The Tufts Department of Occupational Therapy Advanced Professional Certificate in School-based Practice is a no-residency, online certificate designed for working school professionals. The certificate includes series of three courses delivered in an asynchronous online format, over the course of one calendar year, and aims to create a supported professional development opportunity for working school-based therapists.
The program prepares participants to become more evidence-based and effective in advancing a systems approach to delivery of services. Course work incorporates reform in special education and civil rights legislation, current guidelines for best practices in the provision of educationally-relevant related services to students with disabilities, as well as school system pressures including increased accountability for student outcomes. The certificate also focuses on systems considerations, current evidence for evaluation and intervention, research on inter-professional teams and collaboration, self-reflection on personal practice patterns, and action-planning for potential practice change.
GSAS bills tuition using a per-credit billing model, meaning you are billed for the number of credits you take each semester. This billing model is used to provide students better flexibility so they may "pay-as-they-go".
| Tuition* | $1,028 per credit |
| Total Credits Required | 9 |
| Enrollment Status | Part-Time: 3-6 credits per semester (typically 1-2 courses) |
The example pathway below outlines estimated tuition costs per semester using a typical part-time course load. This is one possible pathway to completion; actual credits, costs and degree completion time may vary based on a student’s course load:
| Part-Time Pathway | Fall | Spring | Summer | Total |
| Year 1 | 3 credits | 3 credits | 3 credits | 9 credits |
| $3,084 | $3,084 | $3,084 | $9,252 | |
| Estimated Total Tuition* | $9,252* |
*Estimated based on 2025-2026 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including health insurance, fees and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), visit Student Financial Services.
While Tufts University does not offer institutional scholarships for certificate programs, we are committed to supporting students as they explore financing options. Additionally, the following opportunities are available:
Visit our Graduate Financial Aid page for information on loans and financing options.
Research/Areas of Interest: Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP) 2012-2022, American Occupational Therapy Association Occupational therapy evaluation and intervention in pediatrics, particularly contextual and strengths-based services Pediatrics Evaluation, including strengths-based evaluation, occupation-based evaluation, context & environment Intervention, including models of occupation-based service provision, contextual services, collaboration, strengths-based, least restrictive environment Program development, including systems approaches, strengths-based, mindfulness, social-emotional regulation, physical literacy Teaching and Learning Models of professional development, andragogy, self-regulated learning Project-based learning, technology in teaching and learning, using visual analog scales in course evaluation, concept mapping Online teaching and learning, course design (F2F, hybrid, online)