Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level OTD

The Valparaiso University Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program will prepare practitioners to provide evidence-based occupational therapy services with integrity and interprofessional collaboration to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of diverse people, environments, and organizations.

Valpo OTD Mission – Valparaiso University’s occupational therapy program inspires students to develop a commitment to the profession of occupational therapy as a vocation, utilizing their strengths to meet the needs of their community through leadership, service, and scholarship.

Valpo OTD Vision – Valparaiso University’s occupational therapy aspires to light the way for community transformation through engagement in meaningful occupations.

Upon completion of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Degree, students will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Advocate for occupational therapy services for diverse populations, groups, and individuals as a member of a healthcare team.
• Assess occupational performance of individuals, groups, and populations using evidence-based concepts and principles.
• Provide therapeutic interventions based on client centered care and evidence-based principles.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, client, and stakeholders to formulate a successful transition from service and document results.
• Complete all duties in an ethical, legal, safe, and professional manner in accordance with state, federal, and association rules/regulations.

Demonstrate the importance of professional development, support professional organizations, and advocate for the future of occupational therapy services.

Goal 1: Prepare graduates with the skills to be compassionate and culturally competent, ethical occupational therapists.

Goal 2: Provide a student-centered adult learner educational environment that enables student success.

Goal 3: Prepare graduates to provide high-quality patient-centered care as collaborative members of an interprofessional healthcare team.

Goal 4: Prepare graduates to lead and serve the profession and in dynamic healthcare environments.

Prerequisite Courses

• BIO 151 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 152 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I
• ENGL 205 – Writing for Health Sciences
• KIN 250 – Medical Terminology
• PSY 110 – General Psychology
• PSY 215 – Life Span Development
• PSY 235 – Abnormal Psychology
• STAT 140 – General Statistics

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Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)

Total: 109 Cr.

Year 1: 42 Cr.

Fall: 15 Cr.

• OCTH 701 – Occupational Therapy Theory & Framework – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 703 – Occupational Engagement for the OT – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 705 – OT Evaluation & Assessment – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 709 – OT Research Clinical Inquiry for OT EVB – 3 Cr.
• HADM 517 – Leadership and Team Building in Health Care Administration – 3 Cr.

Spring: 15 Cr.

• OCTH 707 – Advanced Anatomy and Human Development Across the Lifespan – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 715 – Occupational Therapy Ethics & Advocacy – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 717 – Occupational Therapy Research Methodology – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 730 – Clinical Reasoning for the Occupational Therapist – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 737 – Assistive Technology – 3 Cr.

Summer: 12 Cr.

• OCTH 725 – Occupational Therapy Practice in Orthopedics, Work, and Industry 5 Cr.
• OCTH 727 – Occupational Therapy Practice in Rehabilitation 5 Cr.
• OCTH 741 – Fieldwork Level 1A and Seminar – Rehabilitation Practice – 2 Cr.

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Year 2: 44 Cr.

Fall: 17 Cr.

• OCTH 711 – Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health – 5 Cr.
• OCTH 712 – Fieldwork Level 1B & Seminar – Mental Health – 2 Cr.
• OCTH 719 – Pediatrics for the Occupational Therapist – 5 Cr.
• OCTH 720 – Fieldwork Level 1C & Seminar – Children and Youth – 2 Cr.
• OCTH 740 – OT Research Implementation – 3 Cr.

Spring: 17 Cr.

• OCTH 713 – Occupational Therapy Practice – Specialty Practice – 5 Cr.
• OCTH 729 – Capstone Discovery – 2 Cr.
• OCTH 733 – OT in Education – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 735 – Occupational Therapy Practice in Productive Aging – 5 Cr.
• OCTH 736 – The Elder Mentor Experience – 3 Cr.

Summer: 10 Cr.

• OCTH 742 – Clinical Competency for the Occupational, Therapist – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 745 – Fieldwork Level 2A – 8 Cr.

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Year 3: 23 Cr.

Fall: 13 Cr.

• OCTH 723 – Professional Leadership and Management, In OT – 3 Cr.
• OCTH 739 – Capstone Design – 2 Cr.
• OCTH 747 – Fieldwork Level 2B – 8 Cr.

Spring: 10 Cr.

• OCTH 749 – Capstone Implementation and Outcomes – 10 Cr.

