Bridge Master of Occupational Therapy

The Bridge Master of Occupational Therapy is a two-year program, including two summer terms. All courses in the program are required and sequential. The program requires completion of 80 credit hours through courses offered online, traditional and blended, as well as two 12-week Level II Fieldwork experiences.

Degree Requirements & Academic Calendar

Occupational Therapy courses are offered in 16-week sessions. The master's degree program is a continuous, 24-month program beginning in the fall semester.

How To Apply

Students can apply directly to the Master of Occupational Therapy portion of the bridge program if they:

1. Graduated from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) OTA program
2. Hold a current license as an OTA
3. Have a bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
4. Achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 from their bachelor’s program

Important Dates

July 24, 2026 - Deadline to apply

August 26, 2026 - First day of class

Application Process

1. Start Your Application: A username and password will be generated and sent to the email you provide. You will have 30 days to complete the online application. Separately from the application, you will need to submit additional items depending on your program. In order to submit the online application, you will be required to upload the following:

• Statement of purpose that discusses long range goals, interest in the chosen discipline, and the reason(s) for applying to this program.
• A current resume that includes educational and employment history, college extracurricular activities, community activities, honors and leadership roles, hobbies and nonacademic interests

2. Submit Official Transcripts: Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions showing an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Official transcripts must be submitted directly to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Official transcripts can be sent by mail or electronically.

• We give careful consideration to all credentials in an application. The minimum GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the last 60 credit hours of coursework is required.
• The School of Graduate and Professional Studies uses a holistic approach giving careful consideration to all credentials in an application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum grade point average of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale may be considered for conditional admission which could require frequent contact by advisors. Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or lower will not be considered for conditional admission.
• Official transcripts must be submitted directly to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Official transcripts can be sent by mail or electronically from verified services.

School of Graduate and Professional Studies

30 N. Brainard St.

Naperville, IL 605403

3. Letter of Recommendation: One professional or academic letter of recommendation from an employer, professor, or another person who is able to judge your potential for graduate study. Letters can be emailed to grad@noctrl.edu.

Admissions Interview

Applicants may be invited to an admissions interview if deemed necessary by the School of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Cost of Attendance

When considering the financial cost of attending college, one number doesn't tell the whole story. Cost of Attendance (CoA) provides a more complete picture of total direct and indirect costs of one academic year at North Central College.

2026-2028 Cohort Cost of Attendance 

Direct Costs

Direct costs are expenses that will be included on your semester bill, such as tuition and fees.

Total Direct Costs of Program: $81,943

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are expenses that will not appear on your semester bill but should still be considered when planning for graduate school. These may include housing, food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Indirect costs vary based on a student’s lifestyle, living arrangements, and educational choices. Estimated indirect costs can be found on the College’s website: https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/graduate-cost-attendance 

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student may receive within a given academic year. Please note that your actual expenses may differ from the indirect cost estimates. This is normal, and students are encouraged to use budgeting tools to help manage educational and living expenses.

Financial Aid Options

Graduate students at North Central College may be eligible for federal and private financial aid, most commonly federal student loans.

To be considered for federal aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and include North Central College’s school code: 001734.

Under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program, graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, with a maximum lifetime limit of $100,000 in graduate borrowing.

Students may also apply for private education loans to cover any remaining educational costs. A list of lenders used by other North Central College students is available at www.elmselect.com. 

Because expenses vary by student, we encourage you to consider ways to minimize costs and borrowing whenever possible.

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid by calling 630-637-5600 or email finaid@noctrl.edu with any questions. Visit https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/financial-aid to learn more about the financial aid process and resources available.

Scholarship Resources

Students may be eligible for state, regional and national scholarships. Below are just a few places to search for scholarships for occupational therapy students!

• AMBUCS
• AOTA
• AOTF
• AvaCare Medical Scholarship
• American Academy of CPR & First Aid Scholarship
• F.A. Davis Scholarship
• IL AOTA
• Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
• North Central Academic Works Search

Matriculation Process

The matriculation process for occupational therapy schools in Illinois begins after a student receives the notification of acceptance. If a student either fails to satisfy the below matriculation requirements or omits/falsifies information required on official admission documents, the student automatically forfeits his/her seat in North Central College’s Master of Occupational Therapy program.

Required Documentation

To complete the matriculation process for the master's program, the student must return the signed matriculation agreement and submit the following:

• Nonrefundable deposit fees of $500. The entire deposit is applied toward the student’s tuition if the student enrolls.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Signed technical standards form.
• Complete medical file that includes proof of immunization/immunity will need to be submitted within one month of starting the program. You will receive further information on the process as you get closer to the start of the program.
  • Physical – complete within 2 months of starting the program
  • Vaccines needed:
    • Hepatitis B
    • Varicella
    • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
    • Tdap
    • Meningococcal
    • Covid 19
    • Influenza
    • TB Test – two-step
• Proof of medical and disability insurance coverage.
• Access to computer and acknowledgement of technology requirements.
• Students requesting a F1 visa must submit a Declaration of Financial support, a bank letter certifying the amount of funding for the first year of studies, a photocopy of passport identification page, visa pages and I20 form, if applicable.
• Authorize and pass the criminal background check, international police clearance, drug screening and/or fingerprinting background check.
• Any additional documents requested by the School of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Background Checks

Health care facilities require North Central College students to provide background checks, drug testing, fingerprinting and other information in order to participate in clinical rotations at their sites. Successful completion of fieldwork experience is required for the Master of Occupational Therapy degree at North Central College and is a prerequisite for being able to sit for the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy exam to practice as an OT professional. Students who refuse to consent to background checks and/or drug testing will be dismissed from the degree program.

