There are 4 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin, which provide an entry-level master’s degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy degree.
The license is required to practice as an occupational therapist in Wisconsin, one can appear for the licensure examination after clearing the OT entry-level degree from accredited OT schools.
Occupational Therapy degrees are without exception strongly sought after by companies these days, and students who graduate in this field of study have countless job openings ready for them directly after they enter the job market.
Finding the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin will give you a boost in your journey to becoming an occupational therapist.
So keep reading to find out the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin as well as the requirements to be an occupational therapist in Wisconsin,
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Related: 12 Top Therapists in Charleston SC
4 Best ACOTE Certified Occupational Therapy Programs In Wisconsin
If you’re looking for a list of the top occupational therapy programs In Wisconsin, look no further. Click on a facility to learn more about it. Also, see the address to know how to get there.
Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) is a private Lutheran university in Mequon, Wisconsin. It is part of the eight-member Concordia University System operated by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The university is a coeducational institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, offering 78 undergraduate majors and minors, 17 graduate programs, eight accelerated adult education programs, and three doctoral/professional programs, as well as accelerated evening and e-learning programs.
Doctoral degrees are offered in pharmacy, physical therapy, and nursing practice. CUW also has 10 classroom centers providing community outreach with full adult education and post-graduate programs.
The university is organized into five schools or colleges: the School of Education, the School of Business and Legal Studies, the School of Human Services, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Adult and Continuing Education.
The OT program at Concordia University Wisconsin prepares students to obtain employment in a variety of settings. The didactic coursework, community-based experiences, and clinical education prepare students as entry-level occupational therapists.
Students participate in clinical experiences which include individual and group treatment sessions in pediatric and adult populations. CUW prepares uncommon occupational therapists who are ready to serve their communities and clients.
CUW’s goal in the Master of Occupational Therapy program is to prepare you as an outstanding occupational therapist who will positively impact communities by empowering others to reach their highest potential through leadership, best practices, advocacy, and innovation. It emphasizes the importance of serving all clients with the best care possible.
You’ll develop the skills necessary to enable people to do their day-to-day occupations for the purpose of improving or enabling participation. By combining classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinic-based instruction, the courses at CUW train you for a wide range of occupational therapy settings. This is one of the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin.
Address: 12800 N Lake Shore Dr, Mequon, WI 53097, United States
Phone: +1 262-243-5700
Marquette University
Another one of the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin, Marquette University is a private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of the diocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The university was named after 17th-century missionary and explorer Father Jacques Marquette, SJ, to provide an affordable Catholic education to the area’s emerging German immigrant population. Initially an all-male institution, Marquette became the first coeducational Catholic university in the world in 1909 when it began admitting its first female students.
Marquette is part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and currently has a student body of about 12,000. It is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”. Marquette is one of the largest Jesuit universities in the United States and the largest private university in Wisconsin.
Marquette is organized into 11 schools and colleges at its main Milwaukee campus, offering programs in the liberal arts, business, communication, education, engineering, law, and various health sciences disciplines. The university also administers classes in suburbs around the Milwaukee area and Washington, DC.
While most students are pursuing undergraduate degrees, the university has over 68 doctoral and master’s degree programs, a law school, a dental school (only one in the state), and 22 graduate certificate programs.
Marquette’s entry-level clinical occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program is a three-year (nine-semester) professional course of study designed to educate future leaders of a collaborative and culturally responsive workforce.
The mission of the university and college are influential components of the OTD curriculum design and are supportive of its desire to nurture graduates who will be discerning agents for change as professionals in practice.
The OTD program goals are a natural corollary to the culture of a Jesuit research university located in the heart of a community with long-standing health disparities. The curriculum design operationalizes the OTD program goals of Practice Competence, Professional Identify, Servant Leadership, and Critical Curiosity.
Address: 1250 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
Phone: +1 800-222-6544
Also read: 3 Best Occupational Therapy Programs in Chicago
Mount Mary University
Mount Mary University is a private Roman Catholic women’s university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and was Wisconsin’s first four-year, degree-granting Catholic college for women. Today, the university serves women at the undergraduate level and both women and men at the graduate level.
