Occupational Therapy Programs
Hybrid Online Occupational Therapy Programs
MOT vs. OTD: Which Hybrid Online Occupational Therapy Program Is For You
At USAHS, we offer two distinguished programs for pursuing your occupational therapy career: the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Each is offered as a hybrid online OT program structured differently through our unique formats of in-person study. Each format is tailored to meet individual professional aspirations and lifestyle.
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
The MOT program is designed for those who aim to excel in the clinical practice of occupational therapy. This program equips you with the skills to design and apply treatments that help patients engage in everyday activities. With a choice of three formats that all incorporate blended learning—Residential, Hybrid Immersion, and Flex—this hybrid occupational therapy program caters to students with different needs, whether they’re seeking an immersive campus experience or need to balance work and study. The program can be completed in two to three years*, depending on the chosen format, making it an ideal choice for an online OT program for those eager to enter the field promptly.
If you’re an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) without a bachelor’s degree and wish to advance your career, our OTA to MOT Bridge program offers a seamless transition to earning your master’s degree while still maintaining the flexibility of hybrid occupational therapy programs. This pathway allows OTAs to leverage their existing skills and experience to complete the MOT in as little as two years*.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
The OTD program goes beyond clinical skills to include leadership, advocacy, and policymaking, preparing graduates to influence practice and administration in healthcare settings. This program – available as an online OT program with different blended learning components, based on pathway chosen – integrates the core competencies of the MOT with advanced knowledge. The OTD culminates in a capstone project where you can explore a specific area of interest within OT. Offered in Residential and Flex formats that allow you to pursue your OT degree partially online, the OTD requires more credit hours and typically takes about 2.7 to 3.7 years to complete*.
Flex, Hybrid Immersion And Residential Comparison
At USAHS, we offer three dynamic modalities for your occupational therapy education: Residential, Hybrid Immersion (not available for OTD program) and Flex. Each occupational therapy program includes online classes and is designed to fit different lifestyles and career goals, allowing you to choose the path that best suits your personal and professional needs. From traditional on-campus experiences to flexible, online OT programs with select in-person labs, our modalities ensure comprehensive, practical training tailored to full-time commitment.
Discover The Flex Format
Flex Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Pathway
The Flex MOT pathway at USAHS is designed for students who need to balance their occupational therapy education with work or other personal responsibilities. This flexible, online MOT format combines online coursework with immersive, hands-on lab sessions on select weekends. This allows students to manage their studies alongside their busy lives.
- Format: Online coursework complemented by on-campus labs during select weekends
- Ideal for: Students with jobs or other significant responsibilities
- Trimesters: 9
- Credit hours: 93
- Credit hours per term: 8-12
- Program duration: 3 years*
- In-person requirements: Travel to campus 4-7 times per trimester on select weekends
- Fieldwork experience: Two trimesters of practical, hands-on training.
- Start dates: Offered in Spring and Fall at San Marcos, St. Augustine, and Miami campuses; Summer and Fall start dates available at the Austin campus
- Living arrangements: Students can live almost anywhere in the US, making it an ideal choice for those seeking occupational programs online because they are unable to relocate near campus
The Flex MOT is available at the following USAHS campuses. Click on a campus to learn more:
San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX
Flex Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Pathway
The Flex OTD pathway at USAHS is tailored for students who need to balance their advanced occupational therapy studies with professional or personal commitments. This hybrid occupational therapy program format combines online learning with immersive, hands-on lab sessions conducted during select weekends. For those seeking online OT programs with flexibility that don’t sacrifice the depth of learning and hands-on experience, the Flex OTD at USAHS is the right choice.
- Format: Online classes during weekdays, complemented by on-campus labs for 3-5 days twice per term
- Ideal for: Students desiring the flexibility of a hybrid occupational therapy program that lets them live almost anywhere in the US
- Trimesters: 6
- Credit hours: 93
- Credit hours per term: 12-18
- Program duration: 2 years*
- In-person requirements: Requires travel to campus twice per term for 3-5 days of lab immersions
- Fieldwork experiences: Includes two trimesters of fieldwork to apply learning in real-world settings
- Start dates: Offered Spring, Summer and Fall at San Marcos, St. Augustine, Miami and Dallas campuses
- Living arrangements: Highly flexible, allowing students to reside almost anywhere in the US and travel to campus for lab sessions
The Flex OTD format is available at the following USAHS campus:
Dallas, TX
Discover The Hybrid Immersion MOT Format
The Hybrid Immersion MOT pathway at USAHS is designed for students who value the flexibility of an occupational therapy program online that lets them study from almost anywhere in the US while still benefiting from immersive, hands-on lab experiences. This OT online program format combines online coursework, accessible through both synchronous and asynchronous classes during weekdays, with intensive on-campus labs twice per term.
- Format: Online classes during weekdays, complemented by on-campus labs for 3-5 days twice per term
- Ideal for: Students desiring the flexibility of a hybrid occupational therapy program that lets them live almost anywhere in the US
- Trimesters: 6
- Credit hours: 93
- Credit hours per term: 12-18
- Program duration: 2 years*
- In-person requirements: Requires travel to campus twice per term for 3-5 days of lab immersions
- Fieldwork experiences: Includes two trimesters of fieldwork to apply learning in real-world settings
- Start dates: Offered Spring, Summer and Fall at San Marcos, St. Augustine, Miami and Dallas campuses
- Living arrangements: Highly flexible, allowing students to reside almost anywhere in the US and travel to campus for lab sessions
The Hybrid Immersion MOT format is available at the following USAHS campuses. Click to learn more:
San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Dallas, TX**
Discover The Residential Format
Residential MOT Pathway
The Residential MOT pathway at USAHS is crafted for students seeking a more traditional, immersive, educational experience. This hybrid occupational therapy program integrates online learning with extensive in-person components, including weekday labs held on campus. Combining the flexibility of online OT programs with immersive components provides a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
- Format: A blend of online coursework and face-to-face labs conducted on weekdays
- Ideal for: Students seeking a full campus experience and direct interaction with faculty and peers
- Trimesters: 6
- Credit hours: 93
- Credit hours per term: 12-18
- Program duration: 2 years*
- In-person requirements: Students should live in or near the campus city to facilitate easy access for weekday on-campus labs
- Fieldwork experiences: Two trimesters of fieldwork, providing real-world practice and learning
- Start dates: Available Spring, Summer and Fall at San Marcos, St. Augustine, Miami and Austin campuses
- Living arrangements: Ideal for students who can reside near the campus to fully engage in the vibrant campus life and available resources
Our Residential MOT format is available at the following campuses. Click to learn more:
San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX
The Residential OTD pathway at USAHS offers an intensive, campus-based experience that combines online coursework with hands-on labs conducted on weekdays. This format is designed for students who enjoy the flexibility of hybrid occupational therapy programs but prefer a highly structured learning environment that fosters deep engagement with faculty, peers, and the field of OT itself.
- Format: A blend of online learning and immersive, in-person labs on weekdays
- Ideal for: Students looking for a comprehensive campus experience and face-to-face faculty interaction
- Trimesters: 8
- Credit hours: 117
- Credit hours per term: 12-18
- Program duration: Approximately 2.7 years*
- In-person requirements: Ideal for students who can live in or near the campus city
- Fieldwork experiences: Includes two trimesters of hands-on fieldwork to apply learned skills in real-world settings
- Start dates: Offered Spring, Summer and Fall at all campuses
- Capstone project: Required, enabling students to delve deeply into a specialized area of interest within occupational therapy
The USAHS Residential OTD format is available at the following campuses. Click to learn more:
San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
**The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program at the Dallas, Texas, campus has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.