Entry-Level OTD
About
Be empowered to make a difference in the lives of your clients and meet the needs of your community with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). The entry-level OTD is accessible to any student with a bachelor’s degree in any field. Spalding’s OTD prepares you to pass your national board certification, and you’ll enter the field as an advocate, equipped to promote health and wellness for a diverse population of clients.
Features
With your entry-level OTD, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Become a skilled decision maker as you progress through the program and gain a deeper understanding of occupational therapy.
- Enhance your understanding of societal needs through practice-based scholarship and research.
- Work closely with our faculty of doctorally-prepared experts specialize to customize your program of study, fieldwork and capstone to your professional interests.
- Benefit from on-site deep physical agent modality (DPAM) specialty certification courses that take place throughout the year.
- Enjoy everything downtown Louisville has to offer, including access to a thriving health care community. Learn more about Louisville.
Program Details
- 3 years (36 months)
- 9 trimesters
- 110 credit hours (84 didactic hours and 26 clinical hours)
- 35 students per cohort
View our curriculum to learn more about your program of study.
Facts
- We’re the first entry-level OTD program in the state of Kentucky.
- Over 96% of our school’s graduates are employed within six months of graduation.
- Our national board certification pass rate for the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy has been 95% or higher over the past five years.
Career Options
As an OTD, you can serve in a wide range of practice settings:
- hospitals
- community agencies
- ambulatory healthcare centers
- independent living center
- public and private schools
- rehabilitation centers
- skilled nursing facilities
- education
Continuing Education
ASOT uses the online continuing education platform, Teachable, to disseminate students’ presentations and scholarly work. Learners may select from a library of unique presentations and earn free CEUs in the process.
Entry-Level OTD Accreditation and Examination Eligibility
The entry-level OTD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (telephone: 301-652-2682; www.acoteonline.org) located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
Graduates of the program 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, stat 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.
See our professional licensure disclosure.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
Entry-level 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, 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 hold at least a Master’s degree from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy program.
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found
online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
| Entry-level OTD Program Student Progression Outcomes | |||
| Begin/End Months: Jan 2019 — Jan 2022 (B22) | |||
| Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 23 | 22 | 96% | 91% |
| Begin/End Months: Aug 2019 — Aug 2022 (Y22) | |||
| Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 27* | 20* (4 students moved cohorts) | 89% | 95% |
| Begin/End Months: Jan 2020 — Jan 2023 (B23) | |||
| Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 14 | 13 | 93% | 94% |
| Begin/End Months: Aug 2020 - Aug 2023 (Y23) | |||
| Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 27 | 22* (2 students moved cohorts) |
89% | TBD |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enroll a single cohort per year each fall.
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the OTD degree can be found on the NBCOT site.
| Entry-level OTD Program Student Continuance Data as of January 2024 | |||
| Program Entry Date - Jan 2021 (B24) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 18 | 17 | 94% | Jan 2024 |
| Program Entry Date - Aug 2021 (Y24) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 32 | 30 | 94% | Aug 2024 |
| Program Entry Date - Jan 2022 (B25) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 11 | 9 | 91% | Jan 2025 |
| Program Entry Date - Aug 2022 (Y25) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 15 | 13 | 87% | Aug 2025 |
| Program Entry Date - Jan 2023 (B26) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 8 | 8 | 100% | Jan 2026 |
| Program Entry Date - Aug 2023 (Y26) | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 15 | 15 | 100% | Aug 2026 |
| Program Entry Date - 3-year aggregate | |||
| # Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| 16.5 | 15 | 94% | |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enroll a single cohort per year each fall.
How to Apply
We are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 entry term, which begins on August 25, 2025.
Please read all requirements below or email asot@spalding.edu with questions about the admission process or call Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (502) 588-7196.
Prerequisite Courses
The Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy requires completion of four CORE prerequisites. Other recommended courses are listed below. Candidates may apply with two prerequisite courses completed and verification that enrollment and completion of all remaining courses will occur before the program start date.
Required
- Human Anatomy or Human Physiology (minimum 3 credit hours)
- Chemistry or Physics (minimum 3 credit hours)
- Statistics (minimum 3 credit hours)
- Psychology (minimum 3 credit hours)
Recommended
- Applied Math or higher (3 credit hours)
- Ethics (3 credit hours)
- Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
- Sociology or Anthropology (3 credit hours)
Admission Requirements
In addition to a completed online application, we require the following items:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college: Candidates may apply in the final year of undergraduate study
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.2
- Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.2
- We recommend 20 hours of human-service related experience or observation of two different settings or populations
- NOTE: Due to current restrictions in healthcare facilities due to COVID-19, the hours are not required for application to the program. If you have previously completed observation hours, please submit them with your application. There is no minimum amount of hours required at this time.
- Selected candidates who advance will also complete an electronic interview
Please review our admission policy and procedures (PDF) before applying.
Track Your Application
When applying through Spalding’s online application system, your applicant portal “My Account” page is the place to view, update and submit information to your application. You have access to:
- Update your profile
- Submit your application
- View your application
- Upload supplemental documents required for admission
Admissions Process & Application Confirmation
Upon submitting an application, candidates will receive an email acknowledgment with further instructions regarding all additional items required. Candidates can log into their application portal to upload transcripts, observation hours, and enter prerequisite credit hours and grades to complete their application. Once all items are received, candidates will receive an email confirmation that their application is complete.
All eligible candidates are invited to complete an online interview as the final step of the admissions process.
To be sure to receive all electronic communication from us, please add spalding.edu to your safe sender and/or contacts list. Be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder.
Early Determination Review
Any applicant who has a felony conviction or record containing illegal, unethical, or incompetent behaviors may jeopardize their ability to obtain certification or licensure to practice occupational therapy.
If you would answer YES to any of the questions below, you must complete the NBCOT Early Determination Review process before applying to the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy:
- Have you ever been charged and/or convicted of a felony? (NOTE: Applicants must answer affirmatively even if convictions have been pardoned, expunged, released, or sealed.)
- Have you ever had any professional license, registration, or certification denied, revoked, suspended, or subject to probationary conditions by a regulatory authority or certification board?
- Have you ever been found by any court, administrative, or disciplinary proceeding to have committed negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct which resulted in harm to another?
- Have you ever been suspended and/or expelled from a college or university for non-academic reasons?
A copy of the NBCOT Early Review determination results must be included with the application to the OTD program.
Tuition & Fees
Our OTD program at Spalding is a 110 credit hour degree that can be completed over 9 13-week trimesters. The cost per credit hour is $960 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For more information about tuition, fees or other associated expenses, please visit our Cost of Attendance page.
Federal Student Loans
Tuition, housing and other expenses may be covered by federal student loans.
Federal loans for graduate school are available to most U. S. citizens (and eligible non-citizens) unless they have defaulted on previous student loans or have reached the lifetime limit (see www.fafsa.gov). Full-time graduate students are usually eligible to borrow up to $20,500 per year.
Learn more about how to apply for federal aid.
Learn more about additional types of aid that can help fund your degree.
Program Accreditation and Examination Eligibility
Spalding University’s entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (telephone: 301-652-6611; www.acoteonline.org) located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814.
Graduates of the program 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 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.