Doctor of Occupational Therapy

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Transforming Health and Well-being

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new online OTD Distance Pathway. Click through our web pages for more information.

In our entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs, you'll become a practitioner-scholar and a transformative leader in the dynamic field of occupational therapy. Our programs prepare you to assist individuals and communities in performing daily activities, adapt environments for improved function, and offer client-centered support for active participation in life.

Choose your path to OTD! We offer two engaging programs designed to meet your schedule and needs: the campus-based OTD and the online OTD Distance Pathway. As one of few OTD programs in the country with an eight-semester curriculum model, WNE will help you complete your degree faster and more affordably—in less than three years! Whether you're starting from high school or continuing from undergraduate education, you can choose the path that aligns with your educational journey.

Regardless of the OTD pathway you choose, as a graduate of our program, you will be well-positioned to:

Impact diverse populations, including those with and without disabilities
Contribute to community health advancements
Shape the development of the role of occupational therapy on collaborative interprofessional teams
Navigate evolving healthcare settings, including emerging areas like telehealth, technology and innovation, and community-based programming for all client populations

Why Choose the Doctor of Occupational Therapy?

As the pioneering occupational therapy program in western Massachusetts offering an entry-level doctorate, we proudly assume the role of visionaries, setting innovative benchmarks in graduate professional education. Committed to accessibility, our dual degree 3+3 pathways in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Health Studies enable high school students to seamlessly enter the OTD program in their senior year.

Because our curriculum is available through both on-campus and hybrid distance pathways, we foster inclusivity by accommodating students from diverse locations and backgrounds. This adaptability not only caters to the needs of aspiring high school students but also empowers professionals to advance their careers without disrupting their current roles. At WNE, you will be equipped with the latest research evidence and education to support your growth as a leader and entrepreneur.

OTD Tuition and Scholarships

What to Expect

Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program paves the way for students to become healthcare leaders. Immerse yourself in hands-on clinical experiences from the very first semester, setting the stage for a comprehensive OT doctoral education. Think an OTD degree is right for you? See how we do it at WNE.

What Will You Learn?

In response to the evolving demands of healthcare systems, our OTD curriculum goes beyond the generalist level, offering advanced academic preparation. With a focus on occupational performance across the lifespan, our curriculum spans various practice settings and emphasizes population health, interprofessional practice, management, leadership, and entrepreneurship on local, national, and global scales. Both the campus-based and the online Distance Pathway follow the same curriculum, with 109 credits over eight consecutive semesters. Students in both pathways engage in a dynamic learning experience that integrates classroom education, clinical skill development, and hands-on implementation.

The program structure involves a series of five Level I Fieldwork experiences in the first two years, creating a robust foundation for advanced Level II Fieldwork in semesters six and seven. The culmination of the program is the Doctoral Experiential Project in semester eight, preceded by mentorship courses in years three to five. This comprehensive approach ensures students are well-prepared and equipped for the complexities of contemporary occupational therapy practice.

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Department FAQ Recent OTD News

Top Five Reasons to Choose The Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Save Time and Tuition

Earn the top-tier entry-level OT degree more affordably and conveniently than pursuing a doctorate later in your career.

Doctoral Degree Prepares Students to be Leaders and Scholars of the Profession

With an OTD degree, you will be equipped with the research evidence and the policy perspectives necessary to lead the movement toward a global healthcare workforce.

Small Class Sizes Mean Individualized Attention and Support

With a maximum cohort of 35 and a typical faculty-to-student radio of 1:8 in clinical labs, you'll receive individualized attention.

Numerous Hands-on Experiential Opportunities That Are Intentionally Integrated

The expanded doctoral curriculum includes five semesters of integrated Level I fieldwork including our student-run OT clinic, 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork, and a 14-week Doctoral Experiential Capstone project.

Four Performance Laboratory Settings to Mirror "Real-world" Experience

Our three clinical laboratories and off-campus Health and Wellness house are specifically designed to provide applied learning opportunities in realistic environments.

Our dynamic Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) curriculum is crafted to meet the evolving demands of entry-level practitioners in rapidly changing healthcare systems. Completed over 8 consecutive semesters, our 109-credit program integrates classroom learning, performance laboratory skill development, and immersive fieldwork experiences.

Seamlessly blending theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice, the curriculum includes five Level I Fieldwork experiences in the first five semesters, setting the stage for advanced Level II Fieldwork in Semesters 6 & 7, and a culmination in the Doctoral Experiential Capstone project in Semester 8.

Built upon four primary professional themes—Leadership, Scholarship, Clinical Excellence, and Autonomy/Identity—the curriculum integrates interwoven threads, such as Interprofessional Education/Practice, Information/Assistive Technology, Health Literacy, Diversity, Cultural Competence, and Population/Community-Based Health Practices.

The curriculum's structure fosters a deep understanding of the development of occupations across the lifespan and in diverse contexts, incorporating crucial components of the occupational therapy process. Essential course sequences, including Occupational Performance, Population Health and Interprofessional Practice, Research/Evidence-Based Practice, Fieldwork, and Doctoral Experiential Development and Mentorship. This intentional design prepares students comprehensively for a successful career in occupational therapy.

To be eligible for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree, students must maintain good standing in the academic program, which includes:

Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Achieving a minimum grade of B- in didactic courses.
Successfully completing Level I and Level II fieldwork courses, as well as the doctoral experiential capstone courses (pass/fail).

Additionally, students are required to satisfactorily complete Level II fieldwork and doctoral experiential implementation courses within 18 months following the conclusion of the last didactic courses in the curriculum. Furthermore, students must adhere to the COPHS standard for being of "good moral character" and fulfill their university obligations for the payment of tuition, fees, and other costs.

The table below depicts our graduation rates for the 3 most recent graduating cohorts.

Graduation Year	Students Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2024	14/13	93%*
2023	28/28	100%
2022	34/31	91%
Total	76/72	95%

*As of August 2024

NBCOT Certification Exam Results:

In accordance with ACOTE Standard A.4.2, NBCOT data are calculated and reported by calendar year for new graduates passing the exam within one year of graduation. NBCOT calculates pass rate by calendar year (January 1, 2020–December 31, 2020) rather than by graduating class.

Phone: 301-990-7979
Email: info@nbcot.org

Address:
One Bank Street
Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Graduates of the OTD 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 graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, most states have licensure laws requiring OTs and OTAs to be licensed in order to practice (a few have certification or registration by state agencies). However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.

While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state occupational therapy regulatory agency. There are additional links to the state boards on the has a link to the state boards. In order to obtain a license, individuals must:

Graduate from an accredited educational program
Complete the required fieldwork
Apply for and pass the NBCOT exam
Apply for a state license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which the individual wishes to practice or be licensed

For additional state-specific licensure disclosure information, please refer to the WNE Licensure and Certification Disclosures webpage.

Learn More

Bear Paw Center

The B.E.A.R P.A.W. Center stands for Bringing Equity, Accessibility, and Rehabilitation to People Achieving Wellness. The Bear Paw Center (BPC) is one of the first student-run occupational therapy pro bono clinics in the country and serves as a model for other institutions.

Bear Paw Center

Doctoral Experiential (DEx)

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapists (ACOTE) requires entry-level Occupational Therapy programs culminate in a Doctoral Capstone. At WNE, the Doctoral Capstone is referred to as the Doctoral Experiential (DEx).

DEx Projects

Fieldwork

Learn more about fieldwork聽experiences at over 1,000 sites, and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Fieldwork Education Standards for entry-level OTD programs and the Doctoral Experiential.

Fieldwork

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