Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) is a 4-year undergraduate degree that trains learners to be occupational therapists, helping persons with disabilities or injuries to regain their everyday living abilities and overall quality of life via therapeutic methods.
The eligibility criteria for doing Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is to pass class 12th in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with 50% marks from a recognised board. Applicants may also be required to qualify certain exams.
The average course fee for studying Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in India ranges between INR 2,00,000-12,00,000. Some of the top institutions offering this course are D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, SIMATS, S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, LPU, Jamia Hamdard and others.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy graduates can work as Clinical Occupational Therapist, Neurological and Psychiatric Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation Specialists, and others. They can expect an average package of INR 2-6 LPA depending on their job role and experience level.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Course Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course name | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) |
| Course Level | Undergraduate/Bachelor’s |
| Duration | 4-4.5 years (6 Months Internship) |
| Eligibility | Class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology with an aggregate of 50% or above. |
| Admission Process | Entrance-Based |
| Entrance Exams | NEET-UG, MET, SRMJEE, SRIHER |
| Colleges | D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, SIMATS, S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, LPU, Jamia Hamdard, IHS Bhubaneswar, NIMS Jaipur |
| Job Roles | Clinical Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation Therapist, Pediatric Occupational Therapist |
| Salary Package | INR 2-6 LPA |
Why choose a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Course?
The benefits of studying Bachelor of Occupational Therapy are given below:
- Supports individuals in regaining their autonomy in everyday activities, significantly influencing their well-being and overall quality of life.
- Provides a rewarding profession where you can engage with various demographics, from children with disabilities to older adults.
- Merges medical expertise with psychological insights and creativity to create tailored rehabilitation programs.
- Offers the chance to work in multiple environments, including hospitals, educational institutions, rehabilitation facilities, and corporate offices.
- Emphasizes comprehensive patient care by tackling physical, emotional, and cognitive issues related to daily tasks.
- There is a rising demand for occupational therapists worldwide due to growing recognition of rehabilitation and mental health needs.
- Promotes continuous education with avenues to focus on pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, or mental health.
- Enables diverse career options, such as self-employment, research roles, teaching, and consulting opportunities.
- Helps in creating a more inclusive society by empowering individuals with disabilities to lead independent lives.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course are as follows:
- Applicants must have completed their Class 12 with minimum 50% marks from recognized boards
- Applicants must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects in Class 12.
- After being eligible for the course, the applicant needs to pass the national/state/university-level entrance exams.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Entrance Exams
Some of the entrance examinations that are considered for admission into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course are as follows:
| Entrance Exam | Level | Application Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET-UG 2025 | National | 7 Feb–7 Mar 2025 | 4 May 2025 |
| MET 2025 | University | 1 Feb-15 Mar 2025 (Phase 1) 30 Mar-20 Apr 2025 (Phase 2) | 18,19 Apr 2025 (Phase 1) 12 May 2025 (Phase 2) [tentative] |
| SRMJEE 2025 | University | Phase 1- 09 April 2025 Phase 2- 30 April 2025 | Phase 1- 15, 16 April 2025 Phase 2- 5, 6 May 2025 |
| SRIHER 2025 | University | 29 Jan- 15 May 2025 | 25 May 2025 |
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Colleges and Fees
Some of the top colleges offering Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in India are mentioned below:
| NIRF Ranking 2024 | College Name | Exam Accepted | Approx. Course Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 (Medical) | D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune | AIAHCET | INR 11,00,000 |
| 12 (Medical) | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai | Merit-Based | INR 2,00,000 |
| 18 (Medical) | S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | SRMJEEH | INR 9,00,000 |
| 4 (University) | Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal | MET | INR 11,86,000 |
| 27 (University) | Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara | LPU NEST | INR 7,20,000 |
| 37 (Medical) | Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi | NEET UG | INR 5,80,000 |
| - | IHS Bhubaneswar | IHS Medical Aptitude Test | INR 3,35,000 |
| - | NIMS Jaipur | Merit-Based | INR 2,10,000 |
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Admissions Process 2025
Admission in the BOT course is more or less similar for all institutions. However, it depends on the college whether they offer merit-based or entrance-based admission.
For reference, the admission process for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is given below:
Registration- Candidates can apply for the course through the college's official website or the admission portal provided.