Current Cost	Year 1 Fall, Spring Summer	Year 2 Fall, Spring Summer	Year 3 Fall/Spring
Tuition	$30,030	$31,460	$16,445
Student Fees General fee,  liability insurance	$652	$652	$652
Health Insurance (can be waived with proof of insurance)	$2,382	$2,382	$2,382
Drug Screen and Criminal Background Check	$138	$117	$117
BLS Certification	$75	$0	$75
Lab Fees	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000
Books/Supplies (Approximate cost per semester for books and supplies.  Costs vary per semester, with the first semester costs being greater and very low supply costs toward the end of the program)	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
Membership Fees SOTA AOTA IOTA	$150 $75 $30	$0 $75 $30	$0 $75 $30
Total	$38,532	$39,716	$24,776

• Fees are subject to change
• According to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees as well as fees associated with distance education.
• Total estimated cost of the program based on 2026/2027 estimated cost per credit hour
• This estimate is for the 2026-2027 AY based on the $715 per credit hour rate

Admission to the entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program is decided by the following criteria:

1. A completed Valparaiso University graduate application.
2. Official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Undergraduate degree or GPA of 3.3 or higher in prerequisite coursework.
4. Two letters of recommendation.
5. A 1-2 page personal statement describing your reasons for seeking this degree and your goals for using it.
6. Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better: general psychology, anatomy, physiology, lifespan development, abnormal psychology, statistics, medical terminology, and English composition.

Application Deadline
Priority admission application by November 1. We do not accept applications after June 30.

In addition to completing the requirements, students applying to the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program must meet the following criteria:

Prerequisite Courses

• BIO 151 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 152 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I
• ENGL 205 – Writing for Health Sciences
• KIN 250 – Medical Terminology
• PSY 110 – General Psychology
• PSY 215 – Life Span Development
• PSY 235 – Abnormal Psychology
• STAT 140 – General Statistics

The prerequisite requirements listed above are in reference to courses offered at Valparaiso University. An applicant may request a course equivalency audit at any time by emailing . Applicants must earn a grade of “C” or higher to fulfill the prerequisite GPA admission criteria.

Application Process

In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements, invited applicants will also be required to complete a virtual interview.

Admission Pathway with Priority: Valparaiso University alumni with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and who meet the admission criteria are eligible for admittance into the OTD program.  Application and acceptance through Valparaiso University Graduate Studies are required in order to finalize admission to the OTD.

Standard Admission Pathway: Students who have obtained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and meet the prerequisite criteria are eligible to apply to the OTD program. Application and acceptance through Valparaiso University Graduate Studies are required to finalize admission to the OTD.

Academic and student life policies as well as services for graduate students are listed in the Graduate Catalog, which is administered by Graduate Studies on behalf of the Graduate Educational Policy Committee.

1. Complete all requirements for didactic, fieldwork, and capstone project per the occupational therapy handbook
2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
3. Demonstrate professionalism during interactions with faculty, supervisors, and peers in accordance with Valparaiso University policy.
4. Complete all requirements for degree completion listed in the Graduate Catalog.

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 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 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.

Entry-level graduates are 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 is credentialed to use the title of Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. In order to be eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination, and become licensed in the state, an individual must hold a degree from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy program.

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

Entry-Level OTD Program Progression Outcomes

	Students Entering	Student Withdrawals*	Students Graduating	Graduation Rate
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2023 –May 2026 (Gold 26)
	2	0	–	–
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2024 – May 2027 (Brown 27)
	10	0	–	–
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2025 – May 2028 (Gold 28)
	10	1	–	–
Total	22	1	–	–

*Students who withdrew, or did not graduate with the entering cohort, for reasons other than academic performance.

Entry-Level OTD Program NBCOT Pass Rates

Program Start/End Months	NBCOT Pass Rate
Aug. 2023 –May 2026 (Gold 26)	–
Aug. 2024 – May 2027 (Brown 27)	–
Aug. 2025 – May 2028 (Gold 28)	–
Total	–

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the entry-level OTD degree can be found on the NBCOT website.

Entry-Level OTD Program Student Continuance Data

	Students	January 2026	% Sustained	Anticipated Graduation Date
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2023 –May 2026 (Gold 26)
	2	2	100%	May 2026
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2024 – May 2027 (Brown 27)
	10	10	100%	May 2027
Program Start/End Months: Aug. 2025 – May 2028 (Gold 28)
	10	9	90%	May 2028
3-year aggregate (not yet available)	22	21	95%	–

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the entry-level OTD degree can be found on the NBCOT website.