Pennsylvania · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Schools in Pennsylvania
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
Pennsylvania has 34 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 17 doctoral (OTD) and 17 master's. 26 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development. Occupational therapists in Pennsylvania earn a median $98,440 a year.
Compare OT programs in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne University Pittsburgh | OTD | 100% | — | — | 3 | No | 16 | — |
| Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown | OTD | 100% | — | $152,331* | 3 | — | — | — |
| Messiah University Mechanicsburg | Master’s | 100% | 2 years | — | — | — | — | — |
| Misericordia University Dallas | OTD | 100% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia | Master’s | 100% | 2.5 years | — | — | No | 10 | — |
| Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia | OTD | 100% | 3 years (full-time) | — | — | No | 10 | — |
| Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock | OTD | 100% | 33 months | — | 3 | — | 12 | Fall |
| Temple University Philadelphia | OTD | 100% | 3 years (full-time) | — | — | — | 12 | — |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh | OTD | 100% | 2 years 8 months (8 terms) | — | 3 | — | 12 | — |
| Chatham University Pittsburgh | OTD | 98% | 28 months (7 terms) | — | — | — | — | Fall |
| University of Scranton Scranton | Master’s | 98% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus Philadelphia | OTD | 97% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Misericordia University Dallas | Master’s | 93% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moravian University Bethlehem | Master’s | 93% | — | $71,000* | 3.2 | — | — | — |
| Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown | Master’s | 92% | 5 years (3+2 BS/MS) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gannon University Erie | Master’s | 92% | — | — | — | No | — | — |
| Saint Francis University Loretto | Master’s | 92% | 5 years (3+2 direct entry) | — | — | — | 10 | — |
| Drexel University Elkins Park | Master’s | 89% | 23 months | $98,362* | — | — | 8 | Fall (August) |
| Duquesne University Pittsburgh | Master’s | 88% | — | — | 3 | No | 16 | — |
| Thomas Jefferson University-East Falls Campus Philadelphia | Master’s | 88% | 2.5 years | — | — | — | — | Fall |
| Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley | Master’s | 86% | — | — | 3 | No | 20 | Summer (June) |
| Widener University Chester | OTD | 79% | About 3 years | $129,288* | — | — | 20 | — |
| Alvernia University Reading | Master’s | 75% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cedar Crest College Allentown | OTD | 72% | 33 months | — | 3 | No | — | — |
| Carlow University Pittsburgh | Master’s | 55% | As few as 6 semesters | — | 3 | — | 20 | Fall |
| University of Scranton Scranton | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Temple University Applicant Philadelphia | Master’s | 100% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gannon University Candidacy Erie | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| King's College Preaccreditation Wilkes-Barre | OTD | — | — | $122,532 | — | — | — | — |
| Lebanon Valley College Applicant Annville | Master’s | — | 2 years | — | — | — | — | Summer (planned launch Summer 2028) |
| Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg Campus Applicant Middletown | Master’s | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Seton Hill University Candidacy Greensburg | OTD | — | 3 years | — | — | — | — | Fall (August) |
| Wilson College Candidacy Chambersburg | OTD | — | 2 years (accelerated) | — | — | — | — | — |
| York College of Pennsylvania Applicant York | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— = 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 Pennsylvania
Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvernia University Entry-level master's | Reading | See program | See program | 75% ’25 | Accredited |
| Carlow University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Pittsburgh | As few as 6 semesters | On-campus | 55% ’25 | Accredited |
| Cedar Crest College Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Allentown | 33 months | See program | 72% ’25 | Accredited |
| Chatham University Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ELOTD) · OTA-to-OT bridge | Pittsburgh | 28 months (7 terms) | See program | 98% ’25 | Accredited |
| Drexel University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Elkins Park | 23 months | See program | 89% ’25 | Accredited |
| Duquesne University Entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Pittsburgh | See program | See program | 88% ’25 | Accredited |
| Duquesne University Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Pittsburgh | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Elizabethtown College Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS) | Elizabethtown | 5 years (3+2 BS/MS) | See program | 92% ’25 | Accredited |
| Elizabethtown College Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Elizabethtown | 6 years (3+3 BS/OTD) or 3 years post-baccalaureate | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Gannon University Entry-level master's | Erie | See program | See program | 92% ’25 | Accredited |
| Gwynedd Mercy University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Gwynedd Valley | 2 years (5 academic terms + 1 fieldwork term) | On-campus (in-person) | 86% ’25 | Accredited |
| Messiah University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Mechanicsburg | 2 years | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Misericordia University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Dallas | See program | See program | 93% ’25 | Accredited |
| Misericordia University Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Dallas | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Moravian University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS) | Bethlehem | See program | Mostly on-campus (about 20% online) | 93% ’25 | Accredited |
| Saint Francis University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Loretto | 5 years (3+2 direct entry) | See program | 92% ’25 | Accredited |
