Occupational Therapy Schools and Degree Programs in Delaware

Occupational therapy licenses are regulated in Delaware by the Division of Professional Regulation Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. Higher education is needed to become an occupational therapist in Delaware, and there are two levels of licensure offered by the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice: an occupational therapy license, or an occupational therapy assistant license. To receive either license to practice occupational therapy or as an occupational therapy assistant, you must have a degree that is from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). There are a few schools that offer occupational therapy programs in the state, but only two schools that are accredited for Delaware licensure.

Occupational therapists in the United States earn a variety of salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists make a median pay of $84,270 per year or $40.51 an hour, nationally. The occupational therapist’s average salary in Delaware is higher than the national average, at $92,409, but may fall in the range of $77,586 to $100,679. To receive a license as an occupational therapist in Delaware you need a master’s level of education. There is one AOTA certified school to receive a master’s education in occupational therapy: Wesley College. The salaries for the surrounding states and districts are as follows:

Occupational therapy assistant salaries in the United States may vary by state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that an occupational therapy assistant’s national median pay is $57,620 per year, or $27.70 an hour. The certified occupational therapist assistant’s average salary in Delaware is also slightly higher than the national average, at $61,894 a year, with a range between $50,176 and $73,555. There is one AOTA certified school that offers occupational therapy assistant programs, available at two campus locations: the Delaware Technical Community College.

Accredited Masters Occupational Therapy Program

There is only one occupational therapy program that is recognized for state licensure in Delaware.

Wesley College

The Wesley College Masters of Occupational Therapy Program is a two-year master’s degree, that follows a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. The therapy program at Wesley College is accredited by the ACOTE, and graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

  • Address:
    120 North State Street;
    Dover, Delaware 19901.
  • Contact:
    Phone: (302)736-2300;
  • Degree Level:
    Two-year master’s degree.
  • Field Work:
    In addition to coursework, students will be required to complete a total of 24 weeks of fieldwork.
  • Tuition:
    The total cost of the two-year program is currently $70,500.
  • Application Due Dates:
    The application must be submitted through the occupational therapist centralized application service (OTCAS), which may take a few weeks to process. The OTCAS application is due January 15th and must be verified by February 15th.
  • Prerequisites/ Application Requirements:
    All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of no less than 3.0 (on a four-point scale) as a prerequisite to the master’s program. Acceptable agencies of accreditation for prerequisite degrees include:
  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges;
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

You must also include at least one letter of recommendation written by a registered occupational therapist and at least 100 observation hours. The following prerequisite courses must also be completed:

  • 2 semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with a laboratory component;
  • 1 semester of English;
  • 1 semester of Statistics;
  • 1 semester of Physics or Human Movement;
  • 1 semester of Sociology or Cultural Anthropology;
  • 1 semester of General Psychology;
  • 1 semester of Abnormal Psychology;
  • 1 semester of Developmental Psychology, LifeSpan Development, or Human Development.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs

The occupational therapy assistant program at Delaware Technical Community College offers an associate’s degree that is accredited by the ACOTE of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, administered by the NBCOT. The Delaware Technical Community College offers the Occupational Therapy Assistant program on two campuses, Georgetown Campus, and Wilmington Campus.

Delaware Technical Community College Georgetown Campus

  • Address:
    21179 College Drive;
    Georgetown, Delaware 19947.
  • Contact:
    Contact Joanne Cassidy, the department chair at:
    Phone: (302)259-6675
    Email: jcassid3@dtcc.edu
  • Degree Level:
    Associates.
  • Tuition:
    The total cost of the occupational therapy assistant program is currently $18,176.75.
  • Application Due Dates:
    The occupational therapy program at Delaware Technical Community College utilizes competitive admissions. Prerequisites may be required, and applications are due at the start of the spring semester.
  • Prerequisites/ Application Requirements:
    The competitive admissions application is ranked by meeting the following requirements:
    • A GPA of 2.75 must be held by students applying to the occupational therapy assistant program. Prerequisites may include required courses such as:
      • Biology 120;
      • General Psychology;
      • Chemistry 100 or 110;
  • Students will also be scored on four interviews and will receive extra points for Delaware residency.

Delaware Technical Community College Wilmington Campus

  • Address:
    300 N. Orange St.
    Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
  • Contact:
    Contact Dr. Heidi Baist, the Department Chair at:
    Phone: (302) 571-5355
    Email: hbaist@dtcc.edu
  • Degree Level:
    Associates.
  • Tuition:
    The total cost of the occupational therapy assistant program is currently $18,176.75.
  • Application Due Dates:
    The occupational therapy program at Delaware Technical Community College utilizes competitive admissions. Prerequisites may be required, and applications are due at the start of the spring semester.
  • Prerequisites/ Application Requirements:
    The competitive admissions application is ranked by meeting the following requirements:
    • A GPA of 2.75 must be held by students applying to the occupational therapy assistant program. Prerequisites may include required courses such as:
      • Biology 120;
      • General Psychology;
      • Chemistry 100 or 110;
  • Students will also be scored on four interviews and will receive extra points for Delaware residency.

Non-accredited Schools With Occupational Therapy Programs

The following schools and educational institutions in Delaware offer occupational therapy programs and opportunities but are not accredited by the ACOTE:

  • University of Delaware
    • The University of Delaware (UD) program is a joint program with Thomas Jefferson University (TJU). The coursework completed at UD is a preparation program for the coursework at TJU.
  • Delaware State University
  • Dawn Career Institute Inc.
  • Academy of Massage and Bodywork
  • Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology