The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation
by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American
Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite
200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA
and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation 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 in order 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.
*Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT
certification examination or attain state licensure.
The new OTD program consists of 9 semesters (3 years) and is designed for students
who are not currently occupational therapy practitioners. It will be a clinical doctorate
consisting of six semesters of course work followed by 24 weeks of level II clinical
fieldwork and a 14-week doctoral internship with a focus on scholarship, culminating
in a capstone project. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well
as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion
of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started
after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of
preparatory activities defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
If awarded candidacy, the anticipated start date of the OTD Program is May 27, 2025.
Occupational Therapy
OT Graduate Programs