Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Tuition: $925/credit*

* The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is expected to commence in the summer of 2026. The tuition and associated costs for the OTD program are anticipated to be similar to the current MS in Occupational Therapy program (tuition rates are for the 2024-25 academic year). Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Tuition rates, fees and costs for course materials are subject to change.

The College of St. Scholastica anticipates admitting students to the entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program no earlier than January 2026 with a program start date no earlier than June 2026, pending candidacy status through accreditation.

The following information provides additional details about the OTD program. You will find pass and graduation rates as required by ACOTE, NBCOT Examination and Fieldwork Experience information.

Exam Pass Rates

For test data by school and state, visit NBCOT (exam pass rates for the OTD will be published beginning in 2029).

Graduation Rates

Data for OTD graduation rates will be posted in 2029.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination

Upon completion of all academic and fieldwork requirements of the OTD Program, students are awarded a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for certification as occupational therapists. All states require licensure to practice.

The exam is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and become eligible to practice occupational therapy. Most states require additional licensure.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Program Requirements

Major Credits: 91
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Grade: C

Other Requirements

1. Take all courses in sequence; if a student fails a course, the student must retake that course when it is next available which may require the student to stop out of the OTD Program resulting in a delay of graduation;
2. Successfully complete Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences. Complete the final Level II Fieldwork requirement within 18 months of completion of didactic coursework;
3. Start the doctoral capstone experience after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities for the capstone project defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3;
4. Complete all OTD Program requirements within 6 years.

Curriculum

OTH 6001 – Occupational Performance I: Fundamentals of Occupation – 4 credits
OTH 6010 – Occupational Performance II: Engagement in Occupation – 4 credits
OTH 6102 – Occupational Performance III: Dynamics of Occupation – 4 credits
OTH 6110 – Optimizing Occupational Performance I: Occupation-Based Interventions – 4 credits
OTH 6112 – Optimizing Occupational Performance II: Supporting Occupations – 4 credits
OTH 6210 – Basic Tenets of Occupational Therapy – 4 credits
OTH 6220 – Assessment of Occupational Performance I – 4 credits
OTH 6233 – Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy I – 3 credits
OTH 6250 – Experiential I: Level I Fieldwork – Reflection and Integration – 3 credits
OTH 6334 – Evidence-based Occupational Therapy II – 3 credits
OTH 6340 – Assessment of Occupational Performance II – 4 credits
OTH 6350 – Experiential II: Level I Fieldwork – Basic Clinical Experiences – 4 credits
OTH 6510 – Occupational Performance IV: Home and Environment Management – 4 credits
OTH 6534 – Transformative Engagement in Occupational Therapy – 4 credits
OTH 6550 – Occupational Therapy Experiential IV: Intermediate Clinical Experiences – 3 credits
OTH 6722 – Level II Fieldwork A – 6 credits
OTH 6735 – Occupational Performance V: Skill Advancement – 4 credits
OTH 6750 – Advanced Clinical Reasoning – 1 credit
OTH 6822 – Level II Fieldwork B – 6 credits
Capstone Prep and Program Management Leadership – 7 credits
Capstone Project Experience – 10 credits
Capstone Seminar – 1 credit

NOTE: Capstone courses and credits are subject to change with the accreditation application process.

Fieldwork is an opportunity for students to integrate theory and conceptual practice models with real client situations. Students are able to integrate OT language and skills that are acquired during the academic phase of the program into clinical practice in a structured and supervised environment. Fieldwork prepares students for entry-level practice as a generalist occupational therapy practitioner.

Level I Fieldwork

Level I Fieldwork is integrated into the academic portion of the program through experiential learning. Students participate in three required Level I experiences during the OTD program with opportunities for additional elective Level I fieldwork. These experiences occur in the on-campus maurices Community Clinic, which includes partner sites in the community and enriched simulated experiences. Students are encouraged to volunteer beyond the required fieldwork experiences to gain as much variety as possible through student or program-organized events. Students find that this allows them to expand their knowledge and practice skills and to develop a comfort level with clients from all practice areas.

Level II Fieldwork

Level II Fieldwork occurs in the second year of the program. Students complete two 12-week rotations reflective of two different setting types. This level of fieldwork allows the student, under the supervision of a registered and licensed occupational therapist, to apply clinical reasoning for occupation-based practice, engage in professionalism through various practice settings and participate in evidence-based practice. Students may complete their occupational therapy Level II Fieldwork in traditional, community-based or emerging practice settings. They are expected to develop reflective practice and to transition from the role of a student into the role of an entry-level OT practitioner.

A Level II Fieldwork opportunity focused on mental health in school-based settings is available through a federally funded grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The focus of this project is to address student mental health needs by increasing the number of school-based mental health service providers in high-need education agencies, increasing the number of service providers from diverse backgrounds or from the communities they serve and ensuring that all service providers are trained in inclusive practices. Occupational therapy practitioners have the unique ability to work with students on mental health-related concerns within the context of their daily lives, experiences, and the school structure and environment.

Capstone

The capstone offers individualized projects for students to conduct in-depth research activity by carrying out an evidence-based project focused on one or more of the following: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, or education. The capstone is prepared on-site, gathering outcomes and analyzing the results to produce implications for practice. Once the project is planned, students implement the project in a community site on a full-time basis over 14 weeks.

