Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Programs

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) started changing the educational pattern of the Occupational therapy profession. The Doctorate of Occupational therapy is becoming preferable and acceptable by the students and employer.

Recently, AOTA mentioned that the OTD program will become mandatory as an entry level course by 2027. The AOTA and ACOTE are providing support for the existing occupational therapy schools to update their degree from master level to doctorate.

Entry level Occupational Therapy Doctoral programs are provided by many OT schools but the number is still less than the entry-level master program. The duration of the Doctorate of Occupational therapy program is little more than the master degree programs and costlier too.

A new student who wants to learn occupational therapy has two entry-level option, either go for a master degree or OTD degree. Both the programs are accredited by the ACOTE and AOTA. Many Universities offer both entry-level Doctoral degree and post-professional Doctoral degree

What is the need of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program?

The healthcare sector is changing rapidly in many ways. There is an increased emphasis on evidence-based practice and each healthcare profession wants to improve the quality of service. For the same, Occupational therapy practice introduces Doctor of Occupational therapy program.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program- complete list of OT schools

The following schools offer entry-level doctoral programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Some schools are having a candidacy status by the ACOTE. They are not fully accredited but they can accept students in their OT schools.

Note: Programs having “Candidacy Status” have successfully completed Step 1 of the initial accreditation process and may admit students into the program.

Programs having “Preaccreditation Status” have successfully completed Steps 1 and 2 of the initial accreditation process.

Arizona

#1 Northern Arizona University
Department of Occupational Therapy
435 N. 5th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2157
http://nau.edu/CHHS/Occupational-Therapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Department
5850 E. Still Circle
Mesa, AZ 85206-3618
www.atsu.edu/ashs/programs/occupational_therapy/index.htm
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program

Arkansas

#1 Arkansas State University – Jonesboro
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
106 N. Caraway Road, PO Box 910
Jonesboro, AR 72401-0910
www.astate.edu/college/conhp/departments/occupational-therapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Preaccreditation Status (OTD) program.

#2 University of Central Arkansas
Department of Occupational Therapy
201 Donaghey Avenue, PO Box 5001
Conway, AR 72035-0001
www.uca.edu/ot/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

California

#1 Samuel Merritt University
Occupational Therapy Department
450 30th Street, Suite 4706
Oakland, CA 94609-3302
www.samuelmerritt.edu/occupational_therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.

#2 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences – California Campus
Occupational Therapy Program
700 Windy Point Drive
San Marcos, CA 92069
www.usa.edu/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

#3 West Coast University – Los Angeles
Occupational Therapy Program
590 N. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90004
www.westcoastuniversity.edu/programs/ms-OT
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program

Florida

#1 Nova Southeastern University-Tampa
Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Health Care Sciences
3632 Queen Palm Drive
Tampa, FL 33619-1311
www.nova.edu/chcs/ot/otd/
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 Gannon University – Florida Campus
Occupational Therapy Program
105 Commercial Center Drive
Ruskin, FL 33570
www.gannon.edu/Occupational-Therapy-Doctorate/
ACOTE’s Status: Preaccreditation Status (OTD) program.

#3 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences – Florida Campus
Occupational Therapy Program
1 University Boulevard
St. Augustine, FL 32086-5783
www.usa.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Illinois

#1 Midwestern University-Downers Grove Campus
Occupational Therapy Program
College of Health Sciences
555 31st Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1235
www.midwestern.edu/programs-and-admission/il-occupational-therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

#2 Rush University
Department of Occupational Therapy
Rush University Medical Center
600 South Paulina Street, Suite 1011
Chicago, IL 60612-3833
www.rushu.rush.edu/occuth/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Indiana

#1 Huntington University
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
1819 Carew Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-4705
www.huntington.edu/graduate/occupational-therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 University of Indianapolis
School of Occupational Therapy
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227-3630
http://ot.uindy.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#3 Indiana University
Department of Occupational Therapy
1140 West Michigan Street, Coleman Hall 311
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
www.shrs.iu.edu/academics/occupational-therapy/index.html
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Iowa

