Occupational Therapy Schools and Degree Programs in Arkansas

The state of Arkansas has only one doctoral program for aspiring occupational therapists that is approved by the Association of Certified Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). That program is housed at Arkansas State University, located in the far northeastern corner of the state. Other degree programs in the state extend only as far as an associate’s degree.

With an associate’s degree, individuals can become occupational therapy assistants (OTA). With a doctoral degree, individuals are declared fully licensed occupational therapists. All occupational therapy professions are regulated by the Arkansas State Medical Board and contain requirements specific to the degree level pursued. Occupational therapists and assistants in Arkansas can work without a license only if they show proof that they are scheduled to take the next exam offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Exams for both occupational therapists and OTAs cover topics studied and practiced throughout degree programs and career choices alike.

For licensing information, interests parties may contact:

Arkansas State Medical Board
1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 340
Little Rock, AR 72201-2936
support@armedicalboard.org

Continue reading for further information on Arkansas’s occupational therapy degree programs:

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Arkansas

Occupational therapists in Arkansas earn an average salary of $81,167 per year, higher than their neighbors in Tennessee and Mississippi. Still, this salary is low compared to the national average. High-earning occupational therapists in the state, however, can earn upwards of $100,000 per year. For more information on ACOTE-accredited postgraduate programs in the state, continue reading below:

Arkansas State University

College of Nursing and Health Professions
Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
PO Box 910
State University, AR 72467
cwright@astate.edu

  • Degree Level: Arkansas State University offers a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) to successful graduates.
  • Credit Hours: Students must complete 120 credits hours over a three-year period. Classes are held in fall, spring, and summer.  
  • Tuition (In-state): Tuition at the school is $4,273 per semester for in-state students.
  • Application Due Date: All applicants are due by February 1st of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants must complete relevant coursework to be admitted to the program, such coursework includes: medical terminology, anatomy and physiology I and II, physics, and three psychology courses. Further requirements, such as a final GPA and transcripts, are included in the aforementioned link.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Arkansas

Occupational therapy assistants in the state of Arkansas earn an average salary of $54,364 per year. This salary is low compared to the national average for OTAs. Degree programs for this position typically last 1 to 2 years. Information regarding ACOTE-accredited schools for the OTA program is included below:

South Arkansas Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
311 South West Avenue
El Dorado, AR 71730
cmeyer@southark.edu

  • Degree Level: South Arkansas Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) for their OTA degree.
  • Credit Hours: The program consists of 86 credit hours in total.
  • Tuition (In-state): Tuition costs for the program are dependent on the semester in which a student is enrolled. The total cost of the program is $8,342 for in-state students. For more information regarding tuition costs, refer to the program’s homepage mentioned above.
  • Application Due Date: Applications close March 19th, 2020 for their program beginning in the fall.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applications must include proof of a relevant course, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a completed Occupational Therapy Assistant Application Form, among other requirements included in the program’s homepage.  

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Medical Education Division
1411 N. Constitution Avenue
Ashdown, AR 71822-8374
theminger@cccua.edu

  • Degree Level: Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant program within their school of Medical Education. Those who complete the program are awarded an A.A.S. degree.  
  • Credit Hours:  Students must complete 41 credit hours in order to graduate.
  • Tuition (In-state): For in-state applicants, tuition costs $87 per credit hour. For in-district applicants, tuition costs $74 per credit hour.
  • Application Due Date: Applications are due March 1st of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Students must complete all requirements listed on the OTA Application Checklist and show proof of all relevant coursework, prior to applying to the occupational therapy program.

Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1700 Helberg Lane
Ozark, AR 72949-2013
Email- wpool2@atu.edu

  • Degree Level: Arkansas Tech University offers an associate degree for its OTA program.
  • Credit Hours: The program consists of 43 credit hours that can be completed in less than 18 months.
  • Tuition (In-state): Tuition for Arkansas Tech University’s Ozark Campus is $129 per credit hour, for in-state residents. The program costs $5,547 in total.
  • Application Due Date: All applications are due by March 1st of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Applicants must meet all admissions criteria by providing transcripts, volunteer hours, and a personal statement, among other materials.

Baptist Health College Little Rock/University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech

School of Occupational Therapy Assistant
11900 Colonel Glenn Road
Little Rock, AR 72210-2820
karen.james@baptist-health.org

  • Degree Level: Baptist Health College Little Rock partners with the University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech to grant an A.A.S. degree to successful graduates of their OTA program.
  • Credit Hours: The program consists of 70 credit hours in total and can be completed in 21 months.
  • Tuition (In-state): Tuition and fee rates are dependent on the semester in which a student is in, but generally fall between $4,000 and $5,000 a semester.
  • Application Due Date: Applications are due April 15th of each year.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: OTA applicants must submit their GPA, ACT scores, transcripts, and proof of observation hours, alongside an Application for Admissions.