NYC · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Schools in New York City
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
New York City has 10 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 4 doctoral (OTD) and 6 master's. 6 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development or no longer admitting. Occupational therapists in New York earn a median $96,390 a year.
NYC here means programs in New York, Brooklyn, Bronx, Jamaica, Long Island City. See all New York programs.
Compare OT programs in New York City 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.
| Program | Degree | NBCOT 2025 | Length | Published cost | Min. GPA | GRE | Obs. hours | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University New York | Master’s | 94% | 24 months | $122,957* | — | — | — | — |
| State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University Brooklyn | Master’s | 88% | — | $31,000* | — | No | — | Fall |
| Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus Brooklyn | Master’s | 81% | 5 years (combined BS/MS) | $165,081 | 3 | — | 25 | — |
| York College, The City University of New York Jamaica | Master’s | 71% | — | — | 2.9 | No | 50 | — |
| Yeshiva University-Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus Bronx | OTD | 56% | 32 months (full-time) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Touro University, Manhattan New York | Master’s | — | 3 years | $114,410* | 3 | No | 40 | January and August |
| Long Island University - Brooklyn Applicant Brooklyn | OTD | — | 3 years (full-time) | — | — | — | — | September (planned first cohort September 2027) |
| New York University Preaccreditation New York | OTD | — | — | — | 3 | No | 10 | — |
| Touro University-Manhattan Provisional candidacy New York | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York University Not admitting New York | Master’s | 94% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— = 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 New York City
Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS) | New York | 24 months | On-campus (in person) | 94% ’25 | Accredited |
| Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus BS/MS in Occupational Therapy | Brooklyn | 5 years (combined BS/MS) | See program | 81% ’25 | Accredited |
| State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Brooklyn | See program | See program | 88% ’25 | Accredited |
| Touro University, Manhattan BS in Health Sciences / MS in Occupational Therapy (BSHS/MSOT) | New York | 3 years full-time (limited 4-year part-time option) | See program | — | Accredited |
| Yeshiva University-Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Bronx | 32 months (full-time) | On-campus (New York City) | 56% ’25 | Accredited |
| York College, The City University of New York Occupational Therapy BS/MS | Jamaica | See program | Full-time, daytime (no night, weekend, winter or summer classes) | 71% ’25 | Accredited |
| Long Island University - Brooklyn Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Brooklyn | 3 years (full-time) | Traditional (on campus) | — | Applicant |
| New York University Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | New York | See program | See program | — | Preaccreditation |
| Touro University-Manhattan Entry-level OTD | New York | See program | See program | — | Provisional candidacy |
| New York University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (professional program) | New York | See program | On campus | 94% ’25 | Not admitting |
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.
OTD programs in New York City
- Long Island University - Brooklyn · Brooklyn
- New York University · New York
- Touro University-Manhattan · New York
- Yeshiva University-Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus · Bronx
Master’s (MOT/MSOT) programs in New York City
- Columbia University · New York
- Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus · Brooklyn
- New York University · New York
- State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University · Brooklyn
- Touro University, Manhattan · New York
- York College, The City University of New York · Jamaica
New OT programs opening in New York City
3 programs in New York City are 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.
- Long Island University - Brooklyn — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
- New York University — Entry-level OTD, preaccreditation (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- Touro University-Manhattan — Entry-level OTD, provisional candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2027/2028)
All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →
OTD or master's in New York City?
Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a New York license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.
- 4 OTD programs, typically 32 months to 3 years.
- 6 master's programs, typically 2 years to 3 years.
- NBCOT pass rate: the median program here reported 85% of new graduates passing in 2025 (6 programs). Compare nationally.
- 1 program starts in January or spring: Touro University, Manhattan. All spring-start programs.
- 4 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.
Pay in New York
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 New York
- Earn a bachelor’s degree and the prerequisites your target programs require (usually anatomy and physiology, psychology, and statistics). See OT school prerequisites.
- 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).
- Pass the NBCOT OTR exam to become a registered occupational therapist.
- Apply for a New York license from the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Occupational Therapy) before you practice. See how to get licensed in New York.
More areas in New York
Frequently asked questions
How many occupational therapy schools are in New York City?
ACOTE lists 10 entry-level OT programs at 9 schools in New York City: 4 doctoral (OTD) and 6 master's. 3 programs are new and still working toward full accreditation. 1 listed program is not admitting new students.
Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in New York City?
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. New York City has 4 OTD and 6 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.
How long is OT school in New York City?
Master's programs here that publish a length run 2 years to 3 years (2 programs). OTD programs run 32 months to 3 years (2 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.
How much do occupational therapists make in New York?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in New York was $96,390 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $64,770 to $133,700.
Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in New York City?
Yes: 1 OTA program. See OTA schools in New York.
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.