#1 Drake University
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
3003 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311-2911
www.drake.edu/ot
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

#2 St. Ambrose University
Occupational Therapy Department
College for Health Sciences Education
1320 West Lombard Street
Davenport, IA 52804-2029
www.sau.edu/ot/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Massachusetts

#1 MGH Institute of Health Professions
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
36 First Avenue, Charlestown Navy Yard
Boston, MA 02129-4557
www.mghihp.edu/ot
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College)
Department of Occupational Therapy
635 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215-1605
www.bu.edu/sargent/occupational-therapy/otdprograms/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

#3 Western New England University
Division of Occupational Therapy
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2612
www.wne.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Missouri

#1 Washington University
Program in Occupational Therapy
School of Medicine
4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8505
St. Louis, MO 63108
www.ot.wustl.edu 
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Nebraska

#1 Creighton University
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178-0259
https://spahp.creighton.edu/doctor-occupational-therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Nevada

#1 Touro University Nevada
School of Occupational Therapy
874 American Pacific Drive
Henderson, NV 89014
http://tun.touro.edu/programs/occupational-therapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Ohio

#1 Ohio State University
Division of Occupational Therapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
406 Atwell Hall, 453 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-2205
http://medicine.osu.edu/hrs/ot/pages/index.aspx
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 The University of Toledo
Occupational Therapy Program
College of Health and Human Services
2801 W. Bancroft Street, Mail Stop 119
Toledo, OH 43606-3390
www.utoledo.edu/hhs/ot/
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#3 Kettering College
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
68 Darst Road
Beavercreek, OH 45440
www.kc.edu/otd
ACOTE’s Status: Preaccreditation Status (OTD) program.

Oregon

#1 Pacific University
School of Occupational Therapy
190 S.E. 8th Avenue, Suite #360
Hillsboro, OR 97123-4216
www.pacificu.edu/ot/index.cfm
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Pennsylvania

#1 Duquesne University
Department of Occupational Therapy
Rangos School of Health Sciences, Room 234
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
www.duq.edu/academics/occupational-therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 University of the Sciences
Department of Occupational Therapy
600 South 43rd Street, Box 8
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495
www.usciences.edu/ot
ACOTE’s Status:  Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#3 Slippery Rock University
Occupational Therapy Program
1 Morrow Way
Slippery Rock, PA 16057-1314
www.sru.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

#4 Thomas Jefferson University-Center City, Philadelphia Campus
Entry-level Occupational Therapy, Doctorate Program
Jefferson College of Health Professions
901 Walnut Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5233
www.jefferson.edu/occupational_therapy
ACOTE’s Status: Preaccreditation Status (OTD) program.

#5 University of Pittsburgh
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
5012 Forbes Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.shrs.pitt.edu/ot/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program

South Dakota

#1 University of South Dakota
Department of Occupational Therapy
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
www.usd.edu/ot
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Tennessee

#1 Belmont University
School of Occupational Therapy
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212-3757
www.belmont.edu/ot/
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Occupational Therapy Department
615 McCallie Avenue, Department 3103
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
www.utc.edu/occupationaltherapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Texas

#1 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Austin Campus
Occupational Therapy Department
5401 LaCrosse Avenue
Austin, TX 78739
www.usa.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program

Virginia

#1 Mary Baldwin University, Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
100 Baldwin Boulevard
Fishersville, VA 22939
www.marybaldwin.edu/health_sciences
ACOTE’s Status: Full Accreditation Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

#2 Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Occupational Therapy
730 E. Broad Street
P.O. Box 980008
Richmond, VA 23298-0008
www.sahp.vcu.edu/departments/occu/
ACOTE’s Status: Candidacy Status Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

New OT Schools ( Applicant status)-

New educational programs seeking accreditation (not yet holding Candidacy Status). Until Candidacy Status has been granted by ACOTE, these programs cannot admit students into the OT or OTA program.

