Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is a graduate-level professional program that prepares students to be eligible for licensure and entry into occupational therapy practice. The program aims to prepare competent, compassionate occupational therapists who integrate foundational knowledge, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and leadership with a commitment to whole-person health and advancing occupational therapy scholarship. The accelerated track can be completed in two years (6 semesters) and helps students complete their education quicker than a traditional program. The OTD program uses a hybrid education model that includes 5 to 7-day immersion labs once a semester for the first 3 semesters. Full-time fieldwork rotations and capstone experiences can be completed in the student’s home area. This format encourages students to become successful practitioners in the areas where they currently live. The online nature of the program supports an intentional focus on recruiting students from underserved areas to increase diversity in healthcare professions.

Mission Statement

To prepare competent, compassionate occupational therapists who integrate foundational knowledge, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and leadership with a commitment to whole person health and advancing occupational therapy scholarship.

Technical Standards

UWS requires students to demonstrate the physical, cognitive, emotional, professional, and social capacity to be competent practitioners in a respective course of study. Applicants should review Policy 1206 Technical Standards to determine whether they are able to meet the standards of the program in which they intend to enroll with or without reasonable accommodations. If students demonstrate a documented need for accommodation in any of these areas, the university will determine the extent to which it can reasonably accommodate the student’s needs. Contact [email protected] for information about requesting accommodations. Regardless of disability status or accommodation, all students must successfully complete the requirements of their program to earn the degree. Just because a student qualifies for an accommodation through UWS does not guarantee there will be a fieldwork site willing or able to accommodate the student at the time of their fieldwork, which could impact the ability to graduate from the program.

Admission Requirements - OTD

UWS admits new students into the OTD program in January of each year. Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin the formal application process up to 12 months before their expected entry date. It is not necessary for candidates to have completed all prerequisites prior to application.

Applicants must meet specific entry requirements for the OTD program:

• A bachelor’s degree in any field with the prerequisite courses* listed below.

        OR

• Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) with at least two years of professional experience may apply with a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours completed over four years including prerequisite courses* listed below.

        Applicants with in-progress coursework will still be considered for admission and are asked to submit final transcripts upon course completion.

• *The following prerequisite courses must have been completed within the past 7 years and earned with a grade of C or higher:

  • Abnormal Psychology (3 semester credits or equivalent).
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 semester credits or equivalent; lab recommended).
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in undergrad coursework. Students with a GPA below 3.0 should contact the Admissions Office for an individualized review of their coursework.
• Name and contact information for at least 2 non-related professional individuals to complete a reference form.
• Demonstrate English language proficiency. See International Student Information.
• Technology Requirements: Access to a reliable computer, basic computer skills, and a dependable connection to the Internet.
• Successful virtual interview with OT faculty. An applicant is invited for interviews based on an evaluation of the submitted application and supporting materials.
• Successful completion of a background check through our approved partner. A link to complete this process will be sent to you upon your offer of acceptance to UWS after the tuition deposit has been paid. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure. See Policy 1009 Student Background Investigation and Verification Reporting.
• Application fee.

Graduation Requirements - OTD

The OTD degree is conferred upon an individual who has fulfilled the following requirements:

• Successful completion of all required coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (except for the 1st semester per Policy 1218 Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress).
• Grade of pass for all pass/fail coursework. A grade of B or higher is required for all graded courses except in SCI 5102 Functional Anatomy and SCI 5201 Functional Neuroscience, in which a grade of C is considered satisfactory.
• Successful completion of 24 full-time weeks of fieldwork with satisfactory scores.
• Successful completion of 14 weeks (minimum) of the Doctoral Capstone Experience and a Doctoral Capstone Project.
• Successful completion of Post-Capstone Project Analysis and Presentation.
• Completion of NBCOT Practice Exam administered by the program and OTD Program Assessment Surveys.

The OTD program must be completed within 6 academic years of the date the student started the program. This includes temporary withdrawals and any other period of non-enrollment. All Level II Fieldwork and the Doctoral Capstone must be completed within this timeframe.

Upon attainment of full accreditation by ACOTE, graduates of the University of Western States’ OTD program 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 graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Standard Program Length - OTD

The standard program length for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is six (6) semesters. Students in the OTD program are required by Policy 1226 Normal Course Load and Modified Schedules to adhere to the standard curriculum outlined in the academic catalog, unless they are placed on a modified schedule.

A student’s US federal financial aid award may be reduced if they are not taking courses at a rate that will allow them to complete their academic program within the standard program length. A student may contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] if they have specific questions about their financial aid eligibility and/or award.

Program Learning Outcomes - OTD

Graduates of the OTD program will be able to:

1. Integrate foundational occupational therapy knowledge and skills across the lifespan and a variety of practice settings to promote the highest quality of life.
2. Contribute to the advancement of scholarship in the field of occupational therapy.
3. Utilize interprofessional collaboration to facilitate best practices in providing client-centered occupational therapy services.
4. Advocate for social justice, inclusivity, and whole-person care within healthcare.
5. Cultivate a high level of professionalism through culturally responsive communication.
6. Utilize leadership skills to manage occupational therapy clinical or academic programs effectively, advocate for the profession, and lead initiatives for policy change.