| Saint Joseph's University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Philadelphia | 2.5 years | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Saint Joseph's University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) | Philadelphia | 3 years (full-time) | On-campus | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Slippery Rock University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Slippery Rock | 33 months | On-campus | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Temple University Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Philadelphia | 3 years (full-time) | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Philadelphia | See program | See program | 97% ’25 | Accredited |
| Thomas Jefferson University-East Falls Campus Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Philadelphia | 2.5 years | Hybrid weekend (Friday/Saturday) | 88% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Pittsburgh | 2 years 8 months (8 terms) | On-campus, full-time | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Scranton Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS) | Scranton | 5 years (entered as a first-year student) | See program | 98% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Scranton Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Scranton | 6 years (entered as a first-year student) | See program | — | Accredited |
| Widener University Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Chester | About 3 years | Hybrid (online + on-campus) | 79% ’25 | Accredited |
| Gannon University Bachelor of Science + Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Erie) | Erie | 5½ calendar years (4 + 2, entered from high school) | Mostly in-person | — | Candidacy |
| King's College Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Wilkes-Barre | 3 years (with a bachelor's) or 6 years (3+3 BS/OTD) | See program | — | Preaccreditation |
| Lebanon Valley College Master of Occupational Therapy | Annville | 2 years | See program | — | Applicant |
| Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg Campus Entry-level master's | Middletown | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| Seton Hill University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Greensburg | 3 years | On-campus (in-person) | — | Candidacy |
| Temple University Entry-level master's | Philadelphia | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Applicant |
| Wilson College Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Chambersburg | 2 years (accelerated) | Hybrid (online + in-person) | — | Candidacy |
| York College of Pennsylvania Entry-level OTD | York | 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.
OTD programs in Pennsylvania
- Cedar Crest College · Allentown
- Chatham University · Pittsburgh
- Duquesne University · Pittsburgh
- Elizabethtown College · Elizabethtown
- Gannon University · Erie
- King's College · Wilkes-Barre
- Misericordia University · Dallas
- Saint Joseph's University · Philadelphia
- Seton Hill University · Greensburg
- Slippery Rock University · Slippery Rock
- Temple University · Philadelphia
- Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus · Philadelphia
- University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh
- University of Scranton · Scranton
- Widener University · Chester
- Wilson College · Chambersburg
- York College of Pennsylvania · York
Master’s (MOT/MSOT) programs in Pennsylvania
- Alvernia University · Reading
- Carlow University · Pittsburgh
- Drexel University · Elkins Park
- Duquesne University · Pittsburgh
- Elizabethtown College · Elizabethtown
- Gannon University · Erie
- Gwynedd Mercy University · Gwynedd Valley
- Lebanon Valley College · Annville
- Messiah University · Mechanicsburg
- Misericordia University · Dallas
- Moravian University · Bethlehem
- Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg Campus · Middletown
- Saint Francis University · Loretto
- Saint Joseph's University · Philadelphia
- Temple University · Philadelphia
- Thomas Jefferson University-East Falls Campus · Philadelphia
- University of Scranton · Scranton
New OT programs opening in Pennsylvania
8 programs in Pennsylvania 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.
- Gannon University — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2027/2028)
- King's College — Entry-level OTD, preaccreditation (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- Lebanon Valley College — Entry-level master's, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2029/2030)
- Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg Campus — Entry-level master's, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2029/2030)
- Seton Hill University — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
- Temple University — Entry-level master's, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2030/2031)
- Wilson College — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2027/2028)
- York College of Pennsylvania — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →
OTD or master's in Pennsylvania?
Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a Pennsylvania license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.
- 17 OTD programs, typically 2 years to 3 years.
- 17 master's programs, typically 23 months to 30 months.
- 1 OTA-to-OT bridge program 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 (26 programs). Compare nationally.
- 7 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.
Pay in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
- 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 Pennsylvania license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure before you practice. See how to get licensed in Pennsylvania.
OT schools by city in Pennsylvania
Frequently asked questions
How many occupational therapy schools are in Pennsylvania?
ACOTE lists 34 entry-level OT programs at 27 schools in Pennsylvania: 17 doctoral (OTD) and 17 master's. 8 programs are new and still working toward full accreditation.
Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in Pennsylvania?
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. Pennsylvania has 17 OTD and 17 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.
How long is OT school in Pennsylvania?
Master's programs here that publish a length run 23 months to 30 months (5 programs). OTD programs run 2 years to 3 years (9 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.
How much do occupational therapists make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in Pennsylvania was $98,440 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $69,120 to $128,790.
Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in Pennsylvania?
Yes: 9 OTA programs. See OTA schools in Pennsylvania.
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.