Doctor of Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Occupational Therapy doctoral program is a 105 credit, capstone-based, cohort-designed professional doctoral degree program culminating in student eligibility to sit for the national certification examination to obtain state licensure.

We provide an active learning, professional curriculum with didactic, clinical education (fieldwork), service-learning and capstone components designed to meet the accreditation standards of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

Our goal

Our goal is to meet the needs of diverse individuals, communities, and populations and lead teams in health management, maintenance, and promotion and illness, injury and disability prevention.

Note that a felony conviction and professional license revocation may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Accreditation statement

The entry-level Occupational Therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

The program must have a pre-accreditation 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.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-6611
accred@aota.org

The Occupational Therapy doctoral program is designed to graduate diverse, intellectually inquisitive, and innovative occupational therapy practice leaders, advocates, and scholars, who, through their understanding of the relationship of occupation, health, and well being gained through rigorous didactic and clinical academic pursuit, find scientifically grounded practical solutions to the everyday occupational needs of society.

This rigorous academic program teaches effective clinical decision-making skills to prepare healthcare providers capable of treating diverse clients across the lifespan. Through its collaborative network of strategic partnerships involving regional healthcare, educational, and community-based infrastructure, the program leverages in-class didactic learning with service learning (civic engagement) and practicum experience to improve the health and well being of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world.

A completed application through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) that includes transcripts, a statement of interest, and three professional and/or academic recommendations.
A bachelor’s degree and official transcripts from each regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent undergraduate and graduate program attended. We accept students with a wide variety of undergraduate backgrounds
A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework
Completion of the following prerequisite coursework:
- Anatomy and Physiology - 8 credit hours with labs; the course content must address the organization of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems in humans
- Developmental Psychology - 3 credit hour child development or a lifespan course that includes learning principles and motor, language, cognitive, emotional, and social development
- Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology - 3 credit hour course addressing psychopathology
- Social Science - 6 credit hours in courses that can include psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, public health, epidemiology, gerontology, and urban studies
- Statistics - 3 credit hour course addressing behavioral, educational, psychological, or mathematical statistics. Business statistics does not fulfill this requirement.
Attestation of acknowledgment of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Character Review (page 8) eligibility requirements for certifying occupational therapy practitioners
No standardized achievement tests are required.
A virtual interview with faculty and practitioners.
Participation in the Occupational Therapy virtual observation experience.

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program consists of 36 courses for a total of 105 credit hours, delivered in nine consecutive semesters with classes being taught onsite and with asynchronous online instruction during fieldwork experiences.

Course Sequence

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Year 1
Summer		8
OCCT 721	Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice
OCCT 749	Occupations I
Fall		16
OCCT 750	Occupations II
OCCT 752	Occupation, Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
OCCT 754	Professional Reasoning and the Occupational Therapy Process
OCCT 756	Professional Identity and Ethical Formation
OCCT 821	Elements of Research I: Theories of Inquiry and Scholarly Literature
Spring		16
OCCT 751	Occupations III
OCCT 753	Pediatric Habilitation and Rehabilitation: Theory and Practice
OCCT 755	Evaluation of Occupational Performance
OCCT 768	Fieldwork I Pediatrics
OCCT 822	Elements of Research II: Using Evidence to Inform Practice
Year 2
Summer		8
OCCT 841	Education and Learning in Healthcare and Academic Settings
OCCT 843	Leadership and Advocacy
OCCT 845	Health Care Policy and Program Management
OCCT 847	Therapeutic Relationships and Client Communication
Fall		16
OCCT 848	Fieldwork I Adults
OCCT 850	Adult Rehabilitation: Theory and Practice
OCCT 852	Evaluation and Intervention of the Upper Extremity
OCCT 854	Technology and Environment Adaptation
OCCT 858	Elements of Research III: Critical Analysis of Occupational Therapy Practice
Spring		15
OCCT 851	Productive Aging and Rehabilitation: Theory and Practice
OCCT 853	Mental Health Promotion and Recovery: Theory and Practice
OCCT 855	Occupational Adaptation in the Community
OCCT 857	Fieldwork I Psychosocial
OCCT 859	Elements of Research IV: Scholarship of Practice Approaches and Design
OCCT 890	Practice-Scholar Seminar I
Year 3
Summer		7
OCCT 868	Fieldwork II A
OCCT 891	Practice-Scholar Seminar II
Fall		10
OCCT 869	Fieldwork II B
OCCT 870	Community and Population Health
OCCT 871	Professional Development Planning
OCCT 892	Practice-Scholar Seminar III
Spring		9
OCCT 893	Doctoral Capstone
OCCT 894	Practice Scholar Symposium
Total Credit Hours		105