to about five years.

What should I major in to become an OT?

Any major works if you complete the prerequisites. Common choices are psychology, kinesiology, exercise science, biology and health science.

Can I become an OT without a bachelor’s degree?

You need a bachelor’s (or the undergraduate years of a combined program) before an entry-level OT degree. Without one, you can become an occupational therapy assistant with an associate degree and bridge to OT later.