Occupational Therapy Programs

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program(OTD) is designed for students interested in going beyond clinical work. The occupational therapy doctorate curriculum combines graduate OT education and hands-on training with additional coursework focused on leadership, advocacy and policymaking.

Supported by expert faculty with more than 30 OT specialties, you will complete a capstone project while earning your doctorate degree in occupational therapy focused on your chosen area of interest to prepare you for the next stage of your career.

See Requirements & Program Details

OT Scholarships

USAHS offers scholarships for students pursuing their occupational therapy doctorate degree to recognize and reward outstanding academic achievement.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Program at a Glance

Campuses: San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX

Format: Blended with Online and In-person coursework + Immersive Hands-on Weekday Labs

Start Dates: Sept., Jan. (varies by campus), May (varies by campus)

Duration: Duration: 2.7 years (8 trimesters)*

Campuses: Dallas, TX

Format: Online Coursework + Immersive Hands-on Labs on Select Weekends

Start Dates: Sept. & May

Duration: 3.7 years (11 trimesters)*

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors.

Facts and Figures

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1-ON-1

Faculty Support and Mentorship Towards Your Doctorate Degree in Occupational Therapy

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200+

Faculty with Expertise in 30+ OT Specialties

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4,300+

OT Alumni, largest community of practicing OT alumni Based on total MOT and OTD degrees conferred during 2020-2022, as reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS); data is captured through interrelated surveys conducted annually by the Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES).

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25+

Year Legacy of OT Education

Why USAHS for your Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Immersive Hands-on Practice
Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program offers hands-on learning through simulations and practice with real clients, helping you develop the critical thinking skills needed as an OT. Help people return to their daily occupations with your occupational therapy doctorate degree. Explore Simulaton Labs Explore Pro Bono
Expert Faculty Mentorship
Learn from 200+ expert OT faculty who are educators, researchers, and clinicians. Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs feature staff with knowledge across 30+ specialties, dedicated to guiding, mentoring, and empowering your success. See Faculty
Support Along your Journey
Enjoy a smooth and fulfilling student experience within our doctor of OT program. Take advantage of services and resources designed to inform, support, nurture, and connect you throughout your journey towards an occupational therapy doctorate degree at USAHS. See Student Services
Capstone Project Support
Advance the OT profession and your own career with your individual capstone project for your doctorate in OT. You'll be supported by a team of expert USAHS faculty and mentors. Learn More
Flexible Learning Pathways
Pursue a learning pathway toward your occupational therapy doctorate degree that fits your schedule and preferences. Our OTD program offer in-person classes as well as a blend of online learning with in-person labs- designed to match your needs and availability. Explore Pathways
Prepare for Career Success
Prepare for your OT career with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program that equips you for the NBCOT exam and builds your confidence. Earning your occupational therapy doctorate degree at USAHS will help you excel in professional practice. See Curriculum Explore IPE

Curriculum

Students in the program earn a total of 117 credits, including 79 credits of core courses with virtual didactic coursework, 22 credits of fieldwork, and 16 credits representing the doctoral capstone experience. Upon successful completion of the OTD program, you’ll be eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination.

Residential OTD Curriculum

Core CoursesCredit Hours
Trimester I
OCT 5136 Evidence - Informed Practice I: Research Fundamentals2
OCT 5135C Anatomy Applied to Occupation5
OCT 5140 Domain of Occupational Therapy3
OCT 5146 Occupational Engagement and Theories of Practice3
OCT 5230C Conditions Impacting Occupational Performance4
Total Credit Hours
17
Trimester II
OCT 5225C Process of Occupational Therapy4
OCT 5130C Skills and Techniques for Client Care Management3
OCT 5210 Scholarly Design2
OCT 5217C Human Movement for Occupational Performance3
OCT 5232C Clinical Neuroscience Applied to Occupation4
OCT 6310 Foundations of the OTD Capstone1
Total Credit Hours
17
Trimester III
OCT 5340 Scholarly Implementation and Dissemination2
OCT 5335C Clinical Applications of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Settings5
OCT 5410C Clinical Applications in Adulthood5
OCT 5330C OT Methods I: Assistive Technology3
OCT 5365 Wellness and Health Promotion3
OCT 6420 Capstone Process1
Total Credit Hours
19
Trimester IV
OCT 5355C Clinical Applications in Pediatrics/Adolescence5
OCT 5425C Clinical Applications in Older Adults5
OCT 5445C OT Methods II: Orthotics, Prosthetics and Modalities3
OCT 5470 Administration & Management in Occupational Therapy3
Total Credit Hours
16
Trimester V
OCT 5550 Fieldwork IIA (min 12 weeks)11
OCT 6530 Capstone Methodology1
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester VI
OCT 5660 Fieldwork IIB (min 12 weeks)11
OCT 6640 Capstone Progress and Review1
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester VII
OCT 6700 Capstone Project2
OCT 6745 Scholarship of Practice3
OCT 6720 Leadership & Advocacy3
OCT 6731 Capstone Experience 1 (last 4 weeks)4
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester VIII
OCT 6832 Capstone Experience 212
Total Credit Hours
12
Total OTD Program Credit Hours
117

