Tennessee · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Schools in Tennessee
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
Tennessee has 12 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 7 doctoral (OTD) and 5 master's. 9 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development. Occupational therapists in Tennessee earn a median $97,700 a year.
Compare OT programs in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University Nashville | OTD | 100% | 3 years | $162,160* | 3 | — | 50 | — |
| East Tennessee State University Johnson City | OTD | 100% | 3 years (full-time) | $58,127* | 3 | No | — | — |
| Milligan University Milligan | Master’s | 100% | — | $64,780 | 3 | — | — | — |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga | OTD | 100% | — | — | — | No | None | Fall |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis Memphis | Master’s | — | — | $39,696 | — | — | — | — |
| Belmont University Nashville | Master’s | 97% | 23 months | $108,320* | 3 | No | 50 | — |
| Tennessee State University Nashville | Master’s | 93% | — | — | — | — | 30 | Fall |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University-Downtown Knoxville Site Knoxville | Master’s | 87% | 2 years | — | 3 | — | 40 | — |
| Lincoln Memorial University Knoxville | OTD | 83% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South College-Knoxville Campus Candidacy Knoxville | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South College-Nashville Candidacy Nashville | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis Candidacy Memphis | 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 Tennessee
Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) – Bridge | Nashville | 23 months | Hybrid | 97% ’25 | Accredited |
| Belmont University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Nashville | 3 years | In-person | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| East Tennessee State University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Johnson City | 3 years (full-time) | In-person | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Lincoln Memorial University Entry-level OTD | Knoxville | See program | See program | 83% ’25 | Accredited |
| Milligan University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Milligan | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Tennessee State University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Nashville | See program | See program | 93% ’25 | Accredited |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University-Downtown Knoxville Site Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Knoxville | 2 years | See program | 87% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Chattanooga | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Memphis | See program | See program | 100% ’22 | Accredited |
| South College-Knoxville Campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Knoxville | See program | See program | — | Candidacy |
| South College-Nashville Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Nashville | See program | See program | — | Candidacy |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Memphis | See program | See program | — | Candidacy |
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 Tennessee
- Belmont University · Nashville
- East Tennessee State University · Johnson City
- Lincoln Memorial University · Knoxville
- South College-Knoxville Campus · Knoxville
- South College-Nashville · Nashville
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga · Chattanooga
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis · Memphis
Master’s (MOT/MSOT) programs in Tennessee
- Belmont University · Nashville
- Milligan University · Milligan
- Tennessee State University · Nashville
- Tennessee Wesleyan University-Downtown Knoxville Site · Knoxville
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis · Memphis
New OT programs opening in Tennessee
3 programs in Tennessee 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.
- South College-Knoxville Campus — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- South College-Nashville — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2027/2028)
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis — Entry-level OTD, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2027/2028)
All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →
OTD or master's in Tennessee?
Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a Tennessee license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.
- 7 OTD programs, typically 3 years.
- 5 master's programs, typically 23 months to 2 years.
- 1 OTA-to-OT bridge program for working assistants. About bridge programs.
- 1 with hybrid, online or weekend formats (confirmed on the school’s site).
- NBCOT pass rate: the median program here reported 99% of new graduates passing in 2025 (8 programs). Compare nationally.
- 3 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.
- 1 program says observation hours are not required. See which.
Pay in Tennessee
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 Tennessee
- 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 Tennessee license from the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Department of Health) before you practice. See how to get licensed in Tennessee.
Frequently asked questions
How many occupational therapy schools are in Tennessee?
ACOTE lists 12 entry-level OT programs at 10 schools in Tennessee: 7 doctoral (OTD) and 5 master's. 3 programs are new and still working toward full accreditation.
Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in Tennessee?
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. Tennessee has 7 OTD and 5 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.
How long is OT school in Tennessee?
Master's programs here that publish a length run 23 months to 2 years (2 programs). OTD programs run 3 years (2 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.
How much do occupational therapists make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in Tennessee was $97,700 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $68,520 to $119,070.
Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in Tennessee?
Yes: 6 OTA programs. See OTA schools in Tennessee.
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.