The Illinois state has 6 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools which provide an entry-level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy program. Plus, the state also has 9 ACOTE accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools which provides an associate degree. The license is required to practice as an OT or OTA in the state of Illinois and it’s compulsory for the graduates of OT schools to apply for the licensure.

The 6 Occupational therapy schools in Illinois are-
- Chicago State University
- Governors State University
- Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus
- Rush University
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Elmhurst College.
Occupational therapy in Illinois-
The occupational therapist, Occupational therapy assistant, and OT/OTA students have their own state association, i.e. ILOTA (Illinois Occupational Therapy Association).
The ILOTA is a non-profit volunteer organization which provides a professional community for its members. The ILOTA is a state-based professional organization and public voice for the occupational therapy profession in the Illinois.
The main role of the association is to promote the occupational therapy profession, create public awareness, provide support to the therapist in continuing education and improve and maintain the quality of occupational therapy profession in the state of Illinois. The ILOTA is an affiliated state body of the American Occupational therapy association.
Website – www.ilota.org/
Occupational therapy License in Illinois-
Occupational therapist and Occupational therapy Assistants are required to get a license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
The minimum requirements for the license are –
- Entry-level master degree or OTD degree
- NBCOT exam’s passing certificate.
- Application fees of $25.
Temporary OT/OTA Permit:
A temporary permit to practice as an occupational therapist (OT) or as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) may be granted to applicant If he/she has been determined eligible for licensure except for passing of the examination, the applicant shall be issued a letter of authorization which allows him/her to practice under supervision. The supervision means the presence of the licensed occupational therapist on-site at least 75% of the employee’s work hours.
List of OT schools in the Illinois –
#1 Chicago State University (CSU)
The Chicago state university is one of the oldest university in the USA,
it was founded in 1867. The Occupational therapy program at the CSU is running
OT program since 1984. The OT school offers affordable tuition fees to the
students.
CSU currently offers two entry-level OT programs. In the combined program, students complete the senior year of their baccalaureate program in the department and then enter the graduate program, while the traditional graduate program is designed for students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree. At the end of either program, graduates earn a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree.
- Combined Bachelors of Science in Health Science/Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
- Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
Chicago State University College of Health Sciences |
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Courses Offered– |
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University Campus | Chicago, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Public Institute. |
Department chair- | Leslie Roundtree, DHS, MBA, OTR/L |
Course Duration- MOT |
28 months program (including fieldworks). |
Seat capacity | 30 admits per intake. |
OT Admission | Once a year (Fall). |
Application Procedure |
|
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
|
Address |
Department of Occupational Therapy College of Health Sciences 9501 South King Drive Chicago, IL 60628-1598 Email- [email protected] |
Website | www.csu.edu |
#2 Governors State University
The occupational therapy school offers an entry-level Masters of Occupational therapy and a Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Post-professional Dr. OT admission requires an entry-level master of occupational therapy degree or a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, plus an earned master’s degree in any field.
Governors State University | |
Course Offered– | Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT). |
University Campus | University Park, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Public Institute. |
Department chair- | Catherine Brady, Ed.D., OTR/L |
Course Duration- MOT | 2-year program (including fieldworks). |
Seat capacity | 28 admits per intake. |
OT Admission | Once a year (Summer). |
Application Procedure | Submit an online application through OTCAS. |
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
|
Address | Occupational Therapy Department 1 University Parkway University Park, IL 60484-0975 Email- [email protected] |
Website | www.govst.edu/mot/ |
#3 Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus
The OT school at Midwestern University offers an entry-level Doctoral Occupational therapy programs (Master of Occupational Therapy – closed and replaced by OTD program). The current OTD program has Candidacy Status provided by the ACOTE.
The OTD curriculum is rigorous and innovative. The OTD Program is the first to develop in Illinois, and the focus is targeted toward developing in each student the professionalism and occupation-centeredness of an excellent OT practitioner.
Midwestern University- Downers Grove Campus College of Health Sciences |
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Course Offered– | Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD- Candidacy Status) |
University Campus | Downers Grove Campus, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Private non-profit Institute. |
Program Director- | Bryze Kimberly, Ph.D., OTR/L |
Course Duration- | 33-month program (including fieldworks). |
Seat capacity | 50 admits per intake. |
OT Admission | Once a year (Fall). |
Application Procedure | Submit an online application through OTCAS and An on-campus interview. |
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
|
Address | College of Health Sciences 555 31st Street Downers Grove, IL 60515-1235 Email- [email protected] |
Website | www.midwestern.edu |
#4 Rush University
The OT school at Midwestern University offers an entry-level Doctoral Occupational therapy programs (Master of Occupational Therapy – closed and replaced by OTD program). The current OTD program has Candidacy Status provided by the ACOTE.
