Doctor of Occupational Therapy
About the OTD
Spalding University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program in the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT) prepares students to meet the needs of the times with compassionate action based upon best rehabilitation principles and evidence-based practice through community outreach, service, and research. The OTD will be the only single point of entry into the profession of occupational therapy in the near future with an emphasis on scholarship, leadership and enhanced practitioner autonomy. New admissions to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program (view past MSOT program outcomes) are no longer being accepted as we transition to the doctoral program. Learn more about the two tracks we offer for obtaining your OTD:Entry-level OTD
This entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy is accessible to any student with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- 3 years (36 months)
- 9 trimesters
- 110 credit hours (84 didactic hours and 26 clinical hours)
- 35 students per cohort
Post-Professional OTD
This post-professional degree is designed for licensed occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to progress to the doctoral level and is offered exclusively online.
- 30 credit hours
- Online format
- 4 trimesters + self-directed capstone
- General or Upper Extremity Rehabilitation tracks of study
- Can be paired with our Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Certificate
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OTD Accreditation and Examination Eligibility
Spalding University’s OTD program has received supplemental licensure from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and has obtained Candidacy Status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (telephone: 301-652-2682; www.acoteonline.org) is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
Upon approval, entry-level OTD graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. After passing this exam, the graduate is credentialed as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTD) and may apply for state licensure. View the prospective applicant letter published by ACOTE.
See our professional licensure disclosure.
Master of Science Occupational Therapy Program Outcomes
The MSOT program is no longer accepting new students as the program has transitioned to the OTD, enrolling its first cohort in Spring 2019.
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy entry-level program is accredited 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 (telephone: 301-652-2682; www.acoteonline.org).
National Board for Certification
Graduates are 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 graduate is credentialed to use the title of Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. In order to be eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination, and become licensed in the state, an individual must graduate with a master’s degree from an accredited program.
Because the OTD program is new to Spalding University, we do not yet have records of OTD student performance on the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the MSOT degree can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx
