Occupational Therapy
Program overview
Occupational therapy (OT) is a medically-based profession that focuses on promoting independence for clients to increase their successful performance with activities of daily living (ADL). Occupational therapists provide skilled services to individuals of all ages who may experience any combination of physical, developmental, cognitive, emotional, and social difficulties. Graduates of the occupational therapy program will be familiar with the processes and procedures necessary to tailor rehabilitation individually for each client, through evaluation and treatment, and to restore or improve function in occupational performance within the context of the client’s life environments and relationships. If you are accepted into the OT program, you will develop and implement OT interventions including: restoration of performance abilities; instruction in compensatory techniques; adaptation of tasks, processes or environments; disability prevention techniques; and health promotion strategies.
Study in Paducah, Kentucky
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree is offered within the School of Nursing and Health Professions, located on the Paducah Regional campus (4430 Sunset Ave, Paducah KY 42001).
Murray State University offers a unique curriculum designed to introduce you to the profession of occupational therapy through current research, clinical experiences, and interprofessional collaboration with other health care professionals.
The MSOT program is a 24-month continuous, year-round curriculum that strengthens your critical inquiry, cultural competence, and patient care skills through didactic and clinical education. Level II Fieldwork is completed full-time, the last two semesters of the program. Upon completion of all curriculum requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.0, graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
For OT Program inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Sherri Powers, OT Program Director
spowers8@murraystate.edu
270.809.1687
Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees
Accreditation
The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.AOTA and its Web address is acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
**Note: All states regulate occupational therapy practice and a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Student and Program Outcomes
NBCOT Program Results
View program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
NBCOT Pass Rate for Murray State MSOT New Graduate (NG) Students
- 2023: 94%
- 2022: 100%
- 2021: 94%
* 3 year aggregate: 100%
Graduation Rate for Murray State MSOT Students
| Entering Year/Graduation Year | Student Entering/Graduating | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/2023 | 17/17 | 100% |
| 2020/2022 | 22/21 | 95% |
| 2019/2021 | 19/17 | 89% |
| 3 Year Graduation Aggregate | 58/55 | 95% |
Cost of attendance 2024-2025*
| OT Program* | Fee | Additional Comments* |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Program is 72 credit hours) |
Graduate tuition rates are subject to change based on the annual review by the Murray State Board of Regents and CPE. |
|
| Fees | $25 course fees; $200 total | 8 courses |
| Housing | Varies for private lease/ rentals | No campus housing available for graduate students at the Paducah Regional Campus. |
| Fieldwork | Varies for relocation, living expenses, food, travel, clinical clothing, health insurance, physical exams, etc | |
| Professional Memberships |
AOTA - $150 KOTA - $60 SOTA - $90 |
|
| Supplies |
Estimate $200 to $250 |
Including goniometers, gait belt, polos/khakis, splint kits, BP/stethoscope |
| Textbooks |
Estimate $3,000 for program |
Many textbooks are used in multiple courses |
| Clinical Simulation Access |
$300 |
|
| Student Liability Insurance |
Estimate $80 for program |
|
| CPR for Healthcare Provider |
Estimate $100 for program |
|
| Data Management System (for immunization records) |
$100 for program |
|
| Test Prep Workshop for Boards |
$300 |
|
| NBCOT Certification Exam |
Estimate $555 |
|
| Application Fee |
Estimate $200 |
Graduate school application |
| Graduation |
Estimate $350 |
Regalia, OT pin, graduation application, etc. |
| Other Incidentals |
Estimate $400 |
|
| Estimated Cost of Attendance for the 2 year program |
Estimate $52,000 |
* All of the information listed is subject to change and is an estimation only to
help
you plan for potential educational needs. Please see the Graduate Tuition Rates webpage for the most updated information.