Occupational therapy school: the two entry degrees
An occupational therapist can enter the profession with either an entry-level master's degree or an entry-level clinical doctorate from an ACOTE-accredited program, and both qualify for the same NBCOT exam and state license.[acote][nbcot_fees] ACOTE defines the master's as at least five but no more than six full-time-equivalent years of college in total, and the doctorate as at least six, counting the undergraduate years before the program.[acote] BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for OTs.[ooh_ot]
| Program | Credential path | Total college time (ACOTE definition) |
|---|---|---|
| OT master’s (MOT/MSOT) | NBCOT OTR exam, state license | At least 5, at most 6 FTE years |
| Entry-level OT doctorate (OTD) | NBCOT OTR exam, state license | At least 6 FTE years |
| OTA associate | NBCOT COTA exam, state license | Usually at least 2 years |
| OTA bachelor’s | NBCOT COTA exam, state license | Usually at least 4 years |
How long is occupational therapy school?
An OT master's program usually takes two to three years to complete, according to BLS; at the University of Utah the MOT runs seven terms (about 2.3 years) and the entry-level OTD about three years.[ooh_ot][s_utah_ot] The doctorate takes longer but leads to the same NBCOT exam, license and job title.
Occupational therapy school cost
Published 2026–27 tuition and fees at the University of Utah total $70,984 for the MOT and $78,951 for the OTD for residents, and $103,332 and $111,299 for non-residents who reclassify after the first year.[s_utah_ot] Neither ACOTE nor any federal agency publishes a national average for OT program cost, so check each program's own cost-of-attendance page; living costs come on top.
| Program | Resident / in-state | Non-resident | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utah MOT (2026–27) | $70,984 | $103,332 | 7 terms (~2.3 years) |
| University of Utah OTD (2026–27) | $78,951 | $111,299 | About 3 years |
| Cape Fear CC OTA associate (2025–27)* | $8,240 | $21,680 | 5 terms (program phase) |
*Includes tuition, fees, books and uniforms.[s_cfcc_ota]
Student loans for OT school
Occupational therapy is not on the Education Department's professional-degree list, so MOT and OTD students can borrow at most $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal Direct Unsubsidized loans for loan periods beginning on or after July 1, 2026.[fr_therapy] The Department said the same conclusion applies to OT as to physical therapy. Federal graduate loans carry 8.07% in 2026–27.[fr_rates] A three-year OTD therefore cannot be fully funded with federal loans if tuition and living costs exceed $61,500.
| Borrowed | Term | Monthly | Share of median OT pay (gross) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $70,984 | 20 years | $597 | 7.1% |
| $78,951 | 20 years | $664 | 7.9% |
| $100,000 | 25 years | $776 | 9.3% |
OTD and MOT debt-to-salary
New federal loans made since July 1, 2026 are repaid on a standard plan whose term grows with the balance (20 years for $50,000 to $99,999) or on the income-based Repayment Assistance Plan.[usc_1087e] Borrowing the full Utah resident OTD tuition leaves about $91,694 owed when payments start, 1.11 times a new OT's 25th-percentile salary of $82,510; the first-year RAP payment at that salary is $550 a month.[s_utah_ot][onet_ot] Enter your own program below.
OTD and MOT debt-to-salary calculator
2026 federal loan rulesWhat an occupational therapy degree leaves you owing when repayment starts, against a new OT’s salary, under the 2026 federal loan rules.
Debt when repayment starts ÷ first-year salary
1.11× your salary
Owe $91,694 on a $82,510 salary · standard plan $771/month · 13.8% of take-home
| Federal Direct (capped at $100,000) | $78,951 + $12,743 interest |
|---|---|
| Balance owed | $91,694 |
| Federal standard plan, 20 years | $771/mo |
| Total interest over the terms | $106,080 |
| Federal RAP, first year | $550/mo |
RAP payment is below the $617 monthly interest: under RAP that unpaid interest is not charged. RAP uses your AGI (here: the salary) and lasts up to 360 payments. Standard plan payment 11.2% of gross pay. Take-home: single filer, 2026 federal tax and FICA.
Estimate, not a job offer. Arithmetic on your inputs and the federal repayment rules for loans made on or after July 1, 2026 (20 U.S.C. 1087e). Interest is assumed to build from each disbursement through a six-month wait before the first payment; your servicer’s figures govern.
The NBCOT exam and licensing
After graduation you apply to NBCOT for the OTR exam (or the COTA exam for assistants): $540 for an online first application and $430 for a retake.[nbcot_fees] Every state licenses occupational therapists.[ooh_ot] The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact began accepting privilege applications in January 2026; as of October 2026 eleven states take them: Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri.[otcompact]
Is occupational therapy school worth it?
The median occupational therapist earns $100,330 and the 25th percentile $82,510, or $39.67 an hour, which is the closest public figure to a first-year salary.[onet_ot] Run that salary through the calculator above with your program's cost. OTAs earn a median $72,300 after a far cheaper associate degree; see occupational therapist salary for both. For comparison, a DPT costs more and takes longer (physical therapy school cost), while respiratory therapy needs only an associate degree (respiratory therapy school). Physical therapists earn $102,760 at the median (physical therapist salary).[onet_pt]
Frequently asked questions
How long is occupational therapy school?
An entry-level master’s usually takes 2 to 3 years to complete (BLS); an entry-level OTD about 3 years.
Is an MOT or an OTD better?
Both are ACOTE-accredited entry routes, sit for the same NBCOT exam and lead to the same license. The OTD takes longer and usually costs more.
How much does the NBCOT exam cost?
$540 for an online initial application and $430 for an online retake (NBCOT, accessed Nov 14, 2026).
How much does occupational therapy school cost?
There is no official national average. The University of Utah lists $70,984 for its MOT and $78,951 for its OTD for residents (2026–27 tuition and fees).
Sources
- 20 U.S.C. 1087e(d)(7) and (q): repayment plans for Direct Loans made on or after July 1, 2026 (tiered standard plan; Repayment Assistance Plan)
- From the Director, February 2022: entry-level OT doctoral, OT master’s and OTA degree definitions
- Fees (online initial exam application $540; retake $430)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists
- MOT and OTD tuition estimates 2026-27 (MOT $70,984 resident; OTD $78,951 resident)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant estimated cost of attendance ($8,240 in-state)
- Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations: professional degree list and preamble on PT, OT, SLP and audiology (91 FR 23768)
- Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans (loans first disbursed July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027)
- Before you apply: states accepting OT Compact privilege applications
- Local Wages: 29-1122.00 Occupational Therapists (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 29-1123.00 Physical Therapists (state and metro percentiles)