Arkansas

University of Arkansas-Fayetteville/ University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Occupational Therapy Program
College of Education and Health Professions, GRAD 303
751 W. Maple Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
http://coehp.uark.edu / http://healthprofessions.uams.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Colorado

Colorado Mesa University
Occupational Therapy Program
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
www.coloradomesa.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Florida

Jacksonville University
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
2800 University Boulevard North
Jacksonville, FL 32211-3321
www.ju.edu/chs
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of Florida
Department of Occupational Therapy
101 S. Newell Drive
P.O. Box 100164
Gainesville, FL 32610-0164
www.ot.phhp.ufl.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Program
11410 NW 20th Street, Suite 222
Miami, FL 33172
www.usa.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Georgia

Brenau University
School of Occupational Therapy
500 Washington Street, S.E.
Gainesville, GA 30501
www.brenau.edu/healthsciences/occupationaltherapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Kansas

University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Occupational Therapy Education
3901 Rainbow Boulevard – 3033 Robinson, MS 2003
Kansas City, KS 66160-7602
www.kumc.edu/school-of-health-professions/occupational-therapy-education/master-of-occupational-therapy.html
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Maryland

Towson University
Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252-0001
www.towson.edu/chp/departments/occutherapy/index.html
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Massachusetts

Tufts University
Department of Occupational Therapy
574 Boston Avenue
Medford, MA 02155-7084
http://ase.tufts.edu/occupationaltherapy
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Michigan

University of Michigan-Flint
Occupational Therapy Department
School of Health Professions and Studies
303 E. Kearsley Street
Flint, MI 48502-1950
www.umflint.edu/shps
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Minnesota

St. Catherine University
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
2004 Randolph Avenue (Mail #F-25)
St. Paul, MN 55105-1750
www.stkate.edu/academics/graduate-degrees/academic-programs
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Mississippi

University of Mississippi Medical Center
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Health Related Professions
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216-4500
www.umc.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Montana

Rocky Mountain College
Occupational Therapy Department
1511 Poly Drive
Billings, MT 59102-1739
www.rocky.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of Mary-Billings
Occupational Therapy Program
2590 Holman Avenue, Suite A
Billings, MT 59102-7440
www.umary.edu/academics/programs/ms-occupational-therapy.php
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Nevada

University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Occupational Therapy Program
4505 South Maryland Parkway, Box 453019
Las Vegas, NV 89154-3019
www.unlv.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

New Jersey

Kean University
Department of Occupational Therapy
Nathan Weiss Graduate College
215 North Avenue, EC Room 224
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.grad.kean.edu/ot
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

North Carolina

Methodist University
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
5400 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, NC 28311-1420
www.methodist.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Wingate University
Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
Levine College of Health Sciences
515 N. Main Street
Wingate, NC 28174
www.wingate.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

North Dakota

University of Mary-Bismarck
Occupational Therapy Program
7500 University Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504-9652
www.umary.edu/academics/programs/ms-occupational-therapy.php
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of North Dakota
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
1301 N. Columbia Road Stop 9037, Suite E321
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
www.med.und.edu/occupational-therapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Ohio

University of Findlay
Occupational Therapy Program
1000 N. Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840-3695
www.findlay.edu/healthprofessions/occupationaltherapy/
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Rhode Island

Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Occupational Therapy Program
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 90203-3703
http://www1.jwu.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Texas

Angelo State University
Occupational Therapy Program
2601 West Avenue N
San Angelo, TX 76909-2601
www.angelo.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences – Dallas Campus
Occupational Therapy Department
601 Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, TX 75039
www.usa.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Department of Occupational Therapy
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 6245
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
www.uthscsa.edu/shp/ot
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Utah

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Occupational Therapy Program
561 East 1860 South
Provo, UT 84606-7312
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant Occupational therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.