Flex OTD Curriculum

Core CoursesCredit Hours
Trimester I
OCT 5135C Anatomy Applied to Occupation5
OCT 5140 Domain of Occupational Therapy3
OCT 5146 Occupational Engagement and Theories of Practice3
Total Credit Hours
11
Trimester II
OCT 5136 Evidence - Informed Practice I: Research Fundamentals2
OCT 5230C Conditions Impacting Occupational Performance4
OCT 5225C Process of Occupational Therapy4
Total Credit Hours
10
Trimester III
OCT 5210 Scholarly Design2
OCT 5217C Human Movement for Occupational Performance3
OCT 5130C Skills and Techniques for Client Care Management3
Total Credit Hours
8
Trimester IV
OCT 5232C Clinical Neuroscience Applied to Occupation4
OCT 5335C Clinical Applications of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Settings5
OCT 6310 Foundations of the OTD Capstone1
Total Credit Hours
10
Trimester V
OCT 5365 Wellness and Health Promotion3
OCT 5340 Scholarly Implementation and Dissemination2
OCT 5355C Clinical Applications in Pediatrics/Adolescence5
OCT 6420 Capstone Process1
Total Credit Hours
11
Trimester VI
OCT 5470 Administration & Management in Occupational Therapy3
OCT 5330C OT Methods I: Assistive Technology3
OCT 5410C Clinical Applications in Adulthood5
Total Credit Hours
11
Trimester VII
OCT 5425C Clinical Applications in Older Adults5
OCT 5445C OT Methods II: Orthotics, Prosthetics and Modalities3
Total Credit Hours
8
Trimester VIII
OCT 5550 Fieldwork IIA11
OCT 6530 Capstone Methodology1
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester IX
OCT 5660 Fieldwork IIB11
OCT 6640 OTD Seminar 41
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester X
OCT 6720 Leadership & Advocacy3
OCT 6745 Scholarship of Practice3
OCT 6700 Capstone Project2
OCT 6731 Capstone Experience 14
Total Credit Hours
12
Trimester XI
OCT 6832 Capstone Experience 212
Total Credit Hours
12
Total OTD Program Credit Hours
117

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Scholarships

USAHS offers a series of scholarships designed to recognize outstanding academic achievement and reward personal accomplishments in community- and diversity-focused areas. These scholarships not only acknowledge past achievements but empower and motivate students to strive for continued excellence along their educational journeys towards earning an occupational therapy doctorate degree.

The following scholarships are available to all applicants for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), OTD Flex MOT, MOT Hybrid Immersion, and MOT Flex programs who meet the eligibility criteria:

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Accreditation and State Approvals/Post-Graduate Licensure

OTD Program Accreditation Status

San Marcos Campus

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) program at the San Marcos, California campus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the remaining 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-6611 or accred@aota.org.

ACOTE Accreditation

St. Augustine Campus

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) degree program at the St. Augustine, Florida campus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience 18 months following completion of the remaining 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-6611 or accred@aota.org.

ACOTE Accreditation

Miami Campus

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) program at the Miami, Florida campus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the remaining 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-6611 or accred@aota.org.

ACOTE Accreditation

Austin Campus

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) program at the Austin, Texas campus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the remaining 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-6611 or accred@aota.org.

ACOTE Accreditation

Dallas Campus

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) program at the Dallas, Texas campus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; 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.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the remaining 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-6611 or accred@aota.org.

