Occupational Therapy Schools in Illinois

The Illinois state has 6 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools which provide an entry-level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy program. Plus, the state also has 9 ACOTE accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools which provides an associate degree. The license is required to practice as an OT or OTA in the state of Illinois and it’s compulsory for the graduates of OT schools to apply for the licensure.

The 6 Occupational therapy schools in Illinois are-

1. Chicago State University
2. Governors State University
3. Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus
4. Rush University
5. University of Illinois at Chicago
6. Elmhurst College.

Occupational therapy in Illinois-

The occupational therapist, Occupational therapy assistant, and OT/OTA students have their own state association, i.e. ILOTA (Illinois Occupational Therapy Association).

The ILOTA is a non-profit volunteer organization which provides a professional community for its members. The ILOTA is a state-based professional organization and public voice for the occupational therapy profession in the Illinois.

The main role of the association is to promote the occupational therapy profession, create public awareness, provide support to the therapist in continuing education and improve and maintain the quality of occupational therapy profession in the state of Illinois. The ILOTA is an affiliated state body of the American Occupational therapy association.

Website – www.ilota.org/

Occupational therapy License in Illinois-

Occupational therapist and Occupational therapy Assistants are required to get a license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

The minimum requirements for the license are –

• Entry-level master degree or OTD degree
• NBCOT exam’s passing certificate.
• Application fees of $25.

Temporary OT/OTA Permit:

A temporary permit to practice as an occupational therapist (OT) or as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) may be granted to applicant If he/she has been determined eligible for licensure except for passing of the examination, the applicant shall be issued a letter of authorization which allows him/her to practice under supervision. The supervision means the presence of the licensed occupational therapist on-site at least 75% of the employee’s work hours.

List of OT schools in the Illinois –

#1 Chicago State University (CSU)

The Chicago state university is one of the oldest university in the USA, it was founded in 1867. The Occupational therapy program at the CSU is running OT program since 1984. The OT school offers affordable tuition fees to the students.

CSU currently offers two entry-level OT programs. In the combined program, students complete the senior year of their baccalaureate program in the department and then enter the graduate program, while the traditional graduate program is designed for students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree. At the end of either program, graduates earn a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree.

1. Combined Bachelors of Science in Health Science/Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
2. Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Chicago State University College of Health Sciences
Courses Offered–	Combined BS in Health Science/MOT. Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT).
University Campus	Chicago, Illinois
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Department chair-	Leslie Roundtree, DHS, MBA, OTR/L
Course Duration- MOT	28 months program (including fieldworks).
Seat capacity	30 admits per intake.
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS; A personal Interview.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A bachelor’s degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; GRE score (not required) 2 letters of recommendations; An essay; Provide proof of over 40 hours of work experience or community service experience that demonstrates human service skills. This experience is not limited to the field of occupational therapy.
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Introduction to OT; Anthropology or Sociology; Developmental Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Statistics; Medical Terminology; Cadaver Lab (30 hours).
Address	Department of Occupational Therapy College of Health Sciences 9501 South King Drive Chicago, IL 60628-1598 Email- csu-ot@csu.edu
Website	www.csu.edu

#2 Governors State University

The occupational therapy school offers an entry-level Masters of Occupational therapy and a Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Post-professional Dr. OT admission requires an entry-level master of occupational therapy degree or a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, plus an earned master’s degree in any field.

Governors State University
Course Offered–	Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT).
University Campus	University Park, Illinois
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Department chair-	Catherine Brady, Ed.D., OTR/L
Course Duration- MOT	2-year program (including fieldworks).
Seat capacity	28 admits per intake.
OT Admission	Once a year (Summer).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A bachelor’s degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; GRE score; 3 letters of recommendations; An essay;
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab; General Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Developmental Psychology or other related sociology or anthropology courses; General Physics with lab; General Chemistry 1 with lab; Medical Terminology; Orientation to Occupational Therapy; Survey of Research or Statistics course.
Address	Occupational Therapy Department 1 University Parkway University Park, IL 60484-0975 Email- cbrady@govst.edu
Website	www.govst.edu/mot/

#3 Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus

The OT school at Midwestern University offers an entry-level Doctoral Occupational therapy programs (Master of Occupational Therapy – closed and replaced by OTD program). The current OTD program has Candidacy Status provided by the ACOTE.

The OTD curriculum is rigorous and innovative. The OTD Program is the first to develop in Illinois, and the focus is targeted toward developing in each student the professionalism and occupation-centeredness of an excellent OT practitioner.  

Midwestern University- Downers Grove Campus College of Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD- Candidacy Status)
University Campus	Downers Grove Campus, Illinois
Public or Private-	Private non-profit Institute.
Program Director-	Bryze Kimberly, Ph.D., OTR/L
Course Duration-	33-month program (including fieldworks).
Seat capacity	50 admits per intake.
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS and An on-campus interview.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A bachelor’s degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; Two letters of recommendation; First aid course; Basic Life Support Certification; Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Statistics; Child Development; Sociology of Aging or Psychology of Aging; Abnormal Psychology; Other Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Address	College of Health Sciences 555 31st Street Downers Grove, IL 60515-1235 Email- admissil@midwestern.edu
Website	www.midwestern.edu

#4 Rush University

The OT school at Midwestern University offers an entry-level Doctoral Occupational therapy programs (Master of Occupational Therapy – closed and replaced by OTD program). The current OTD program has Candidacy Status provided by the ACOTE.