Rush University College of Health Sciences |
|
Course Offered– | Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD- Candidacy Status) |
University Campus | Chicago, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Private Institute. |
Dept Chairperson- | Linda Olson, Ph.D., OTR/L |
Course Duration- | 33-month program (including fieldworks). |
Class Size | 36 admits per intake. |
OT Admission | Once a year (Fall). |
Application Procedure | Submit an online application through OTCAS. |
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
|
Address | Department of Occupational Therapy 600 South Paulina, Suite 1011 Chicago, IL 60612-3833 Email- [email protected] |
Website | www.rush.edu |
#5 University of Illinois at Chicago
The OT school at the University of Illinois has a very important role in developing Occupational therapy profession since 1943. The Occupational Therapy school has been integrating research, education and clinical practice in service to one vision: Creating Tomorrow’s Practice.
The OT school promotes research in the field of occupational therapy, it has 290 plus publications in last 5 years.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is considered as a home of MOHO (model of human occupation). MOHO is the internationally acclaimed and the most widely-cited and utilized occupation-focused practice model in the world.
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences |
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Courses Offered– |
|
University Campus | Chicago, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Public Institute. |
Dept Chairperson- | Joy Hammel |
Course Duration- MSOT | 23-month program (including fieldworks). |
Class Size | 46 admits per intake. |
OT Admission | Once a year (Fall). |
Application Procedure |
|
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
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Address |
Department of Occupational Therapy 1919 West Taylor Street, M/C 811 Chicago, IL 60612-7250 Email- [email protected] |
Website | uic.edu/ot/ |
#6 Elmhurst College
The OT School at Elmhurst College offers an entry-level master of occupational therapy (MOT). Students in the master of occupational therapy program at Elmhurst College are required to complete a total of 21 courses. This full-time program is offered in a hybrid format and can be completed in 24 months. Accreditation Status: Candidacy Status (Pre accreditation Status Denied 4/1/17)
Elmhurst College | |
Course Offered– | Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) |
University Campus | Elmhurst, Illinois |
Public or Private- | Private Institute |
Program Director- | Dr. Elizabeth Wanka, DrOT, MOT, OTR/L |
Course Duration- MOT | 2-year program (including fieldworks). |
Class Size | —– |
OT Admission | Once a year (Fall). |
Application Procedure |
|
Minimum Requirement (MOT) |
|
Prerequisite Course work (MOT) |
|
Address |
Occupational Therapy Program 190 S. Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126-3271 Email- [email protected] |
Website | www.elmhurst.edu |
Applicant Occupational Therapy program in Illinois-
#1 Lewis University-Romeoville
(Applicant OT – professional entry-level master’s)
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446-2200.
#2
North Central College
(Applicant OT – professional entry-level master’s degree)
School of Education and Health Sciences
30 North Brainard Street
Naperville, IL 60540-4607.
Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) Schools in Illinois-
#1 Fox College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
6640 S. Cicero Avenue
Bedford Park, IL 60638
(708) 444-4500.
#2 Illinois Central College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
201 South West Adams Street
Thomas Building 203
Peoria, IL 61635.
#3 Lewis & Clark Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Division of Health Sciences
5800 Godfrey Road
Godfrey, IL 62035-2466.
#4 Lincoln Land Community College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Health Professions
5250 Shepherd Road
P.O. Box 19256
Springfield, IL 62794-9256.
#5 McHenry County College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
8900 US Highway 14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2738.
#6 Parkland College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
2400 West Bradley Avenue
Champaign, IL 61821-1899.
#7 South Suburban College of Cook County
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Allied Health Department
15800 South State Street
South Holland, IL 60473-1262
#8 Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market*)
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
3213 South Park Avenue
Herrin, IL 62948-3711
#9 Wright College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
4300 N. Narragansett Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634-1591.
Occupational Therapy jobs in Illinois-
The outlook for occupational therapy employment is very good in Illinois. The United States’s Bureau of Labor Statistics includes occupational therapy as one of its fastest-growing occupations, with registered occupational therapists predicted to have a faster than average growth (21- 36%). Many Health Care Recruitment providers have reported a shortage of occupational therapists and OTA in Illinois.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 4,800 employed and licensed occupational therapists in Illinois in May 2016. And the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in Illinois for the occupational therapist and occupational therapy Assistant.
Occupational Therapy Salary in Illinois-
As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapist in Illinois was $83,800 per annum (in 2016) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy professionals was $82,450 and $39.54, respectively in May 2016.
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