Washington · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Schools in Washington
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
Washington has 8 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 4 doctoral (OTD) and 4 master's. 5 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development or no longer admitting. Occupational therapists in Washington earn a median $107,670 a year.
Compare OT programs in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Yakima | Master’s | 100% | 2 years | $93,586 | — | No | — | — |
| University of Puget Sound Tacoma | OTD | 100% | 3 years | $147,310 | — | No | None | Fall |
| Whitworth University Spokane | OTD | 100% | — | $133,555 | — | — | 50 | — |
| Eastern Washington University (OTM) Spokane | Master’s | 95% | 2.5 years | — | — | — | 40 | Fall |
| University of Puget Sound Tacoma | Master’s | 84% | 2.5 years | — | — | No | None | Fall |
| Eastern Washington University Applicant Spokane | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| University of Washington Not admitting Seattle | Master’s | 96% | 2.25 years | $62,838* | 3 | — | — | — |
| University of Washington Not admitting Seattle | OTD | — | 11 quarters | — | — | — | — | — |
— = 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 Washington
Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington University (OTM) Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Spokane | 2.5 years | Full-time, in-person | 95% ’25 | Accredited |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) · OTA-to-OT bridge | Yakima | 2 years | Part-time track option available | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Puget Sound Entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Tacoma | 2.5 years | See program | 84% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of Puget Sound Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Tacoma | 3 years | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Whitworth University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Spokane | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Eastern Washington University Entry-level OTD | Spokane | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| University of Washington Master of Occupational Therapy | Seattle | 2.25 years | In person | 96% ’25 | Not admitting |
| University of Washington Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Seattle | 11 quarters | See program | — | 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 Washington
- Eastern Washington University · Spokane
- University of Puget Sound · Tacoma
- University of Washington · Seattle
- Whitworth University · Spokane
Master’s (MOT/MSOT) programs in Washington
- Eastern Washington University (OTM) · Spokane
- Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences · Yakima
- University of Puget Sound · Tacoma
- University of Washington · Seattle
New OT programs opening in Washington
2 programs in Washington 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.
- Eastern Washington University — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2029/2030)
- University of Washington — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2030/2031)
All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →
OTD or master's in Washington?
Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a Washington license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.
- 4 OTD programs.
- 4 master's programs, typically 2 years to 30 months.
- 1 OTA-to-OT bridge program for working assistants. About bridge programs.
- NBCOT pass rate: the median program here reported 98% of new graduates passing in 2025 (6 programs). Compare nationally.
- 3 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.
- 2 programs say observation hours are not required. See which.
Pay in Washington
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 Washington
- 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 Washington license from the Washington Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Department of Health) before you practice. See how to get licensed in Washington.
Frequently asked questions
How many occupational therapy schools are in Washington?
ACOTE lists 8 entry-level OT programs at 6 schools in Washington: 4 doctoral (OTD) and 4 master's. 2 programs are new and still working toward full accreditation. 2 listed programs are not admitting new students.
Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in Washington?
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. Washington has 4 OTD and 4 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.
How long is OT school in Washington?
Master's programs here that publish a length run 2 years to 30 months (4 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.
How much do occupational therapists make in Washington?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in Washington was $107,670 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $83,110 to $135,290.
Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in Washington?
Yes: 4 OTA programs. See OTA schools in Washington.
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.