DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OTD)

I appreciate your interest in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. We have a rich history of educating occupational therapy students and demonstrating successful outcomes for over 50 years. Our history of excellence continues! The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program on the Tulsa and Oklahoma City campuses is in pre-accreditation status. We are deeply committed to preparing our students as competent and caring occupational therapists.  We focus on occupation-based, person-centered assessment and intervention, emphasizing community engagement and hands-on learning opportunities. Our faculty, known for their creativity and commitment to the profession, are dedicated to your success. On behalf of the faculty and students of our program, we thank you for your interest. We hope you enjoy learning about us as you peruse our website.  Being part of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Program in Occupational Therapy is powerful and life-changing.  

Mary Isaacson, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, ATP
Program Director

“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability (AOTA, 2021).”

Occupational therapists work with individuals who may be recovering from illnesses or injuries, contending with developmental disabilities, or coping with changes resulting from the aging process. Occupational therapists advance the person's well-being by promoting adaptation and independence through meaningful activities of everyday living to enhance and restore health. By preventing, reducing, or overcoming physical, social, and emotional impairments in people, occupational therapists help to restore and sustain the highest quality of productive life to persons of all ages.

To become a registered occupational therapist (OTR), a person must graduate from an accredited school of occupational therapy, and successfully pass the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Many states, including Oklahoma, also require a license to practice occupational therapy within the state.

For further information about the profession of occupational therapy, contact the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or use the links below to learn more!

Consider becoming an Occupational Therapist (AOTA)

Bureau of Labor Statistics on the Profession of Occupational Therapy

Why I chose Occupational Therapy (AOTA)

OT Graduate Vignettes (AOTA)

World Federation of Occupational Therapy

American Occupational Therapy Association

Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Association

OUHSC Student Occupational Therapy Association

All candidates applying for the OUHSC program in this cycle are applying for the Doctorate Program.  

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation. It has been granted Preaccreditation 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 www.acoteonline.org. The program must 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 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.  

Each professional licensing board in every state is autonomous and establishes and governs the standards a program or a graduate must meet to earn a license or certification in a professional field. States may also have other licensure requirements beyond the professional examination, including, but not limited to, background and drug tests, internships, or other standards.
 

All didactic coursework is offered on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. To meet the broad healthcare needs of Oklahomans, the University of Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Program offers our program in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.  Students physically attend courses and labs on one of the two campuses. Lectures are broadcast between the two campuses which provides the opportunity for students to receive a rich and diverse education from regional experts in the field. 

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree-professional program consists of three years (99 semester hours) of sequenced and integrated didactic, clinical, and capstone courses. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. All coursework, fieldwork, and capstone courses are to be completed in no more than five years.  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.  

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Allied Health ensures that program expectations, learning objectives, and educational outcomes offered at the Oklahoma City campus and Tulsa campus are consistent.   Program outcomes between the Oklahoma City campus and Tulsa campus are evaluated yearly by course directors. 

The progression and retention policies for the program in Occupational Therapy are described in the College of Allied Health Academic Standards.

“I really admire how the faculty not only care about providing the best education for the students, but they take an interest in us individually. They take a genuine interest in how we are doing; my advisor often checks in with me to make sure I am doing what is best not only academically but also reminding me to be holistic in my approach to education and managing stress by doing activities that I enjoy. It has made my graduate experience much more meaningful; I have been extremely blessed to be a part of this program.”

Reagan Collins, Occupational Therapy Class of 2022, Tulsa Campus, Albert Schweitzer Fellow

©Photos courtesy of PartyPics

 

2024-2025 Cycle Deadlines
 
OTCAS Application Opens July 19, 2024 

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Application Opens July 15, 2024

Application Closes February 3rd, 2025

All application components outlined in the Application Procedure section must be completed on or before February 3rd in order to be considered. Incomplete applications will be automatically denied.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for admission, an applicant must:

1. Meet the following degree requirements: 
   • Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program. There is no preference given to a specific major, applicants should choose a major of interest;
2. AND meet the following GPA requirements:
   • At minimum, earn a 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale as calculated by OTCAS; 
   • At minimum, earn a 2.75 science grade point average on a 4.0 scale as calculated by OTCAS. This may include pre-requisites but also factors in all science courses taken, as determined by OTCAS;
   • The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs;
   • Be in good standing with the college or university last or currently attending;
   • While a 2.75 is the minimum eligibility requirement, please review our admission statistics from the previous year to ensure that you are a competitive applicant.
3. AND have completed, or are in the process of completing the required pre-requisites:
   • Successfully complete all departmental prerequisite courses with grades of C or better prior to beginning our program the first week of June. 
   • Courses taken during the spring 2020 semester may have a “P” for passing or “S” for satisfactory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that the required 2.75 cumulative grade point average still applies;
   • If your pre-requisites are from a college or university other than the University of Oklahoma, please refer to the Transfer Equivalency Database to find out if your courses transfer.
4. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required as part of the application process.
5. If English is a second language, submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Applicants must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based) within two years prior to application. The OTCAS TOEFL Designated Institution Code for the OTD program at OUHSC is 7448. The department may waive TOEFL scores if the applicant provides evidence of graduation from a U.S. High School or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution. Click here to review additional information regarding the TOEFL and TOEFL waiver;
6. Observation hours are not required, only recommended for applicants to better understand the profession and expectations for a career in Occupational Therapy.
7. Be able to meet all Technical Standards of the profession during the program.

