Occupational Therapy Schools in North Carolina

The North Carolina state has 5 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools which provide an entry level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy program. Plus, the state also has 7 ACOTE accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools which provides an associate degree. The license to practice as an OT or OTA is compulsory for the passed out students of OT schools.

The 5 Occupational therapy schools in North Carolina are-

1. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
2. East Carolina University (ECU)
3. Lenoir-Rhyne University
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel hill
5. Winston Salem State University (WSSU)

Occupational therapy in North Carolina-

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

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

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 North Carolina. The NCOTA is an affiliated state body of the American Occupational therapy association.

Website – www.ncota.org

Occupational therapy License in North Carolina-

Occupational therapist and Occupational therapy Assistants are required to get a license from the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy (NCBOT).

The minimum requirements for the license are –

• Entry-level master degree or OTD degree
• NBCOT exam’s passing certificate.
• Application fees of $100.

Temporary OT/OTA License:

No temporary license is given by the NCBOT to practice as an occupational therapist (OT) or as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) in North Carolina.

North Carolina occupational therapy schools

#1 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

The OT program at Cabarrus College is designed specifically for experienced OTA’s to become an occupational therapist (OT).

The OT program will have two tracks:

1. The MOT track for OTA’s already with a bachelor’s degree.
2. The BSIHS/MOT track for OTA’s with an associate degree as their highest educational level.

The OT school offers a hybrid course, which has a 3-hour on-campus class every third weekend. In the hybrid course, the classes are on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Courses Offered–	Master of Occupational Therapy (for OTA with Bachelor degree) BSIHS/MOT  (for OTA with associate degree).
University Campus	Concord, NC
Public or Private-	Private not-for-profit Institute.
Program Chair-	Nancy Murphy, OTD, OTR-L
Course Duration-	MOT – 2-year program BS/MS- 3-year program.
Class Size	15 students
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Apply to the OT program through OTCAS.
Minimum Requirement	General- An Essay; 3 letters of reference; A professional resume; Current OTA license; Evidence of at least one year’s employment as an OTA. For BS/MS- An associate degree; A cumulative GPA of 3.0. For MOT- A BA or BS degree; A college-level Statistics course.
Prerequisite Coursework (BS/MS)	English Composition; Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs); Introduction to Psychology; Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Coursework in kinesiology and medical terminology are strongly encouraged.
Address	Occupational Therapy Program 401 Medical Park Drive Concord, NC 28025-3959 Email- melanie.gass @cabarruscollege.edu
Website	www.carolinashealthcare.org

#2 East Carolina University (ECU)

The Occupational therapy school was started at the ECU in 1974. The school follows the guidelines established by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

The curriculum is designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with clinical experience and therefore includes several supervised, practice-oriented, fieldwork courses.

East Carolina University School of Allied Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Entry-level)
University Campus	Greenville, NC
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Program Chair-	Leonard Trujillo, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
Course Duration-	MOT – 27-months program
Class Size	26 students
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	Apply to East Carolina University Graduate School (not OTCAS); An online interview.
Minimum Requirement	A baccalaureate degree; A cumulative GPA of 3.0; GRE score report (min 151 in both quantitative and verbal; 3.5 in writing); An acceptable TOEFL score (for an international candidate) Min 2 (max 4) Reference Letters (one letter must address the applicant’s academic performance; one letter must address the applicant’s character); An essay; A resume; Volunteer work under OT (recommended but not required).
Prerequisite Coursework	Human Anatomy with Lab (or Anatomy and Physiology I with lab); Human Physiology with Lab (or Anatomy and Physiology II with lab); Human Physiology with Lab (or Anatomy and Physiology II with lab); Statistics; Abnormal Psychology; Reasoning course such as logic, ethics, or critical thinking; Introduction to Sociology OR Introduction to Anthropology OR Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; Medical Terminology; Exploring Occupational Therapy (recommended, not required).
Address	School of Allied Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program 3305 Health Sciences Greenville, NC 27834 Email- otadmissions@ecu.edu
Website	www.ecu.edu/OT

#3 Lenoir-Rhyne University

The Occupational Therapy school at Lenoir-Rhyne University combines classroom instruction with extensive laboratory experiences including clinical practicum and six months of internship.  The OT school offers MSOT program in two campuses: Hickory, NC, and Columbia, SC.

Lenoir-Rhyne University College of Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Entry-level)
University Campus	Hickory, NC
Public or Private-	Private Institute.
Program Chair-	Toni Oakes, EdD
Course Duration-	MSOT – 27-months program
Class Size	29 students
OT Admission	Once a year (Summer).
Application Procedure	Apply to the OT program through OTCAS.
Minimum Requirement	A BA/BS degree; A cumulative GPA of 3.0; GRE score report (min 149 in verbal; 148 in quantitative; and 3.5 in writing); 3 Recommendations; An essay; A resume; Volunteer work under OT (recommended but not required).
Prerequisite Coursework	Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with Lab; Statistics; Ethics; Abnormal Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Cultural Diversity; Medical Terminology.
Address	College of Health Sciences School of Occupational Therapy LR Box 7547 Hickory, NC 28603-7547 Email- maryann.gosnell@lr.edu
Website	www.lr.edu

#4 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The OT school at UNC-Chapel Hill is a nationally and internationally recognized university with faculty on the cutting edge of research, practice, and community service.

The OT school offers entry-level master degree, along with this, the OT school also offers a Ph.D. program in Occupational Science. The Ph.D. program is for the individuals who have completed master’s degrees in occupational therapy, relevant social and behavioral sciences, or related fields.

