Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at (321) 972-1741 or admissions@riggscoah-edu.org for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum Riggs College and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Process

The Occupational Therapy Program at Riggs College in the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. Applicants applying to the Master of Occupational Therapy Program will apply online using the OTCAS application https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login . Students manage their applications online and may apply to more than one school at a time.

Application process opens July 21^st. Deadline for completed Riggs College application on OTCAS is December 1^st. Click the link for OTCAS frequently asked questions https://help.liaisonedu.com/OTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center.

It can take up to four weeks before an application is verified by OTCAS and released to us for review. We recommend that you submit your OTCAS application at least four weeks prior to our deadline. All application materials must be received for your application to be reviewed by Riggs College.

Program Admission Requirements

Submit an application and fee through Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) and satisfy all applicable Riggs College admissions requirements.

Click the logo to apply with OTCAS.

Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Program Overview

Curricular Sequence: Courses clustered in relationship to curricular sequence

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Program at Riggs College is designed to allow Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants to further their education by building upon their existing knowledge and experience and any candidate with advanced medical-related degrees include master’s and doctoral programs in fields like nursing (MSN, DNP), physical therapy, healthcare administration (MHA), public health (MPH), and medicine (MD), offering specialized knowledge and skills for various healthcare roles the students will develop skills in occupational therapy theory, evaluation, evidence-based intervention, and program development with both individuals, groups, and populations, as well as the opportunity to develop and/or enhance skills in management and leadership. In addition, they develop skills in management and leadership. The coursework will be completed in a hybrid format, both online and on campus labs and experiential activities. The MSOT program is located on the Riggs College campus.

Admission Requirements and Required Documents:

The MSOT program requires every applicant to submit the application and all required documents by the deadline.

• 1.) Riggs College Graduate Program Application Form
• 2.) Official Transcripts*
• 3.) 2 Letters of Recommendation from professional or academic sources
• 4.) An advanced degree from a foreign Country will be accepted.
• 5.) OTCAS is a centralized service:
  OTCAS serves as a centralized application service, allowing you to apply to multiple programs using one application. Riggs College Application fees is $150.00.
• 6.) Interview (arranged by invitation when all other application materials have been received and reviewed).
• 7.) Applicants to the occupational therapy program must submit all required documentation through OTCAS but will be required to submit additional documents to the Office admissions following an offer of admission.
• 8.) Admission to the program is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

A bachelor’s degree is not required for admission. The MSOT Program is in the Rehabilitation Science Department within Riggs College. The 77- hour (not including prerequisites) curriculum includes coursework in three components:
1.) Foundational knowledge
2.) Courses related to the occupational therapy process
3.) Fieldwork experience.
The program is a rigorous full-time program consisting of 2 sequential semesters (total of 12 months), including two Level II Fieldwork experiences of 12-weeks each.

The program is offered in a partially online/hybrid format, with much of the coursework completed online using various technologies, along with supplemental Simulations, Problem Based Learning, Lab and experiential activities approximately preceptorships once per month (3-4 times per semester in Fall/Spring and 2-3 times in the Summer). The MSOT program is located on the Riggs College campus, which also houses an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

List of Courses with Credit Hours: 2 Semesters

Schedule of Courses 2 Semesters

Program Accreditation

Accreditation: The entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). Riggs College (RC) applied for candidacy, April 9, 2024, 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 is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is https://www.acoteonline.org.

The program must obtain candidacy status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

State License
Riggs College is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Information regarding the College may be obtained by contacting the Executive Director, Commission for Independent Education, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida, (888) 224-6684.