Application Procedure 

1. Complete an application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS);
   • Applicants will have the opportunity to provide their campus preference but sometimes a student spot is only available on one campus. Students are required to attend all classes on the campus to which they are admitted.
2. As part of the application process through OTCAS, you will complete an online asynchronous interview/assessment through Kira Talent; 
3. Complete an online application through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Office of Admissions and Records; 
4. Submit official, sealed transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended directly to OTCAS:
   • Transcripts sent directly to the OUHS Admissions and Records will not be considered for the application as they must be assessed by OTCAS
   • If previous coursework is from colleges or universities outside of the US, have all transcripts/mark sheets processed through World Education Services (WES);
5. Selection
   • Once an application is complete, including the OTCAS application, Kira Talent Assessment, Official Transcripts, and OUHS Application, it will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning October 1st. 
     • Decisions may include admitted, waitlisted, or denied. We do not publish our waitlist and will continue to admit students until the class is filled, which may continue through April 2025. 
     • Admitted applicants will be notified via an electronic letter sent by OU Health Sciences Admissions and Records. Waitlisted or Denied students will be notified via OTCAS of their status. 
     • It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have provided a correct email address in both OTCAS and the OU application systems and be monitoring their email for updates.
6. Admitted applicants must accept their position according to the timeline communicated on their electronic letter received through OU Health Sciences Admissions and Records, or the position will be considered declined. If admitted, applicants must accept their position by paying a non-refundable deposit, which will be applied toward tuition and fees during the first term. 
7. Students are required to attend a mandatory orientation the week before the start of their first semester beginning in June 2025 as well as meet all university compliance and eligibility requirements. Admission is conditional based on meeting all requirements and the college reserves the right to rescind admission offers up until the start of the first week of school.

“I think one of the biggest strengths of the occupational therapy program is its devotion to meaningful occupation and client-centeredness from the very first day. Our program also emphasizes evidence-based practice with interprofessionalism through the combined curriculum with physical therapy students.”

Haylee Hoock, Occupational Therapy Class of 2021

©Photos courtesy of PartyPics

Course numbers are those of the University of Oklahoma.  Approved prerequisite courses are offered at many institutions.  It is extremely important that you look up every course you have taken, plan to take, and/or are currently enrolled in to verify that they are equivalent courses. The responsibility is yours to enroll in equivalent courses and we provide the tools to make sure you do. Check the Transfer Equivalencies Database or with your school advisor regarding equivalent courses.  There are instructions on that page on how to request a transcript evaluation for particular courses if your courses are not listed in the database.

Click on the following link to use the prerequisite worksheet to keep track of your prerequisite classes.

All prerequisites are required. Please read the footnote description located directly underneath the table.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If you are attending OU in Norman for these courses, click here for equivalent courses; if attending another institution, please check the Transfer Equivalency Database.

In creating the OTD curriculum, faculty recognized the success of the University of Oklahoma Master of Occupational Therapy program as a highly recognized ACOTE® accredited program with efficacious outcomes for over 25 years. The newly launched OTD curriculum is a mix of updated previously offered courses blended with new and innovative content, preparing our graduates for contemporary practice. The length of the program has not changed as students continue to earn their entry-level degree in three years.    

Summer 1

Fall 1

Spring 1

Summer 2

Fall 2

Spring 2

Summer 3

Fall 3

Spring 3

Information about the cost of attending the OTD program can be found on the OUHSC Bursar Office’s website. 

In addition to established tuition and fees, students may expect additional costs that include but are not limited to, a personal computer, textbooks, insurance, and supplies. Students are also required to assume financial responsibilities for expenses associated with clinical requirements. For financial aid information, contact the Financial Aid Office at (405) 271-2118. The OUHSC Financial Aid Office services both the OKC and Tulsa campus.

Costs and fees are subject to change.

Additional cost information:
Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees
Student Financial Aid

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty

Publication of Program Outcomes

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 www.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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
 
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) will be found on the NBCOT School Performance Page.  

Graduation Rates from the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program during the 3-year period of 2025-2027 will be posted below when available.  

Schedule a Campus Visit with OU Health Sciences Student Affairs

Schedule a Campus Visit with OU-Tulsa Student Affairs by emailing tulsainfo@ouhsc.edu
or by calling 918-660-3318

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Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Phone:  (405) 271-6588
Email the Office of Academic and Student Affairs

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

College of Allied Health
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1200 N Stonewall Avenue, Room 3092
Oklahoma City, OK  73117-1215

 Click here to schedule a virtual, phone, or in-person prospective student appointment with one of our Advisors.

Click here to schedule a virtual or in-person recruitment event or presentation for your class, club, career fair, etc.

Students pursuing graduate degrees through the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences can simultaneously explore the wide variety of opportunities offered through the University of Oklahoma to enhance professional development, leadership, business innovation, and interprofessional collaboration.  Students can take advantage of these unique opportunities through formal certificate programs or through immersive experiences to build skill sets that will be highly marketable for future career opportunities in occupational therapy and physical therapy.  

Enhance Your Degree (more information about certificates and opportunities)

Prospective students are encouraged to review the Technical Standards located in the Department of Rehabilitation Science Student Handbook which are the academic, clinical, and interpersonal aptitudes and abilities that allow OT and PT students to complete the professional curriculum. Students are also encouraged to visit the prospective student's page to find resources such as the transfer equivalency tables, admission statistics, job shadowing, gpa calculation, tuition cost, scholarships, student life, campus resources, etc.

2024 Student Handbook