University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Allied Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Entry-level)
University Campus	Chapel Hill, NC
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Division Director-	Nancy Bagatell, PhD, OTR/L
Course Duration-	MSOT – 2-year program
Class Size	a cohort of 22-24 students
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	An online application to the OT program through UNC graduate school website. And also upload supplemental materials under “Program Supplements.”
Minimum Requirement	A BA/BS degree; A cumulative GPA of 3.0; GRE score report (above the 50th percentile); 3 Recommendations; A statement of purpose; A resume; Volunteer work under OT (recommended but not required).
Prerequisite Coursework	FIXED PREREQUISITES: Human Anatomy & Physiology (2 semesters, and including a lab); Statistics; Abnormal Psychology. FLEXIBLE PREREQUISITES Human Development and Behavior; Social Institutions & Systems Modes of Reasoning Occupation** ** Examples of possible occupation prerequisites include classes in dance, theater, visual arts, sewing, photography, ceramics, manual arts (welding, plumbing, etc.), sports/recreation (tennis, scuba diving), woodworking, creative writing, etc.
Address	Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine Division of Occupational Science Bondurant Hall, Suite 2050, CB#7122 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7122 Email- osinfo@med.unc.edu
Website	www.med.unc.edu

#5 Winston Salem State University (WSSU)

The Occupational therapy school at WSSU offers an entry-level masters program in occupational therapy. The school has state of the art facilities for the students, it includes, Accessibility to patient simulation, human cadavers and well-equipped skill laboratories, wireless-ready classrooms, and a comprehensive library system.

The school promotes community engagement, emphasize health equity, use the technology-driven methods, and engage in coordinated inter-professional care with other health science disciplines.

The OT school also offers an early assurance program (EAP) option for current WSSU undergraduate students.

Winston Salem State University School of Health Sciences
Course Offered–	Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Entry-level)
University Campus	Winston Salem, NC
Public or Private-	Public Institute.
Department Chairperson-	Cynthia Sheppard Bell, PhD
Course Duration-	MSOT – 2.5-year program
Class Size	28 students per year
OT Admission	Once a year (Fall).
Application Procedure	An online application to the OT program through OTCAS.
Minimum Requirement	A BA/BS degree; A cumulative GPA of 3.0; GRE score report; 3 Recommendations (one letter must be completed by the OT supervisor); An essay; A minimum of forty (40) hours of volunteer or work experience in the field of occupational therapy. OTHER REQ.- Physical Exam; Immunization records; Certification in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS.
Prerequisite Coursework	Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (with lab); Lifespan Human Growth & Development or Developmental Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Statistics; Sociology or Anthropology; Medical terminology.
Address	Occupational Therapy Program 430 F.L. Atkins 601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27110-0003 Email- frankspj@wssu.edu
Website	www.wssu.edu

“Applicant” Occupational therapy schools in North Carolina-

These are new OT educational programs seeking accreditation (not yet holding Candidacy Status). Until Candidacy Status has been granted by ACOTE, these programs cannot admit students into the OT or OTA program.

#1 Methodist University
5400 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, NC 28311-1420
Email- knovak@methodist.edu
www.methodist.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OT – entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program

#2 Pfeiffer University-Misenheimer Campus
Occupational Therapy Program
48380 US Highway 52N
Misenheimer, NC 28109
Email- Ivelisse.Lazzarini@pfeiffer.edu
www.pfeiffer.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OT – Entry-level Occupational therapy Doctoral program

#3 Wingate University
Occupational Therapy Program
Levine College of Health Sciences
515 N. Main Street
Wingate, NC 28174
Email- m.sweetman@wingate.edu
www.wingate.edu
Status: Applicant OT – entry-level Occupational therapy Doctoral program.

Occupational Therapy Assistant school in North Carolina

#1 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
401 Medical Park Drive 
Concord, NC 28025-3959 
www.carolinashealthcare.org

#2 Cape Fear Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
411 North Front Street 
Wilmington, NC 28401-3993 
Email- jrenshaw@cfcc.edu
http://cfcc.edu

#3 Central Piedmont Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Health Sciences Division
PO Box 35009
Charlotte, NC 28235-5009
Email- healthsciences@cpcc.edu
www.cpcc.edu

#4 Durham Technical Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
1637 Lawson Street 
Durham, NC 27703-5023 
(919) 536-7233 x8102
Email- chengs@durhamtech.edu
www.durhamtech.edu

#5 Pitt Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 
P.O. Drawer 7007 
Greenville, NC 27835-7007 
Email- wperrini@email.pittcc.edu
www.pittcc.edu

#6 South College-Asheville Campus
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
140 Sweeten Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28803
Email- asiegler@southcollegenc.edu
www.southcollegenc.edu

#7 Southwestern Community College – Jackson/Sylva Campus
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Division of Health Sciences
447 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779-8581
Email- a_walls@southwesterncc.edu
www.southwesterncc.edu

Occupational Therapist jobs in North Carolina-

The outlook for occupational therapy employment is very good in North Carolina. The United States’ 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 North Carolina. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 3150 employed and licensed occupational therapists in North Carolina in May 2016. And the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in North Carolina for the occupational therapist and occupational therapy Assistant.

Occupational Therapy Salary in North Carolina-

As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapist in North Carolina were $82,000 per annum (in 2016) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy professionals were $81,570 and $39.21, respectively in May 2016.