Florida Occupational Therapy Degrees

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: March, 17 2010

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Florida Occupational Therapist Education

Florida occupational therapy courses usually take two to five years to complete, depending on the students' pace. A number of institutions are offering part-time occupational therapy programs and online programs, which can be convenient for students who already have careers. The base curriculum for most Florida occupational therapy courses consist of classes in rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, psychology, neurology, development, industry theory, anatomy, occupational therapy research, biomechanics, pharmacology, gerontology, and neurorehabilitation methods. Depending on the university, the curriculum for an occupational therapy program in Florida can range from 30-80 credits, and may require students to take courses throughout all four seasons. And although it may not be necessary for practice, students can follow a doctorate program.

When Occupational Therapists in Florida renew their licenses (every two years), they must complete at least 26 continuing education requirements each time they renew their licenses. The Florida Occupational Therapy Association offers inexpensive webinars that offer a variety of topics, and they encourage their members to attend continuing education conferences through the American Occupational Therapy Association. FOTA also sanctions courses presented by its members, and offers approval to new courses and materials presented by members.

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. Students who are interested in pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy should consider degrees in communications, community health, public health, biology, anatomy, physiology, nursing, physical therapy, chemistry, psychology, and sociology, or occupational therapy. While any academic major is acceptable, a degree in one of these fields will provide students with a stronger foundation for the classes they will take for their Master's degree.

Get a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. All Florida Occupational Therapists must have a Master's in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) in order to practice. There are a number of programs in Florida that offer part-time and full-time MSOT programs, which take about two to five years to complete.