Occupational Therapy

The Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) program uses meaningful and purposeful activities and occupations to promote health, independence, learning, and well-being across the life span, with people of all ages from newborns to the elderly. The occupational therapist works for the process of therapy services, directly evaluating and providing therapeutic interventions to individuals, families, groups, and communities to facilitate health, well-being, and learning through engagement in meaningful activities and occupations. In addition to direct patient care, occupational therapists participate in addressing the factors that affect the delivery of health services and the disparities that contribute to occupational deprivation.

Program goals and objectives.

• The program will offer a sequential, integrated curriculum that reflects contemporary MOT practice.
• The program will provide students with a curriculum that recognizes, fosters understanding, and embraces diversity and different learning styles.
• MOT students are adult learners, and our program will provide the opportunity to take responsibility for learning, professional behavior, respect for others, and preparedness.
• MOT students will anchor assessment and intervention strategies in occupation-centered practice, fostering client-centered interaction that generates a meaningful Occupational Therapy Process.
• The program will prepare graduates to provide occupational therapy interventions in various settings within the OT professional scope of practice.
• The program will prepare graduates to demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors consistent with California State Law and Practice Acts and the professional standards of practice.
• The program will employ faculty who demonstrate current knowledge in their teaching areas and are committed to professional standards of excellence.
• The program will prepare graduates to utilize self-assessment and awareness in communication, skills, knowledge, and behaviors with patients/clients, caregivers, colleagues, and other healthcare team members.

• Hands-On Lab Training
• Clinical Hours Provided
• Job Placement Assistance

All applicants to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts must meet the General Admission Requirements for all Programs, including the entrance exam where required, and the additional admission requirements for this program.

• Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution by the United States Department of Education prior to matriculation. International bachelor’s degrees will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants must have achieved a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average overall. There may be special considerations for a whole person/holistic approach for applicants who have extenuating circumstances.
• Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts. Original transcripts must be sent directly from the Registrar of an educational institution. Copies are not accepted. All coursework must be completed and given a grade of at least a “C.” Please allow seven (7) days for review. • Prerequisites vs. Program Credits: While prerequisite classes (such as Human Anatomy, Physiology, or Statistics) can be taken at outside accredited institutions or community colleges prior to admission, completing them only satisfies entry requirements. They do not grant credit or advanced standing toward the graduate degree units themselves. All core occupational therapy coursework must be completed at Gurnick Academy.
• Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses before the beginning of the program.
• Applicants must submit an essay about why they want to become an Occupational Therapist (OT) and why they are interested in attending Gurnick Academy.
• Applicants must submit documentation of 20 contact/observation hours in the occupational therapy field. (This step is not required if the applicant is an OTA, COTA, or PTA)
• Applicants must submit two (2) letters of reference. • One of these letters must be written by a present or former faculty member, academic advisor, or employer. • One reference letter should come from a professional in the occupational therapy field or another clinical supervisor.
• Top-qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an applicant interview process.
• Applicants are expected to be computer-literate and experienced in word processing. All curricula require extensive computer usage. Accepted applicants are required to have a laptop computer, reliable internet, and updated software prior to the first day of class.
• Students must obtain and maintain a Health Care Provider level of CPR certification from the American Heart Association (Basic Life Support, CPR, and AED for Healthcare Professionals). Verification must be submitted to the Occupational Therapy department prior to enrollment.
• The MOT program has two points of entry: • March and September • If you are applying for the March start, you must start the admissions process in September of the previous year. • If you are applying for the September start, you must start the admissions process in May of the same year. • Applications for the master’s in occupational therapy program are processed on a rolling admissions basis, which means that seats are offered to qualified applicants as soon as they are identified and end when all seats are filled. For that reason, applicants are encouraged to apply early as seats fill quickly. MOT Prerequisite Requirements Prerequisite college-level coursework or an approved equivalent must be completed for a grade. AP credits are accepted for all prerequisites. Preference will be given to applicants who have letter grades for courses and prerequisites. Prerequisites older than 6 years will not be accepted unless the course is part of the degree major. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The program information, length and schedule may change. Make sure to read the accompanying Addendum for changes and updates, as well as check in with the Admission Advisor for details. Enrollment is available only to students who live in California.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ Occupational Therapy Master (MOT) program has a library and classrooms equipped with modern audio-visual teaching aids, textbooks, journals, anatomical charts, and models in addition to e-library resources. The laboratories are equipped with the tools, equipment, and materials students will encounter in contemporary occupational therapy practice, providing meaningful opportunities to build confidence and develop hands-on clinical skills. The pediatric lab is designed for student simulation, equipping students to work with children and youth experiencing developmental, musculoskeletal, neurological, and learning challenges. This space also serves as the program's sensory integration lab, providing opportunities to apply evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies that support the development of motor skills, motor coordination, self-regulation, sensory modulation, cognition, and whole-brain learning.

