Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
Entry-Level OTD Program Overview
Improve the lives of patients and meet the needs of your community with Spalding University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate. This entry-level program is accessible to any student who has a bachelor’s degree in any field. Spalding’s OTD prepares students to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and enter the field as advocates who promote peace and justice through health and wellness. Earn your degree at the first entry-level OTD program in the state of Kentucky.
- 84 didactic hours and 26 clinical hours
- On-campus
- 35 students per cohort
- Three years in nine trimesters
Courses
The 110-credit hour curriculum includes a combination of didactic and clinical experiences to guide students to become skilled occupational therapists.
Enhance your understanding of societal needs through practice-based scholarship and research.
Accreditation
Spalding University’s Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA (2682) or (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
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.
Student Progression Outcomes
The total number of graduates from the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy during 2023-2025 was 107, with an overall graduation rate of 94%.
| Entry-level OTD Program Student Progression Outcomes | |||||
| Graduation Year | Students Entering | Students who withdrew, or did not graduate with the entering cohort, for reasons other than academic performance | Students Graduating | *Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 2025 | 25 | 3 | 23 | 91% | TBD |
| 2024 | 50 | 5 | 45 | 94% | 77% |
| 2023 | 41* | 4 | 39 | 97% | 89% |
| Total/3-year overall data | 116 | 12 | 107 | 94% | TBD |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program previously enrolled two cohorts per year. Effective Nov 2023, ASOT began enrolling a single cohort per year each fall. The percentages above are annual averages for student outcomes.
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online on the School Performance Data section of the NBCOT site.
Student Continuance Data
| Entry-level OTD Program Student Continuance Data as of January 2026 | ||||
| Program Entry Date | Number of Students | Jan 2026 | Percentage Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
| Jan 2023 (B26) | 8 | 7* (1 student moved cohorts) | 100% | Jan 2026 |
| Aug 2023 (Y26) | 15 | 16* (1 student joined cohort) | 100% | Aug 2026 |
| Aug 2024 (OTD 27) | 29 | 26* (1 student moved cohorts, 2 dismissed) | 93% | Aug 2027 |
| Aug 2025 (OTD 28) | 20 | 21* | 100% | Aug 2028 |
| 3-year aggregate | 72 | 70 | 99% | |
*Student(s) moved cohorts.
Entry-level OTD 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 $970 for the 2025-2026 academic year, with the total cost of the 3-year program totaling $108,802.99 at the aforementioned tuition rate. Here is the breakdown:
| OTD Tuition & Other Costs | ||||
| Current Cost (based on the current 2025/2026 tuition rate of $970 per credit) | OTD Program Year 1 (44 credits) | OTD Program Year 2 (36 credits) | OTD Program Year 3 (30 credits) | Total Cost of Attendance (total cost of completing the program) 3-year OTD program |
| Tuition | $42,680 | $34,920 | $29,100 | $106,700.00 |
| Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA Fee) & Castlebranch | $203.99 | $0 | $0 | $203.99 |
| AOTA and KOTA fees; TB test | $133.00 | $133.00 | $133.00 | $399.00 |
| Textbooks | $500 average per year (Varies between trimester – many books are used for multiple courses throughout the program) | $1,500.00 | ||
| Total Cost of Attendance (total Cost of completing the program) | $43,516.99 | $35,553.00 | $29,733.00 | $108,802.99 |
*These costs reflect the 2025-2026 fees and are subject to change. For more information about tuition, fees or other associated expenses, please visit our Cost of Attendance page. Review the ASOT Schedule of Costs.
For more information about tuition, fees or other associated expenses for our Entry-level OTD programs, 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 scholarships and grants that can help fund your degree.
Admissions Requirements
Discover how Spalding’s Entry-Level OTD program can accelerate your occupational therapy career on your terms.
Tuition
Are you ready to take the first step toward becoming an occupational therapist? Learn about tuition and fees for our Entry-Level OTD program, as well as your financial aid options.
Find Possibility in the Heart of the City
DISCOVER YOUR GROWTH POTENTIAL
Meet the needs of the times as an occupational therapist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14% job growth for occupational therapists between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
FAQs
Answers to common questions about Spalding University’s entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.
Over 96% of our school’s graduates are employed within six months of graduation.
35 students per are admitted to each cohort in the Spalding entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.
Yes. We offer several on-site deep physical agent modality (DPAM) specialty certification courses that take place throughout the year.
High-Impact Career Preparation
Spalding OTD graduates are prepared to work as occupational therapists in settings such as:
- Ambulatory health centers
- Home health agencies
- Hospitals
- Inpatient rehabilitation units
- Outpatient clinics
- Sports medicine practices
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Wellness and sports performances
A major lesson I hope students take from our program is to continue to seek the “why” in what they are doing, whether it is the treatment they are providing for patients or something related to their personal lives. I want students to explore best practices to make the profession even better for the next generation. I teach compassion and understanding not only from the patient’s perspective, but also from working with family members, colleagues, and really, whomever is at the receiving end.
Dr. Jyoti Heiple, Assistant Professor at the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT)
Spalding’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is led by Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy faculty.
You will work closely with our faculty of doctorally-prepared experts specialize to customize your program of study, fieldwork and capstone to your professional interests.
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.
