Recruitment & Special Programs > Jose P. Graduate Scholarship Program for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy > Fact Sheet for Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Scholarship Program

Area of Study: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Semester of Entry: FALL

Application Period: JANUARY 4 - APRIL 30

Level of Study: MASTER'S DEGREE

Program of Study:

A NEW YORK STATE-APPROVED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM AT ONE OF THE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES LISTED BELOW:

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY	CONTACT PERSON	TELEPHONE NO.	EMAIL ADDRESS
Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons	Dawn Nilsen, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA	(212) 998-5825	dmn12@cumc.columbia.edu
Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons	Eileen Lloyd	(212) 305-7038	el2777@cumc.columbia.edu
Keuka College	Vicki Smith, Ed.D., MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA	(315) 279-5666	vlsmith@keuka.edu
Long Island University	Michael Gawronski, PhD, OTR/L	718-780-4510	michael.gawronski@liu.edu
Mercy University	Dr. Jeanine Stancanelli	(914) 674-7817	Jstancanelli@mercy.edu
New York Institute of Technology	Pamela Karp, EdD, OTR/L, CHT	(516) 686-3783	pkarp@nyit.edu
New York University	Patricia A. Gentile, OTR/L, DPS	(212) 998-5837	pg23@nyu.edu
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University	Brigitte C. Desport, DPS, OTR/L, BCP, ATP	(718) 270-7457	brigitte.desport@downstate.edu
Touro University	Anny Pascual	(212) 463-0400 ext.55466	anny.pascual@touro.edu
York College-City University of New York	Eva L. Rodriguez, PhD, OTR/L	(718) 262-2720	ERodriguez14@york.cuny.edu

ELIGIBILITY:

Acceptance to one of the participating colleges or universities and enrolled full-time in an Occupational Therapy Program leading to New York State Certification.
Proof of U.S citizenship or permanent resident status.
Certify that you do not possess a disqualifying record of conviction. All awardees need to be fingerprinted and receive clearance by the New York City Public Schools.
Agree to accept employment as a full-time Occupational Therapist with the New York City Public Schools in areas of high need as determined at the discretion of the program supervisor upon obtaining your New York State license.
Maintain full-time college or university enrollment.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

All applications for the OT/PT Scholarship Program must be submitted electronically. Required documents must be submitted at application filing.

Resume
Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status. (Example: Birth Certificate, Passport, Alien Registration Card)
Current College Transcripts (official copies and unofficial student copies are accepted)
Copies of all New York State or other state licenses
A completed College Acceptance Form from a participating college or university stating applicant has been accepted unconditionally as a fully matriculated graduate student
Two (2) letters of reference. (One (1) personal, One (1) professional)
A non-refundable application fee of $75.00 due at application filing.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

RESTRICTIONS:

The Participant shall maintain at least a "B" average for each semester that the Department subsidizes tuition and shall meet attendance and all other college or university requirements. The Participant is responsible for informing the Department of any grades below "B."
Current pedagogical or clinical employees of the NYC Public Schools are not eligible to participate in the Scholarship Program.
Applicants who have already achieved New York State or reciprocal state certification are not eligible to apply.
Must not have benefited from or participated in any other incentive programs administered by the NYC Public Schools (i.e., Teachers of Tomorrow, Loan Forgiveness Program, Intensive Teacher Institute in Bilingual Special Education (ITI-BSE), New York City Teaching Fellows, Teach for America, I-Start, New Visions Urban Teacher Residency Program, Success Via Apprenticeship, Math for America, etc.).
The maximum number of years that one is allowed to participate in the scholarship program is two (2) years, specifically the last two years of study in that program, regardless of the length of your study/program.

DISTRICT RESTRICTIONS:

The awardee must secure employment in a New York City Public School in one of the following school districts:

Bronx Districts - 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
Brooklyn Districts - 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23 and 32
Queens Districts - 23 and 27
District 75 - Brooklyn and Bronx schools only

AWARD:

The NYC Public Schools will reimburse the college or university the cost of tuition for candidates selected to participate in the Master's degree program. Prerequisite coursework, other fees and expenses (i.e., application fees, books, and room and board) are NOT covered and are the responsibility of the student.

Award amounts will:

Be granted for one year and may be renewable for the second year, contingent upon funding and acceptable academic records.
Cover the full cost of tuition only for courses directly related to programs in Occupational Therapy (during the professional phase of the program).

NOTE: The maximum number of years that an awardee is allowed to participate in the scholarship program is two (2) years (specifically the last two (2) years of study in that program) regardless of the length of study or program.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:

To be licensed as an occupational therapist in New York State, the applicant’s education must be from a:

New York State Registered or Accredited Occupational Therapist Program (AOTP), you must have:
- A baccalaureate or entry-level master's degree in occupational therapy, or
- A post-baccalaureate certificate in occupational therapy from an institution acceptable to the Department.
- You must have a minimum of six (6) months of supervised occupational therapy experience satisfactory to the New York State Board for Occupational Therapy. Graduates of New York State registered or AOTA-accredited programs met this requirement as part of their educational program.

For Occupational Therapist Programs located outside the United States that are NOT AOTA Accredited, please refer to www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ot/otlic.htm - "Proof of Education" for instructions on how to verify your education credentials.

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS:

Occupational therapists must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) examination.

SERVICE AGREEMENT and COMMITMENT:

Participants shall serve within the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) in the field of Occupational Therapy two (2) years for every one (1) year the Scholarship is awarded or any part thereof. (Example: If the Scholarship is awarded for one and a half (1.5) years, the participant will have a four (4) year service commitment to the NYCPS).
If an awardee receives less than one year of scholarship assistance, the minimum service obligation requirement is two (2) years.
Employment must be in a designated New York City Public School.
The awardee must commence employment with the New York City Public Schools within six (6) months of graduation. An awardee must possess a New York State license to practice Occupational Therapy.
An awardee who has failed to commence their service obligation will be required to repay the total year plus nine (9%) interest within two (2) years of the last award semester. A pro-rated repayment schedule shall be established for any awardee that completes only a portion of their service obligation within the specified period.
Awardees must meet the standards of the college they attend and remain in good standing in their program.

Implementation of the Scholarship Program is contingent upon the availability of funding and the staffing needs of the NYC Public Schools.

APPLY HERE

If you require further information, please email JosePScholarship@schools.nyc.gov or call the Office of Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Perssonel Services at (718) 935-2449. We look forward to receiving your application!