Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

For Students Holding a Bachelor’s Degree Seeking an Entry-Level Professional OT Degree

The University of Florida’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares students to become professional-level OT practitioners who are leaders in the rapidly changing and dynamic contemporary health and human services delivery systems. The program will facilitate students’ clinical knowledge and skills, professional development, leadership and advocacy skills, and advanced knowledge base to inform high quality, evidence-informed practice in occupational therapy. Students will engage in projects and leadership activities that will improve practice quality and advance evidence-based clinical practice.

Dr. Christine Myers provides an overview of the OTD program.

Accreditation

The entry-level OTD degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929; tel. (301) 652-AOTA.

OTD Graduation Rates

graduation year Students Entering Students Graduating on time Students graduating off cycle total graduates Graduation Rate
2021 46 41 4 45 95.7%
2022 47 46 1 47 100%
2023 56 54 0 54 96.4%
Total 149 141 5 145 97.3%

The average program graduation rate over the 3 most recent calendar years for 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 programs’ published academic terms is 94.6%.

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 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.

Information about the credentialing of occupational therapists can be found at the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®). The first cohort of graduates took the NBCOT Certification Examination in 2022.

Requirements for Graduation

OTD Class of 2022 Commencement
OTD Class of 2022 graduates

All students must complete the required prerequisite courses prior to beginning the OTD program. All students must also complete the college required Introduction to Public Health course. Students need to obtain 107 graduate credits before matriculation can be expected from the OTD program.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 months following the completion of the 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.

University degree certification for graduation from the OTD degree program requires the following:

  • students have successfully earned, at a minimum, a C or S in all courses;
  • an overall GPA of 3.0;
  • have completed all required courses;
  • have no incomplete (I) courses;
  • have successfully completed three Level 1 fieldwork placements, two Level 2 placements, and the capstone experience and project.