Both degrees make you an occupational therapist. Master’s and entry-level OTD graduates take the same NBCOT exam and receive the same state license. The OTD adds a 14-week doctoral capstone, so it takes longer and usually costs more.
| Entry-level master's (MOT / MSOT) | Entry-level OTD | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs listed by ACOTE | 191 | 231 |
| Typical length (programs that publish it) | 20 months–3 years | 2 years–42 months |
| Level II fieldwork | At least 24 weeks full-time | At least 24 weeks full-time |
| Doctoral capstone | No | Yes, 14 weeks |
| Licensing exam | NBCOT OTR | NBCOT OTR |
| Median NBCOT pass rate, 2025 | 92% (143 programs) | 98% (130 programs) |
| Median published program tuition | $74,895 (40 programs) | $106,696 (39 programs) |
| Entry-level practice | Same scope | Same scope |
Program counts and lengths from the ACOTE directory and each program’s website (2026-10-09); pass rates from NBCOT school data; tuition from programs’ published cost tables. U.S. median OT pay is $100,330 (BLS, May 2025), and BLS does not split pay by degree.
Is the profession moving to doctorate-only? No: ACOTE says there is no doctoral mandate. What happened to the 2027 OTD mandate.
OTD vs. MOT salary: do OTDs earn more?
Not at entry level, as far as official data shows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one median for all occupational therapists ($100,330 in May 2025) and does not split pay by degree. Both degrees lead to the same OTR credential and the same license, and clinical jobs are generally paid by role, setting and location rather than by degree.
What does differ is what you spend to get there. Among programs that publish full-program tuition, the median OTD costs $106,696 and the median master’s $74,895, a gap of about $31,801 before living costs, and the OTD usually takes longer, which delays your first paycheck. Where an OTD can pay off is later: teaching in OT programs, research, administration and leadership roles. See OT salary by state and setting and what OT school costs.
Choose a master's if…
- You want to start working as soon as possible and keep tuition and living costs down.
- You plan a clinical career (hospital, school, outpatient, home health).
- There is a strong accredited master’s program near you. See all master’s programs.
Choose an OTD if…
- You want the capstone experience in an area such as program development, research, policy or education.
- You are aiming at teaching in OT programs or leadership roles later.
- The best-fit program near you only offers the OTD. See all OTD programs.
Already an OTA?
OTA-to-OT bridge programs let working assistants earn either degree, often in hybrid or weekend formats.