Felony Convictions

Applicants should be aware that a felony conviction might affect their ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure. For more information about how to become a certified occupational therapy professional, contact the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and the state licensure board in the state you wish to practice. For entering students with a concern, NBCOT can be contacted directly for information related to the Early Determination Review process.

Technology Requirements

The Master of Occupational Therapy curriculum is delivered both in person and online. Applicants who receive and accept an offer of admission are expected to be proficient at using a personal computer.

Browser Requirements:

Online courses will be available in Blackboard. If your computer does not have the proper hardware, Blackboard may run slowly or may not run at all. Prior to using Blackboard on your computer, compare your current system configuration with the software and hardware recommended specifications.

Blackboard Support recommends the following hardware and software requirements in order to access courses on Blackboard.

Connection Speed

Once you have ensured that your computer has the proper operating system and hardware to run Blackboard, you should verify that your internet connection is fast enough to support Blackboard. A connection speed test is available. If your internet connection is slower than the recommended speed, you may encounter difficulties when loading pages, especially during peak usage times.

• Additional recommended hardware and software can be found on North Central’s ITS website.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the program start?

Each cohort begins in the Fall. The first cohort of the Bridge MOT program launched in August of 2023.

Do I need to come to campus?

Yes. However, courses are designed to fit a working OTA schedule. 35% of the courses are offered online and residential classes will be offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

How many times during the semester should I expect to be on campus?

Students can expect to be on campus every other or every third weekend (depending on the semester) from Friday afternoon through Sunday.

When are weekend classes?

Weekend classes will take place on Friday afternoons, throughout the day on Saturdays, and on Sunday mornings.

Are online courses synchronous or asynchronous?

Online classes will be asynchronous, meaning you can login to complete course work on your own schedule.

Do I need to purchase any medical equipment for labs?

No. The labs and practical experiences for this class are not the type that equipment is needed.

Wentz Center for Health Sciences & Engineering
Take a virtual tour of the state-of-the-art Wentz Center for Health Sciences & Engineering, home to the occupational therapy lab and faculty offices.

Virtual Tour

Leave of Absence

On a very rare occasion in the MOT program, it may be necessary for a student to interrupt his or her studies to accommodate external demands. Under such circumstances, a student may apply for a Leave of Absence. Leave of Absence time period is one calendar year. An approved Leave of Absence is not included in the five year completion timeline.
Application is made through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. A student on  Leave of Absence must notify the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and the MOT Program Director if their intention is to resume graduate study. The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student who is approved for a Leave of Absence must meet with the MOT Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of “B” or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student’s official grade. The School of Graduate and Professional Studies will approve only one Leave of Absence.

Readmission

The MOT Program requires continuous enrollment.
Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment must reapply through OTCAS and meet all current admission criteria, unless prior approval is granted. Upon acceptance, the student is bound by the terms for completion of the degree as outlined by the requirements as outlined by the academic catalog.

Registration

Registration for MOT courses will be completed during orientation and at subsequent points in the academic year. After a term begins, all enrollments and withdrawals from courses are governed by published college wide deadline dates. A student who wants to withdraw must contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Repeating Courses

If a student earns a grade of a “C-” or lower, they must repeat the course the next time the course is offered. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continue in the curriculum until the course is offered again. MOT courses are not offered as directed studies.

Auditing Courses

Previously completed courses may be audited only with permission of the MOT program director if space is available.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

If a student in the OT Program received a “C” or “C+” in any course, they will be put on academic probation. The student will work with the program director to develop an action plan and strategies to assist them in being successful in the program. 

If a student receives a second “C” or “C+” in any course, they will be subject to academic dismissal.

Only one “C-” or below is allowed per student prior to dismissal from the program. A grade of “C-” or below requires the student to repeat the course. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continuing in the curriculum until the course is offered again. Courses may only be repeated once. The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student must meet with the Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of “B” or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student’s official grade. If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 3.0, the student will be placed on Academic Probation. An Occupational Therapy student has one semester to raise their GPA to a 3.0 or above. Once the GPA has reached a 3.0 or above, the student will be removed from Academic Probation. 

A student who is academically dismissed must reapply directly through the OT Program Education Committee. The student must provide the committee with compelling evidence as to how they have addressed the issues that had prohibited them from performing to the level of expectation of the OT program, which resulted in their dismissal. If they do not show compelling evidence of how they addressed the issues and problems, the student will not be reinstated.
 

General Degree Program Guidelines and  Graduation Requirements for the MOT Program

1. Satisfactory completion of all courses in the curriculum as defined in the academic catalog.
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Completion of Level II Fieldwork with a passing grade.
4. Completion and submission of fieldwork assessments including the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation and the Student Evaluation of Fieldwork Experience.

No grade of a “C-” or below may be applied to the degree program. Only one “C-” or below is allowed per student prior to dismissal from the program.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

The MOT degree must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation.