Occupational Therapy (OTD)
The 103-credit doctoral program in occupational therapy, designed for students who have earned a bachelor's degree in another field, goes beyond the basic curriculum in a master's degree program. The program provides additional training and expertise in specialized areas, such as clinical practice, research, administration, program and policy development, advocacy, education and/or theory development.
Students successfully completing the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be able to identify him- or herself as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states, including New Jersey, require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are usually based on the successful passing of the NBCOT Certification Exam.
*Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Other programs you might be interested in
NBCOT Pass Rate
Upon successful completion of academic preparation and level II fieldwork experiences, students are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) exam. For more information on NBCOT visit https://www.nbcot.org/
Year |
# Taking Test |
Passed Test |
Failed Test |
NBCOT Pass Rate |
2023 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
100% |
2022 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
100% |
2021 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
100% |
The OTD's inaugural class entered the program in 2018 and took the NBCOT exam in 2021.
To explore NBCOT Pass Rate for OT programs click NBCOT Performance Rate.
Progression, Retention and Graduation
Once qualified applicants enter the doctoral program, the faculty is committed to seeing that students successfully complete the program in a timely manner. In 2018, the inaugural year of the OTD program, we admitted seven students; 5 students or 71% successfully completed the 3-year sequence and graduated. Two of the doctoral students decided to change programs and graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2020. In the second cohort 100% of students completed their degrees and graduated on time
For the incoming class of 2020, 5 students had their degrees conferred in August 2023 while the remaining 6 students will have their degrees conferred in January of 2024.
Graduation Year | Incoming Year | Admitted | Graduated | Graduation Rate |
2023 | 2020 | 11 | 5 | 45% |
2022 | 2019 | 7 | 7 | 100% |
2021 | 2018 | 7 | 5 | 71% |
The 2023 graduation rates are a result of the program sequence change. Students in the program at the time of the change had the option to complete the program with either the original or revised sequence. Of the 11 students admitted in 2020- 1 changed to the MS program, 5 graduated in August 2023 and 5 graduated in January 2024. So all students graduated from the OT department (OTD=10; MS=1) and were eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam.
The 2021 graduation rates of 77% reflects that 2/9 Incoming cohort transferred to the MS program due to life circumstances. All students in the incoming 2021 OTD cohort have graduated from either the MS or OTD program and have successfully passed the NBCOT exam.
Cougars Climb Higher
At Kean, we believe learning and professional growth extend far beyond the walls of our classrooms. That's why we encourage you to take advantage of a variety of research opportunities, internships and more that we offer to advance your career and set the stage for continued success.
Fieldwork
Students complete at least six months of fieldwork in an approved clinical setting.
Research
Opportunities for research are an important part of an education at Kean.
Community
Beginning in their first semester, students gain clinical experience in community settings such as schools, senior centers, hospitals, nursing homes and camps.
Careers
Occupational Therapy graduates have found rewarding positions in a wide range of settings:
- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
- FOX Rehabilitation
- Encore Rehabilitation Services
- Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
- HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
- University Hospital
- Intensive Therapeutics
- Abilities In Action
- Children's Specialized Hospital
- Woodbridge Township School District
- P.G. Chambers School
100%
National certification exam pass rate of Kean graduates for the past several years
Accreditation
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree 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. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 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.
Tuition and Fees
The program costs provided are calculated using the AY2023-2024 tuition and fees. Rates for AY2024-2025 will be determined during the June meeting of the Board of Trustees. It is expected that these rates will be structured on a per-credit basis rather than flat rates.
OTD Estimated Total Costs 2022-2023 (3.5 year program)
In-State Tuition |
$76,958.41 |
Out-of-State Tuition |
$91,775.05 |
Fees |
$6,134 |
Fees |
$6,134 |
Estimated Cost of Books |
$730 |
Estimated Cost of Books |
$730 |
Total |
$83,822.41 |
Total |
$98,639.05 |
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