ACOTE Accreditation

State Approvals

Flex Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dallas)

USAHS currently is accepting applications for enrollment in the Flex Doctor of Occupational Therapy for residents of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. USAHS has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following locations:  American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

 

USAHS is not accepting applications from prospective students residing in states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states.  Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to be placed for on-the-ground activities or clinical field experiences.  Additionally, for states denoted with clinical field experience and other on-the-ground activity restrictions, USAHS does not have the necessary state authorization approvals to offer on-the-ground activities of this kind in those states at this time. However, these restrictions should not impact a graduates’ eligibility for professional licensure in his/her state, provided all other requirements are met. The OTD program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states.

It remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides.

OTD (Austin, Miami, St Augustine, San Marcos, and Dallas)

USAHS currently is accepting applications for enrollment in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Austin, Miami, St. Augustine, San Marcos, and Dallas campuses) for residents of the following states:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. USAHS has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following locations:  American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

 

USAHS is not accepting applications from prospective students residing in states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states.  Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to be placed for on-the-ground activities or clinical field experiences.

For states denoted with clinical field experience and other on-the-ground activity restrictions, USAHS does not have the necessary state authorization approvals to offer on-the-ground activities of this kind in those states at this time. However, these restrictions should not impact a graduates’ eligibility for professional licensure in his/her state, provided all other requirements are met.   As such,  the OTD program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states.

It remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides.

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Student Outcomes

OTD Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program graduation rate is the percentage of students who are enrolled in the institution’s official enrollment date (ten-day census date) at the start of the student’s program and complete the program within the program’s published academic terms (on time).

The total number of graduates and graduation rates from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ (USAHS) OTD programs at the San Marcos, CA; St. Augustine, FL; Miami, FL; Austin, TX; and Dallas, TX campuses during the three years of 2022-2024 are listed below.

San Marcos, CA

Year# Students Entering# Students Graduating On TimeOn-Time Grad Rate# Students Graduating Within 101%-150%150% Grad Rate# Students Still Enrolled
2022514996%2100%0
2023736589%697%0
2024675178%1094%3
3-Yr Total19116587%1897%3

St. Augustine, FL

Year# Students Entering# Students Graduating On TimeOn-Time Grad Rate# Students Graduating Within 101%-150%150% Grad Rate# Students Still Enrolled
2022454089%5100%0
2023554684%898%0
2024706493%296%1
3-Yr Total17015089%1596%1

Miami, FL

Year# Students Entering# Students Graduating On TimeOn-Time Grad Rate# Students Graduating Within 101%-150%150% Grad Rate# Students Still Enrolled
2022413380%8100%0
2023454091%4100%0
2024413489%397%0
3-Yr Total12710787%1599%0

Austin, TX

Year# Students Entering# Students Graduating On TimeOn-Time Grad Rate# Students Graduating Within 101%-150%150% Grad Rate# Students Still Enrolled
2022393590%4100%0
2023393385%6100%0
2024564684%389%3
3-Yr Total13411486%1395%3

Dallas, TX

Year# Students Entering# Students Graduating On TimeOn-Time Grad Rate# Students Graduating Within 101%-150%150% Grad Rate# Students Still Enrolled
2022412876%589%0
2023785574%1797%0
2024786588%595%2
3-Yr Total19714880%2795%2

NBCOT Exam Pass Rate

Graduates of the accredited University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs are eligible to take the certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

Program performance data from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.

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Program Data

Click a campus below to view the program data:

San Marcos, CA Residential
St. Augustine, FL, Residential
Miami, FL, Residential
Austin, TX, Residential
Dallas, TX, Residential | Flex

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ACOTE and NBCOT Important Links

NBCOT examination results
Visit the NBCOT website for more information on NBCOT examination results.

ACOTE Accreditation
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814,
(301) 652-6611 or visit www.acoteonline.org. Visit the ACOTE Website for more information on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

How Do You Want to Study

The Program is Designed to be Completed in

2.7 Years

Residential

I want to participate in an engaging, campus-based education.

  • In-person and online learning with weekday on-campus labs.
  • Live near and study at one of our beautiful campuses. San Marcos, CA, St. Augustine, FL, Miami, FL, Austin and Dallas, TX with three start dates a year. January, May and September start dates (varies by campus).
3.7 Years

Flex

I want to enjoy the benefits of hybrid online learning and take more time to earn my degree.

  • Online coursework (learning on your own time) and immersive on-campus labs 5-7 times per term.
  • Dallas, TX, with start dates in September and May.

Getting Started with Earning Your Doctorate in OT

Need a little help taking the next step? Whether you’re ready to apply and earn your occupational therapy doctorate degree or seek additional information, it’s easy to get started on your path toward a fulfilling OT career.

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Start Your<br>Application to our Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

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