15 Best Doctorates in Occupational Therapy Online 2020

Occupational therapists will play a key role in the healthcare sphere over the next few decades. The best online doctorates in occupational therapy are perfect for occupational therapists who want to start their own practices or attain more managerial positions at their current jobs. Such an advance comes with an excellent salary increase and the skills and ability to develop one’s own treatments and oversee patient care in a more direct, administrative way. What is a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Degree? A doctorate in occupational therapy continues the education that one would have received from a master’s program. While a master’s program focuses on more practical skills relating to the career field of occupational therapy, doctorate programs emphasize more theoretical therapy knowledge along with leadership-oriented skills, public health and policy understanding, and business and management skills. Put simply, these programs prepare occupational therapists to begin their own practices or rise to leadership or managerial positions at their current practice. As such, the programs focus not just on occupational therapy but also on classes incorporating business and management material. To enter into a doctorate program for occupational therapy, students must typically have already completed a master’s program in the same field. In addition, many doctoral programs require that applicants have some work experience in the occupational therapy field. Some programs require high GPAs or other academic prerequisites; most programs only have a few seats for each semester or year, so competition is typically quite high. In addition, many programs require several letters of recommendation or references from one’s peers or previous instructors. Careers for Occupational Therapy Majors Occupational therapists treat various kinds of patients who have disabilities for persistent injuries and illnesses through everyday therapy. This therapy can include physical activities or mental practices. It may also incorporate lifestyle changes that reach into every aspect of a patient’s life, including diet, relationships, and profession. Those with doctoral degrees in this field will typically rise into a more managerial position at their current practice or begin their own practice. While they may still see many patients, especially at the beginning of their doctoral career, people with occupational therapists will eventually handle more of the administrative responsibilities of their practice of employment. Doctoral occupational therapists may also hire other occupational therapists to see the majority of their clients or execute their prescriptions. In these cases, the doctoral occupational therapist will see each patient individually and develop a program or treatment for them that will be handled via other therapists. Occupational Therapy Salary Potential Occupational therapists have a high salary potential, and this cap grows when one acquires a doctoral degree. Standard occupational therapists have a median annual salary of about $84,000 per year. They also have a high job growth rate of about 18 percent, which is faster than the national average. Occupational therapists who hold a doctoral degree can have much higher salaries with an upper limit of about $120,000 a year. This salary increase reflects the greater responsibilities that a doctoral therapist holds and their advanced expertise in the occupational therapy field. Of course, the exact salaries for doctoral occupational therapists can vary greatly depending on how busy their practice is and how many patients they see. More successful therapists will receive more patients and make more money. What is the Best Online Doctorate in Occupational Therapy? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni   30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year   30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1University of UtahLocationSalt Lake City, UtahAverage Net Price$12,363More Information The University of Utah is a well-known school offering plenty of stellar programs. The online doctorate program in occupational therapy is a standout, and it’s the best offered by any college in the U.S. UU requires applicants to have at least two years of prior experience as an occupational therapist, but this can potentially be waived if the student is a recent graduate and has demonstrated exceptional academic performance in their years earning previous degrees. UU’s online curriculum is a great choice for professionals seeking a high-quality education without having to attend a physical school; taking courses online is well-suited to occupational therapists who have already begun a career. Certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy is required to be considered for acceptance into UU’s top-notch doctorate program. Application deadlines are in April, November, and March, for the fall, spring, and summer terms, respectively.