OT Bridge Program: Take the Next Step in Your Occupational Therapy Career
Many occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) may look to progress their career by becoming an Occupational Therapist (OT). St. Catherine University is now offering an OT bridge program, so OTAs with bachelor’s degrees can quickly and seamlessly transition into a career as an OT.
What Is an OT Bridge Program?
The traditional path of an OT requires students to graduate with a degree in a related field before committing two to three years toward a master’s program and earning their Occupational Therapist License (OT/L). St. Kate’s OT bridge program allows certified OTAs to build upon their education and earn their Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) on a faster timeline.
In the occupational therapy assistant to occupational therapy bridge program, students will work through our mostly online curriculum to earn their master’s degree in as few as 20 months.
Who Should Apply to Our OT Bridge Program?
St. Kate’s OT bridge program is ideal for OTAs who want to advance their OT careers.
The OT bridge program is designed for current OTAs with a bachelor’s degree. If you don’t have a bachelor’s, our admissions team would be happy to discuss options for obtaining one through St. Kate’s.
All St. Kate’s OTA graduates with a bachelor’s degree are offered automatic provisional admission into our OT bridge program. They must complete a statistics prerequisite, have one year and 1,500 hours of OTA experience, a 3.0 GPA, proof of initial certification and other requirements. An admissions advisor can guide you through the process.
OT Bridge Program Overview
| Category | OT Bridge Program |
|---|---|
| Degree: | Master’s Degree (MAOT) |
| Certification Body: | NBCOT |
| State Licensure: | Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact | AOTA |
| Career Scope: | Full autonomy, increased clinical decision-making |
| Timeline: | ~20 months (post-OTA experience) (56 credits) |
| Instruction Modality: | Primarily online, with occasional labs in Texas |
What to Expect in the OT Bridge Program
Our OT bridge program’s 20-month curriculum combines online didactic coursework with level I fieldwork and minimal in-person labs.
Online Coursework
The online coursework portion of the curriculum is our program’s primary learning method, supplemented with minimal in-person requirements. This adaptable learning model ensures students have the flexibility to integrate these elements into their schedule and acquire well-rounded skills for a successful career.
In-Person Labs
The lab portion of the program is facilitated at our learning site in Texas. St. Kate’s occupational therapy assistant to occupational therapy bridge program accepts applicants from across the U.S., but we require students to attend labs at the Texas location a few times throughout the program to practice applying concepts and skills learned in the online coursework. There might also be minimal synchronous online lab times scheduled throughout the semester.
Fieldwork
The second in-person element of our program is the level II fieldwork seminars. Level II fieldwork occurs in the final two semesters of the program. Our program faculty will help find and coordinate your level II fieldwork rotations in the area where you reside. These two 12-week rotations will occur in an occupational therapy setting such as a hospital or outpatient facility. These experiences accomplish similar goals to your OTA fieldwork, applying learned theory and enhancing your skills through hands-on participation.
OT Bridge Program Requirements and Prerequisites
To be considered for admission, all applicants must meet the minimum requirements:
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA for college work
- Minimum of one years’ work experience as an OTA and 1,500 hours of practice experience
- Letter of recommendation and resume
OT Bridge Program Prerequisites
As a qualified OTA, you have the foundational knowledge to help prepare you for your transition to a career as an OT. We at St. Kate’s, however, want to guarantee that each of our students starts the OT bridge program on equal footing. That’s why we require the successful completion of several prerequisite courses prior to admission.
| Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I and II* | 6-8 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| General Psychology | 3 |
| Lifespan Development Psychology | 3 |
| Total | 9-17 |
*BIOL 2400 will be accepted from St. Kate’s graduates.
If you have taken one or more of these courses in your previous academic experience, an admissions advisor can help you determine if the credits are transferable.
FAQs
What kind of support will I have as a student?
After completing our contact form, St. Kate’s dedicated admissions advisors will help you meet the eligibility requirements and gather the materials to prepare the best application possible. Our admissions advisors will answer any questions you have about our programs and assist you in building an enrollment plan that works toward your intended start date.
How long does the OT Bridge Program take to complete?
St. Kate’s OT bridge program can be completed in as few as 20 months. This timeline may vary, however, depending on how long it takes to meet the eligibility requirements, including completing the prerequisite courses with an acceptable GPA.
Can I apply if I don’t have an occupational therapy background?
St. Kate’s OT bridge program is designed for OTAs with a bachelor’s degree looking to advance their careers hoping to seamlessly transition into the next step of their education. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, contact an admissions advisor to learn about your options to obtain one. To accommodate the timeline of our OT bridge program, St. Kate’s asks that all candidates provide proof of initial NBCOT certification.
For More Information
Reach out to one of our admissions advisors for more info on St. Kate’s OT bridge program and your eligibility.
Note: The OT Bridge Program is currently seeking accreditation and is not yet enrolling students. See our Accreditation page for details.