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.

(Please note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to complete fieldwork, take the certification examination and/or attain state licensure.)

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Dr. Field with life size model — The occupational therapy doctoral program prepares students for success.

What You Learn

You specialize in the rewarding field of occupational therapy, going beyond the master’s degree. Students are admitted in the Summer II semester as a cohort and earn their degrees over 11 semesters.

Study the foundations of occupational therapy, research methods and specialized coursework
Spend six months in supervised fieldwork in a clinical setting, plus a 14-week doctoral residency program
Complete a capstone project
Study advanced courses in pediatrics, adult rehabilitation, and psychosocial practice
You also learn to master skills in research, administration, advocacy and more

Admission Requirements

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Course Requirements

Application Deadline
December 1

Contact:

Mariann Moran, OTD, OTR, CHT
(908) 737-5850

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Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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).