Skip to content

Massachusetts · 2027 admissions

Occupational Therapy Schools in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 13 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 5 doctoral (OTD) and 8 master's. 12 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development. Occupational therapists in Massachusetts earn a median $100,930 a year.

13OT programs
5OTD (doctorate)
8Master's

Compare OT programs in Massachusetts at a glance

NBCOT results, length, published cost and admission requirements side by side, all from official sources. Accredited programs first, sorted by 2025 pass rate.

Comparison of occupational therapy programs in Massachusetts
ProgramDegreeNBCOT 2025Length Published cost Min. GPAGREObs. hours Starts
Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions Boston OTD 100% 3 years — — No — Summer (June)
Springfield College Springfield OTD 100% 3 years — — — — Fall (September)
Tufts University Medford OTD 100% — $141,744* — — — —
Worcester State University Worcester Master’s 97% — — — — — —
Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College) Boston OTD 95% 3 years $209,774* 3 No — —
Springfield College Springfield Master’s 95% 30 months — — — — Fall (September)
Western New England University Springfield OTD 90% 8 semesters — 3 — — —
Salem State University Salem Master’s 88% — — 3 — — —
Bay Path University-East Longmeadow Campus East Longmeadow Master’s 78% 2 years — 3 No — —
American International College Springfield Master’s 73% — — 3 — 16 rec. —
Regis College Weston Master’s 70% — — — — — —
MCPHS University-Worcester Campus Worcester Master’s — 2 years (full-time) $115,610 3 — — Fall
Merrimack College Applicant North Andover Master’s — — — — — — —

— = not published or not yet verified. Costs are as each school publishes them (full-program tuition; * = all-in total). NBCOT = share of new graduates passing in 2025. Click a program for sources and quotes.

All occupational therapy programs in Massachusetts

Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.

Occupational therapy programs in Massachusetts
Program City Length Format NBCOT Status
American International College Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Springfield 2 years (direct entry) or 5 years (3+2 BS/MSOT) Part-time options available 73% ’25 Accredited
Bay Path University-East Longmeadow Campus Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) · OTA-to-OT bridge East Longmeadow 2 years (accelerated, incl. 24 weeks fieldwork) On-campus, full-time 78% ’25 Accredited
Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College) Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Boston 3 years Hybrid (on-campus + online courses) 95% ’25 Accredited
Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Boston 3 years On-campus (onsite) 100% ’25 Accredited
MCPHS University-Worcester Campus Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Worcester 2 years (full-time) See program — Accredited
Regis College Entry-level master's Weston See program See program 70% ’25 Accredited
Salem State University BS/MS in Occupational Therapy (for OTA graduates) · OTA-to-OT bridge Salem See program Part-time, evening 88% ’25 Accredited
Springfield College Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Springfield 2.5 years full-time (3.5 years part-time) See program 95% ’25 Accredited
Springfield College Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Springfield 3 years full-time (part-time available) See program 100% ’25 Accredited
Tufts University Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Medford See program See program 100% ’25 Accredited
Western New England University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Springfield 8 semesters Campus-based, online distance pathway, or extended pathway 90% ’25 Accredited
Worcester State University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Worcester See program See program 97% ’25 Accredited
Merrimack College Entry-level master's North Andover See program See program — Applicant

Status and degree level from the ACOTE directory. Length and format only where confirmed on the program’s own website. NBCOT = share of the program’s new graduates who passed the NBCOT exam in the latest year reported (NBCOT school performance data, retrieved 2026-10-08); new programs have no results yet.

New OT programs opening in Massachusetts

1 program in Massachusetts is in ACOTE’s accreditation process (Applicant, Candidacy or Preaccreditation). Under ACOTE policy, a new program must be granted full Accreditation status before its graduates can sit for the NBCOT exam, so ask each school where it is in that process.

  • Merrimack College — Entry-level master's, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2029/2030)

All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →

OTD or master's in Massachusetts?

Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a Massachusetts license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.

  • 5 OTD programs, typically 3 years.
  • 8 master's programs, typically 2 years to 30 months.
  • 2 OTA-to-OT bridge programs for working assistants. About bridge programs.
  • 3 with hybrid, online or weekend formats (confirmed on the school’s site).
  • NBCOT pass rate: the median program here reported 95% of new graduates passing in 2025 (11 programs). Compare nationally.
  • 3 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.

Compare master's vs. doctorate →

Pay in Massachusetts

$100,930median annual pay
$73,140–$127,38010th–90th percentile
6,510occupational therapists employed

U.S. median for occupational therapists: $100,330. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 29-1122). Compare all states.

How to become an occupational therapist in Massachusetts

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and the prerequisites your target programs require (usually anatomy and physiology, psychology, and statistics). See OT school prerequisites.
  2. Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited master’s or OTD program, including at least 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork (plus a 14-week capstone for the OTD).
  3. Pass the NBCOT OTR exam to become a registered occupational therapist.
  4. Apply for a Massachusetts license from the Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professionals (Division of Occupational Licensure) before you practice. See how to get licensed in Massachusetts.

OT schools by city in Massachusetts

Frequently asked questions

How many occupational therapy schools are in Massachusetts?

ACOTE lists 13 entry-level OT programs at 12 schools in Massachusetts: 5 doctoral (OTD) and 8 master's. 1 program is new and still working toward full accreditation.

Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in Massachusetts?

Both are entry-level degrees: graduates of either take the same NBCOT exam and get the same state license. The OTD adds a 14-week doctoral capstone, so it usually takes longer and costs more. Massachusetts has 5 OTD and 8 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.

How long is OT school in Massachusetts?

Master's programs here that publish a length run 2 years to 30 months (3 programs). OTD programs run 3 years (3 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.

How much do occupational therapists make in Massachusetts?

The median annual wage for occupational therapists in Massachusetts was $100,930 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $73,140 to $127,380.

Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in Massachusetts?

Yes: 4 OTA programs. See OTA schools in Massachusetts.

Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website (linked on its page); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check the source.