Doctor of Occupational Therapy

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program is designed for students who have a baccalaureate degree and are ready to apply for the entry-level graduate program in occupational therapy. The OTD Program does not have a preference as to the major for the bachelor’s degree as long as the required prerequisites courses are completed. The best undergraduate major is one in an area in which the student would enjoy working after obtaining the undergraduate degree and should be selected based on the student’s interests.

Location of Program

Stone Family Center For Health Sciences, 515 Bob Jones Way, Evansville, Indiana, 47708

Length of Program

Three years, including summers.

Structure of the Program

The academic and fieldwork portions of the curriculum are designed as full-time experiences.

To be a leading force in occupational therapy education recognized for excellence in research and community engagement producing influential scholars who transform healthcare and champion the power of occupation to improve lives globally.

Empowering future healthcare leaders in occupational therapy through innovative education and evidence-based practice, while promoting engagement in meaningful occupations to enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities.

For more information about tuition, fees and other costs, visit USI's Cost of Attendance page.

Graduates of the USI OTD Program must successfully complete the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam prior to obtaining state licensure and entering OT practice.

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online. Visit the NBCOT web page.

For more about USI OTD Student and Program Outcomes, visit our web page.

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status 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 acoteonline.org.

The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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. 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 and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework, Level II fieldwork and preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Are you an out-of-state student interested in pursuing the Doctor in Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree at USI or determining if the USI OTD Program meets individual state requirements for employment?

Check your eligibility.

There are special application procedures for those who are not citizens of the United States or who have completed previous schooling outside of the United States. International student applicants interested in the OTD program should visit Graduate Studies for information on applying to the university.