Occupational therapy is a dual-entry degree profession, which allows the choice between earning an entry-level master’s degree or an entry-level doctorate. With the continued job growth for OTs, The College of St. Scholastica offers two degrees options to meet your educational needs and professional goals: MSOT and OTD.

Both degrees prepare you for a career as an occupational therapist; obtaining a doctorate degree will develop additional skills in leadership, advocacy, policymaking and research. This advanced experience opens doors for those interested in possibilities such as establishing your own practice, assuming leadership positions, contributing to program development or emerging fields and teaching.

Growth Projections

Occupational therapy is consistently ranked as one of the best jobs across the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for occupational therapists is expected to grow by 11% over the next decade, a rate much faster than average.

The College of St. Scholastica has been granted Applicant Status and is seeking accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. The telephone number is 301-652-AOTA (2682) and the web address is www.acoteonline.org for an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program.

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and then be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapist credentials, which is 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 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities for the capstone project defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions and financing.

Application Deadlines

Applications open July 2025 in OTCAS for the following summer 2026 enrollment period.

Application Process

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program uses the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). To learn more about the application process and schedule, visit the OTCAS website. You’ll find information specific to our program listed under the Participating Programs link on the left side of the page, then select College of St. Scholastica.

Eligibility

The OTD program uses an inclusive and equitable admissions process to grow a diverse occupational therapy profession with cohorts that represent a wide range of educational, personal and professional experiences. Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

Degree

• Bachelor’s degree (any major) from a regionally accredited institution

GPA Requirement

• Cumulative or most recent 64 credit GPA of 3.0 is preferred. The College will consider whichever is higher: GPA as calculated by OTCAS. Admissions committee members do not see GPA when reviewing applications. Applicants will also have an opportunity in OTCAS to explain whether their academic record accurately reflects their capabilities.

Understanding of Occupational Therapy Profession

• Through an OTCAS question, the applicant will show they have sufficiently researched the profession to demonstrate that they are making a career choice based on a sound understanding of the profession of occupational therapy. Options that demonstrate understanding of the profession:
  • Observation hours
  • Successful completion of an introduction to occupational therapy course or healthcare careers course
  • Completion of an online shadowing experience (i.e. CBL Consulting & Training LLC — fee required)
  • Personal experience

Personal Experience

The experiences that each individual has enrich the profession. This information allows the applicant to highlight their important accomplishments. Enter information in OTCAS for any of the following:

• Work history
• Community service
• Honors/recognitions
• Leadership
• Teaching
• Participation in research activities

Essays

• Essays should be written with clear expression of ideas and good organization. Specific prompts for the essays are found in OTCAS.
  • OTCAS Personal Essay/ Statement
    • This allows the applicant to show why they selected OT as a career and how their personal, educational and professional background will achieve their professional goals
  • St. Scholastica Supplemental Statement
    • This allows the applicant to explain their connection to the mission and focus of the St. Scholastica OT curriculum
  • Hardship Statement (optional)

Additional Information about Becoming an Occupational Therapy Student

• A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. An individual, who has a felony background and is considering entering an occupational therapy program, can have their background reviewed prior to actually applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review.
• Students who apply to the OTD program will be expected to perform a minimum number of Technical Standards and Essential Requirements

Prerequisites

• Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of 2.0 or better
• Complete prerequisite courses no later than two weeks prior to the start of classes in June
• AP credit accepted for General Psychology. To verify results, applicants must submit official CollegeBoard scores directly to The College of St. Scholastica (not OTCAS) using the code 6107.
  • A score of 3 or better is required to qualify; scores must be within 10 years from date of application
• Prerequisite courses must be within the past 10 years
• The College of St. Scholastica OTD program does not give credit for work experience or credits taken in another occupational therapy program toward prerequisite or in-program courses.
• The following prerequisites (or their approved transfer equivalents) are required for admission:
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • One of the following:
    • Lifespan Development Psychology
    • General Psychology
    • General Sociology

The Office of Graduate Admissions does not review unofficial transcripts to determine the completion of prerequisite coursework. In most cases, course titles match. If you have specific questions about a particular course, please reference Transferology to determine if the course meets the stated requirement.

Any student may request a waiver of admission requirements through a written request to the Graduate Admissions Office. Waiver requests are reviewed by the admissions committee and the applicant will be notified of the decision by email.

Submit the completed Occupational Therapy Centralized Admission System (OTCAS) application by the mid-November priority deadline.

Note: meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission. Exceptions to minimum criteria may be made at the discretion of the admissions committee. The College of St. Scholastica follows the OTCAS method of calculating GPA. Interviews are not typically part of the admission process for the OTD program.

Transcripts

Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended or where credit was earned must be sent to OTCAS. Instructions are indicated on the OTCAS application.

Online Application

• Submit an OTCAS application (reference OTCAS for application instructions/requirements)
• The Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee may request interviews

Accepted Students

• After you are emailed a decision regarding your application, please inform us of your decision (accept or decline the offer, if one is made) via the Intent to Enroll form linked in the email
• Submit $500 non-refundable deposit
• Submit Student Health Services forms, including the immunization form, through the my.CSS student portal/My Health/Forms