Rush University College of Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD- Candidacy Status)
University Campus	Chicago, Illinois
Public or Private-	Private Institute.
Dept Chairperson-	Linda Olson, Ph.D., OTR/L
Course Duration-	33-month program (including fieldworks).
Class Size	36 admits per intake.
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A baccalaureate degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; GRE Score (combined score 302, writing score 4); Two letters of recommendation; At least 40 documented Observation hours in at least two OT settings.
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy with lab; Human Physiology with lab; Statistics; Human Growth and Development; Sociology or Anthropology; Abnormal Psychology.
Address	Department of Occupational Therapy 600 South Paulina, Suite 1011 Chicago, IL 60612-3833 Email- OT_Admissions@rush.edu
Website	www.rush.edu

#5 University of Illinois at Chicago

The OT school at the University of Illinois has a very important role in developing Occupational therapy profession since 1943. The Occupational Therapy school has been integrating research, education and clinical practice in service to one vision: Creating Tomorrow’s Practice.

The OT school promotes research in the field of occupational therapy, it has 290 plus publications in last 5 years.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is considered as a home of MOHO (model of human occupation). MOHO is the internationally acclaimed and the most widely-cited and utilized occupation-focused practice model in the world.

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences
Courses Offered–	Master of Science Occupational Therapy (MSOT)- Entry level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Post-professional) Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science.
University Campus	Chicago, Illinois
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Dept Chairperson-	Joy Hammel
Course Duration- MSOT	23-month program (including fieldworks).
Class Size	46 admits per intake.
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS. UIC online graduate application.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A bachelor’s degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; GRE Score ; Two letters of recommendation; At least 50 documented Observation hours with an occupational therapist. (Not required but highly recommended). TOEFL score (for International candidate) CPR certification.
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy with lab; Human Physiology with lab; Introduction to anthropology, sociology, or social psychology; Statistics; Abnormal Psychology; Medical Terminology.
Address	Department of Occupational Therapy 1919 West Taylor Street, M/C 811 Chicago, IL 60612-7250 Email- OTDept@uic.edu
Website	uic.edu/ot/

#6 Elmhurst College

The OT School at Elmhurst College offers an entry-level master of occupational therapy (MOT). Students in the master of occupational therapy program at Elmhurst College are required to complete a total of 21 courses. This full-time program is offered in a hybrid format and can be completed in 24 months. Accreditation Status: Candidacy Status (Pre accreditation Status Denied 4/1/17)

Elmhurst College
Course Offered–	Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
University Campus	Elmhurst, Illinois
Public or Private-	Private Institute
Program Director-	Dr. Elizabeth Wanka, DrOT, MOT, OTR/L
Course Duration- MOT	2-year program (including fieldworks).
Class Size	—–
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Submit an online application through OTCAS. Interview by invitation.
Minimum Requirement (MOT)	A bachelor’s degree; GPA of 3.0 or better in all college coursework; GRE Score (total score- 300, writing section-4); A personal Statement; A current professional resume; Three letters of recommendation; Observation hours not required; TOEFL score (for International candidate) CPR certification.
Prerequisite Course work (MOT)	Human Anatomy with lab; Human Physiology with lab; Introduction to anthropology, sociology, or social psychology; Statistics; Abnormal Psychology; Developmental Psychology.
Address	Occupational Therapy Program 190 S. Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126-3271 Email- elizabeth.wanka@elmhurst.edu
Website	www.elmhurst.edu

Applicant Occupational Therapy program in Illinois-

#1 Lewis University-Romeoville
(Applicant OT – professional entry-level master’s)
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446-2200.

#2 North Central College
(Applicant OT – professional entry-level master’s degree) 
School of Education and Health Sciences 
30 North Brainard Street
Naperville, IL 60540-4607.

Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) Schools in Illinois-

#1 Fox College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
6640 S. Cicero Avenue
Bedford Park, IL 60638
(708) 444-4500.

#2 Illinois Central College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
201 South West Adams Street
Thomas Building 203
Peoria, IL 61635.

#3 Lewis & Clark Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Division of Health Sciences
5800 Godfrey Road 
Godfrey, IL 62035-2466.

#4 Lincoln Land Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
Health Professions
5250 Shepherd Road 
P.O. Box 19256 
Springfield, IL 62794-9256.

#5 McHenry County College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
8900 US Highway 14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2738.

#6 Parkland College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
2400 West Bradley Avenue 
Champaign, IL 61821-1899.

#7 South Suburban College of Cook County
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Allied Health Department
15800 South State Street 
South Holland, IL 60473-1262 

#8 Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market*) 
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
3213 South Park Avenue 
Herrin, IL 62948-3711 

#9 Wright College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
4300 N. Narragansett Avenue 
Chicago, IL 60634-1591.

Occupational Therapy jobs in Illinois-

The outlook for occupational therapy employment is very good in Illinois. The United States’s Bureau of Labor Statistics includes occupational therapy as one of its fastest-growing occupations, with registered occupational therapists predicted to have a faster than average growth (21- 36%). Many Health Care Recruitment providers have reported a shortage of occupational therapists and OTA in Illinois. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 4,800 employed and licensed occupational therapists in Illinois in May 2016. And the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in Illinois for the occupational therapist and occupational therapy Assistant.

Occupational Therapy Salary in Illinois-

As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapist in Illinois was $83,800 per annum (in 2016) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy professionals was $82,450 and $39.54, respectively in May 2016.