Entrance Examination- Students interested in BOT admission in MAHE have to apply for the MET (Manipal Entrance Test) and appear on scheduled date and time.
Merit List- The college releases its list of shortlisted candidates depending on the rank or marks obtained by the candidates in the entrance exam.
Document Verification- Candidates who have been shortlisted will need to submit their qualification data like Class 10+2 mark sheet, entrance exam score, passport-size photograph, Aadhar card, and others.
Final Selection- The final selection will be based on the entrance exam score/rank, past academic performances and availability of seats.
Seat Allotment- Candidates who have been finally selected will receive a provisional admission order from the college. Then candidates are required to pay the admission fee or tuition fee as per instructions, after which they will receive the admission order from the college to start their academic journey when the new session begins.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Syllabus
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or BOT syllabus is similar in most of the colleges and may vary a little across different universities depending on the course curriculum followed by them. The syllabus for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course followed by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Chennai), is mentioned below:
| Semester-1 | Semester-2 |
|---|---|
| Anatomy- Upper Limb, Head, Neck and Thorax | Anatomy- Lower Limb, Abdomen and Pelvis |
| Integrative Physiology | Systemic Physiology |
| Theoretical Foundations in Occupational Therapy | First Aid and Emergency Care |
| Sociology | Medical Terminology and Records |
| English for Healthcare Professionals | Analyzing Occupation and Activities |
| Physical and Mental Health using Yoga | Psychology |
| Constitution of India | Environmental Science |
| Disaster Management | Indian Traditional Health Practices |
| Semester-3 | Semester-4 |
|---|---|
| Microbiology and Pathology | General Surgery, ENT and Ophthalmology |
| General Medicine and General Pediatrics | Biochemistry and Pharmacology |
| Occupational Therapy Assessments and Interventions | Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics |
| Clinical Fieldwork –I | Biomechanics and Applied Anatomy |
| - | Clinical Fieldwork –II |
| Semester-5 | Semester-6 |
|---|---|
| Clinical Orthopedics | Clinical Neurology |
| Community Medicine | Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology |
| Clinical Psychiatry | Clinical Cardiorespiratory and Work Physiology |
| Occupational Therapy in Orthopedics | Occupational Therapy in Neurology |
| Clinical Fieldwork –III | Clinical Fieldwork –IV |
| Semester-7 | Semester-8 |
|---|---|
| Rehabilitation Medicine | Occupational Therapy in Organization and Administration |
| Group Process in Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation |
| Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry | Research Project in Occupational Therapy |
| Research Methods in Occupational Therapy | Clinical Fieldwork –VI |
| Clinical Fieldwork –V | - |
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Jobs and Salary
Some of the job roles available on job portals like Indeed and Naukri.com for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy graduates are mentioned in the table below:
| Job Title | Recruiters | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Assistant | The Wings Learning Centre / Nirmala Hospital | INR 2.5-5 LPA |
| Occupational Therapist | Thanal / Pinnacle / JOGO Health / Adore Valley / HCAH | INR 3.5-7 LPA |
| Rehabilitation Therapist | Max Healthcare Group / Apollo Hospital Group / Tickles India / Fortis Healthcare Group | INR 4-8 LPA |
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | TABIS / Health Basix / Nurturers Centre | INR 4-6 LPA |
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: FAQS
What to choose between a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy?
Both BPT and BOT are 4-year theoretical courses including 6 months of internship. BPT focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of injury, ailment, or any disability in the bodily movement, while BOT is more holistic and focuses on physical, mental, and emotional illness and helps a patient to regain his quality of life. It depends on the interest of the candidate what they want to choose.
Can a student with a BOT degree apply for government jobs?
Yes, there is more scope in Government jobs after graduation in Occupational Therapy as the Government announces vacancies for Occupational therapists in places like Nursing homes, Pediatric Hospitals, Special schools, etc.
What is the job scope after a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy?
A degree in Occupational Therapy opens a wide range of job opportunities in both the government and private sectors. A person can apply for various jobs like NGOs, Home care, Nursing homes, Pediatric hospitals, Special schools, and rehabilitation centres. They can also join Mental Health institutes and geriatric hospitals and even start teaching in colleges.
Can I work independently after doing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course ?
Yes, occupational therapists can open their own clinics, work as consultants, provide home-based therapy, or offer specialized services such as ergonomic assessments in workplaces.
