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Occupational Therapy Doctorate

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Help individuals reclaim their life through occupational therapy.

Our accredited Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program will transform you into a spiritually mature and service-oriented occupational therapist. All 3 years of full-time study will help you gain real-world experience and prepare you for the NBCOT.


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Do you have questions you need answered about the program and the admissions process? Schedule an appointment below or call or text your Adult & Graduate Enrollment Coordinator, Stephen Robson. Text 585-902-2920 or call 585-594-6603.

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Start Terms

  • August 26, 2024
    In person only

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program holds classes on the Roberts Wesleyan University campus in North Chili. Limited housing accommodations are available to students requiring lodging for the duration of the degree program.

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Get More Info by clicking below to request details on our program admissions, curriculum, tuition, and more.

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Program Details

COURSE LENGTH
8 semesters

PROGRAM DURATION
3 years full-time

CLASS SIZE
Under 30 students

PROGRAM CREDITS
111 credits

FORMAT
in-person/ 1 summer online/ 2 semesters on-site fieldwork

Why Choose an OTD at Roberts?

  • Low student-to-faculty ratio
  • New and specialized facilities, including cadaver lab
  • Hands-on, experiential learning
  • Community immersion
  • Level I and II Fieldwork
  • Individualized Capstone project and experience
  • $20,000 scholarship

Why Get a Doctorate?

“OTDs stand out- They are clinical practitioners and educators; they are more likely to own their own businesses and be involved in scholarly research and presentations/publications, and many receive awards and grants for their work. (Smallfield, Flanigan, & Sherman, 2019)”

  • Occupational therapists (OTs) treat patients across the lifespan who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through therapeutic use of everyday activities or “occupations."
  • OTs are interactive, non-sedentary professionals who work in hospitals, clinics, home health services, universities, industries, or private practice.
  • Occupational therapists typically have a master’s degree in occupational therapy, although many schools are transitioning to doctoral programs. All states require occupational therapists to be licensed.
  • Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 18 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $86,280 in May 2020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Program Outcomes

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/en/educators/home#schoolperformance, and will be available in May of 2024.

Graduation YearStudents Entering/GraduatingGraduation Rate
2024/Available in 2024
2025/Available in 2024
2026/Available in 2024
Total/Available in 2024

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. 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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.