The university enrolls nearly 1,500 students and offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 30 academic majors, as well as eight master’s and doctoral degree programs. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs also are offered. Mount Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Mount Mary University’s Professional Entry Occupational Therapy program offers two tracks to becoming an occupational therapist – the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD).
The accredited Master of Science (M.S.) in Occupational Therapy program and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) is a co-ed degree program designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to become certified (registered) occupational therapists (OTR).
Mount Mary’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is a 28-month program that serves as preparation for initial certification as an occupational therapist.
Students complete 21 months at Mount Mary University focusing on professional skills and then participate in a college-arranged fieldwork experience for six months, putting their knowledge into practice. Following fieldwork, students complete a one-month culminating project and practice experience.
Mount Mary’s OTD program is a 33-month program that serves as preparation for initial certification as an occupational therapist. Students complete 21 months at Mount Mary University focusing on professional skills and then participate in a college-arranged fieldwork experience for six months, putting their knowledge into practice.
Following fieldwork, students complete a doctoral capstone experience of 14 weeks and a doctoral capstone project, for a total of 33 months. It is one of the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin.
Address: 2900 Menomonee River Pkwy, Milwaukee, WI 53222, United States
Phone: +1 414-930-3000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Another one of the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded when Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848, UW–Madison is the official state university of Wisconsin and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System.
It was the first public university established in Wisconsin and remains the oldest and largest public university in the state. It became a land-grant institution in 1866.
The 933-acre main campus, located on the shores of Lake Mendota, includes four National Historic Landmarks. The university also owns and operates a National Historic Landmark, the 1,200-acre Madison Arboretum, located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the main campus.
Wisconsin is one of the twelve founding members of the Association of American Universities, a selective group of major research universities in North America. It is considered a Public Ivy and is classified as an R1 University, meaning that it engages in a very high level of research activity. In 2018, it had research and development expenditures of $1.2 billion, the eighth-highest among universities in the U.S.
The occupational therapy program in UW–Madison resides in the Department of Kinesiology and offers two graduate program options in the OTD: an entry-level doctor of occupational therapy (Entry-Level) and a post-professional doctor of occupational therapy (Post-Professional).
Occupational therapists interested in pursuing advanced research training may also apply to the M.S./Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Occupational Science. The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare clinicians, researchers, and teachers who possess a solid foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of occupational therapy and science disciplines.
Address: Madison, WI, United States
Phone: +1 608-263-2400
Also read: 11 Top Therapists in Chicago
Requirements To Become An Occupational Therapist In Wisconsin
Here are the requirements to be an occupational therapist in Wisconsin.
- You must earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) certified school.
- Performed at least 6 months of occupational therapy work experience as part of an internship under a licensed Occupational Therapist.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Pass the NBCOT OTR examination.
- To renew a license, you must complete 24 Continuing Competency hours during the licensure period.
FAQs
See below the most asked questions about the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin
How do I become an occupational therapist in Wisconsin?
To learn more about how to become an occupational therapist in Wisconsin, please read the following steps.
Step 1: Graduate from an ACOTE Certified School.
Step 2: Fulfill the Clinical Work Requirement.
Step 3: Pass the National Certification Exam.
How long does it take to get an occupational therapy license in Wisconsin?
It typically takes approximately 6 to 10 weeks to receive your occupational therapy license in Wisconsin. This is slow compared to other occupational therapy licenses across the US.
What are the schools with the best occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin?
Here are the schools with the best ACOTE-certified occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin
- Concordia University Wisconsin
- Marquette University
- Mount Mary University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
How much do occupational therapists in Wisconsin
The average salary for an occupational therapist in Wisconsin is $57,500 per year. Occupational therapist salaries in Wisconsin can vary between $26,500 to $84,000 and depend on various factors, including skills, experience, employer, bonuses, tips, and more.
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