The activities of daily living (ADL) lab is designed to reflect a realistic living environment, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. It provides an opportunity for students to develop practical skills for promoting independence and participation in everyday occupations within the home environment. It also allows students to practice assessing barriers to independence, such as fall risks, that can be found in a variety of home environments. The ADL lab provides an ideal learning space for students to discuss ideas for aging in place for older adults and setting individuals of all ages up for engagement in everyday activities.

Students participate in hands-on laboratory experiences that develop practical clinical skills in driving assessment and intervention, splint fabrication, splint application and evaluation, and the use of orthotic and prosthetic devices. Through guided practice and clinical application, students strengthen technical skills, develop clinical reasoning, and gain experience with interventions commonly used in contemporary occupational therapy practice. The instructor-to-student ratio is 1:26 in lecture and 1:13 in laboratory.

The program consists of eight (8) quarters of twelve (12) weeks each.

Quarters 1-6 consist of didactic and lab instruction, including synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning, and on-site application sessions. Students will engage in virtual classroom instruction three (3) to five (5) days per week. On-site application sessions will be scheduled twice per quarter for a 3-5 day visit each session, with an additional assistive technology workshop in Quarter 3. Starting in quarter two, externships or Level I Fieldwork will start taking place, the Level I Fieldwork entails 40 hours distributed during the quarter. Quarters three, four, and five will have a 40-hour Level I Fieldwork experience each. Quarters seven and eight will have a full-time (480 hours per quarter) Level II Fieldwork experience.

The student receives nine hundred thirty-five (935) hours of didactic and laboratory instruction and one thousand one hundred and twenty (1,120) hours of clinical education, allowing them to apply learning to practice. The curriculum provides students with the technical, clinical, and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in the field of occupational therapy. In addition, the program prepares students to take their NBCOT Certification exam. Upon completion of the program, a Master in Occupational Therapy degree is awarded. Normal completion time for this program is ninety-six (96) weeks, excluding any holidays and vacation times. In order to ensure program completion is on time and the required program hours are fulfilled, class times can and may be rescheduled on an alternate day of the week (i.e., Sunday through Saturday).

Upcoming start date for this program: March 29, 2027.

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $575.00; Tuition $100,005.00. Total program cost $100,680.00. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Financial aid. Contact the school for financial aid details for this program. Gurnick's FAFSA school code is 041698.

Net Price Calculator. Estimate your net price with Gurnick's Net Price Calculator.

Other fees, as applicable. ATI TEAS $120; background check $33–$75; drug testing $74–$148; CPR $55–$80; fingerprinting $81 and up; licensing board fees $200–$500 depending on the exam and license; campus parking permit $25; graduation ceremony fee $20–$50. Some of these fees may be paid by Gurnick Academy for some programs.

Career paths. Occupational Therapist.

Certification and licensure. NBCOT certification examination (OTR), once the program is granted ACOTE Accreditation Status.