Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)

The doctorate in Occupational Therapy is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to expand their capabilities and thrive in their chosen field. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students will discover and develop their personal strengths and interested, empowering them to thrive professionally and carve out their unique path within the diverse landscape of occupational therapy. The doctoral capstone experience encourages students to explore their chosen areas in depth, fostering growth and expertise.

Graduates will be equipped for client-centered, occupation based, and evidence based practice and servant leadership. This program also fosters students’ ethical reasoning, advocacy, and interprofessional teamwork skills. Upon successful completion, graduates will be able to pursue national certification examination, attain state licensure, or pursue occupational therapy practice.

Why Pursue My Occupational Therapy Doctorate at IWU?

This IWU doctoral program combines a comprehensive and detailed approach to occupational therapy with top-tier facilities, faculty, and fieldwork. Students learn in state-of-the-art facilities including a sensory-based pediatric lab and an anatomy and neuroanatomy cadaver lab. All faculty members teach within their areas of clinical expertise and specialization, with many still working in clinical settings at present. We also have active contracts with hundreds of high-quality fieldwork sites eager to support students in their hometown or home state.

What Will I Learn in This Onsite Occupational Therapy Program?

Throughout this occupational therapy education program, students will learn to view individuals, environments, and meaningful occupations through a holistic, culturally responsive lens, embracing the power of collaboration to achieve rehabilitation goals. An embedded, week-long cross-cultural experience helps students explore the world in a new way, learning while serving those they meet along the way.

After becoming a doctor of occupational therapy, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue work occupational therapists or a great number of other opportunities.

Apply Online

The Occupational Therapy Program receives applications for doctoral program admission and most applicant credentials exclusively through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS), provided by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

OTD Application

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements

There are Two Paths of Entry into the OTD Program

Accelerated Entry

90 undergraduate credits in any area
Overall GPA: 3.5 or higher
Pre-requisite GPA: 3.5 or higher
10 hours observation of OTR

Post-Baccalaureate Entry

Bachelor’s degree in any area
Overall GPA: 3.0
Pre-requisite GPA: 3.2 preferred
10 hours observation of OTR

*Applicants who demonstrate progress toward either path will be invited to an one-campus interview for further consideration. Applicants pursuing Accelerated Entry are invited to apply after they have completed 60-75 credits of undergraduate work. Only 6 credits may be completed in the summer prior to matriculation

*Admission is provisional pending the successful completion of admissions requirements for the proposed pathway

*Criminal background checks are required prior to matriculation, and are repeated annually for community and fieldwork experiences, which occur throughout the program.

The Occupational Therapy program annually admits a class of 30 students to the professional entry level Doctorate (OTD), who begin studies in September each year.

Prerequisite Courses

The following prerequisite courses or the equivalent must be completed with a grade of B- or better. Unless specified, the courses below should have at least 3 credits to be considered as a prerequisite course.

Students may complete up to two prerequisites in the summer session after acceptance into the program but before beginning the graduate level of study:

Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab -or- Human Anatomy with Lab
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab -or- Human Physiology with Lab
Abnormal Psychology -or- Psychopathology
Lifespan Development -or- Developmental Psychology (may combine multiple development courses to cover the lifespan)
General Psychology (AP/testing credit allowed)
Statistics (math or behavioral sciences based)
General Sociology -or- Anthropology
Medical Terminology (1-3 credits accepted)

Graduation Requirements

All credits required in the program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
Minimum grade in each course of “B-“ or higher or a “pass” in pass/fail courses.
Successful completion of all Clinical Education courses to include site assessment documentation.
Payment of all program tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is fully 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 the web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Graduates of the program 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 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. https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

Program Graduation Rate

Graduation Year	Students Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2020	17/17	100%
2021	25/23	92%
2022	15/15	100%
2023	19/17	89%
2024	13/11*	85%
*Students who changed cohorts will be counted in the year they graduate.
5-Year Total	89/83	93%

NBCOT Exam Pass Rate

Year	Cohort Size	Passing Percentage
2021	21/21	100%
2022	17/17	100%
2023	14/14	100%
3-Year Average	52/52	100%

Tuition and Fees

2024-2025 Academic Year	OTD Program Fall Trimester	OTD Program Spring Trimester	OTD Program Summer Trimester	Total Cost of Program by Academic Year	Total Cost of Program (8 trimesters)
Tuition	$11,788	$11,788	$11,788	$35,364	$94,304
Tuition rates remain the same for the duration of the program unless the student withdraws and re-enters the program.
Student Life Fee	$90	$90		$180	$540
The Student Life Fee covers access to TimelyCare, a 24-hour/day, seven days/week, 365 days per year health service. Students can access mental health and medical care via an app on their phone that includes counseling, a Talk Now feature, and medical professionals. It also provides access to all campus facilities including the Recreation and Wellness Center, student pass to home athletic events, Center for Student Success and activities run by the Student Government Association and Student Activities Council.
Parking Fee				$60	$120
Parking fee applies only to the 2 years on campus.
Background Checks & Compliance				$113 Year 1 $35 Year 2 & 3	$183
This fee includes background checks and document tracking for compliance. Students are responsible for the costs of health services and fieldwork-required tests and immunizations, etc. Costs may vary based on insurance coverage.
Books & Supplies					$4,000
Includes books and learning software. Costs vary with student preference for e-book/print, new/used availability, etc.
Graduation Fee					$150
					Total: $99,297*
*Students are responsible for the cost of transportation to and from fieldwork locations. Fieldwork locations range from 5-80 miles from IWU campus, depending on student interests and site availability. The OTD program provides 1 program shirt for fieldwork.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)