Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
About the OTD
Spalding University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program in the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT) prepares students to meet the needs of the times with compassionate action based upon best rehabilitation principles and evidence-based practice through community outreach, service, and research. The OTD offers students the opportunity to advance their preparation and application of in-depth knowledge in practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and the application of theory.
Entry-level OTD
Spalding University offers the first fully accredited entry-level OTD program in the state of Kentucky, and it is accessible to any student with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- 3 years (36 months)
- 9 trimesters
- 110 credit hours (84 didactic hours and 26 clinical hours)
- 35 students per cohort
Post-Professional OTD
This post-professional degree is designed for licensed occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to progress to the doctoral level and is offered exclusively online.
- 30 credit hours
- Online format
- 4 trimesters + self-directed capstone
About ASOT
Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT)
Spalding University’s Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT) prepares students to meet the needs of the times with compassionate action based upon best rehabilitation principles and evidence-based practice through community outreach, service, and research.
Entry-Level OTD Accreditation and Examination Eligibility
The entry-level OTD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (telephone: 301-652-2682; www.acoteonline.org) located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
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, stat 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.
See our professional licensure disclosure.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
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 at least a Master’s 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 Student Progression Outcomes | |||
Begin/End Months: Jan 2019 — Jan 2022 (B22) | |||
Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
23 | 22 | 96% | 91% |
Begin/End Months: Aug 2019 — Aug 2022 (Y22) | |||
Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
27* | 20* (4 students moved cohorts) |
89% | 95% |
Begin/End Months: Jan 2020 — Jan 2023 (B23) | |||
Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
14 | 13 | 93% | 94% |
Begin/End Months: Aug 2020 - Aug 2023 (Y23) | |||
Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
27 | 22* (2 students moved cohorts) |
89% | TBD |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enroll a single cohort per year each fall.
Entry-level OTD Program Student Progression Outcomes | ||||
Begin/End Months | Program Started | Program Graduated | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
Jan 2019 — Jan 2022 (B22) | 23 | 22 | 96% | 91% |
Aug 2019 — Aug 2022 (Y22) | 27* | 20* (4 students moved cohorts) | 89% | 95% |
Jan 2020 — Jan 2023 (B23) | 14 | 13 | 93% | 94% |
Aug 2020 — Aug 2023 (Y23) | 27 | 22* (2 students moved cohorts) | 89% | TBD |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enroll a single cohort per year each fall.
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the OTD degree can be found on the NBCOT site.
Entry-level OTD Program Student Continuance Data as of January 2024 | |||
Program Entry Date - Jan 2021 (B24) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
18 | 17 | 94% | Jan 2024 |
Program Entry Date - Aug 2021 (Y24) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
32 | 30 | 94% | Aug 2024 |
Program Entry Date - Jan 2022 (B25) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
11 | 9 | 91% | Jan 2025 |
Program Entry Date - Aug 2022 (Y25) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
15 | 13 | 87% | Aug 2025 |
Program Entry Date - Jan 2023 (B26) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
8 | 8 | 100% | Jan 2026 |
Program Entry Date - Aug 2023 (Y26) | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
15 | 15 | 100% | Aug 2026 |
Program Entry Date - 3-year aggregate | |||
# Students | January 2024 | % Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
16.5 | 15 | 94% |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enrol a single cohort per year each fall.
Entry-level OTD Program Student Continuance Data as of January 2024 | ||||
Program Entry Date | Number Students | January 2024 | Percentage Sustained | Anticipated Graduation |
Jan 2021 (B24) | 18 | 17 | 94% | Jan 2024 |
Aug 2021 (Y24) | 32 | 30 | 94% | Aug 2024 |
Jan 2022 (B25) | 11 | 9 | 91% | Jan 2025 |
Aug 2022 (Y25) | 15 | 13 | 87% | Aug 2025 |
Jan 2023 (B26) | 8 | 8 | 100% | Jan 2026 |
Aug 2023 (Y26) | 15 | 15 | 100% | Aug 2026 |
3-year aggregate | 16.5 | 15 | 94% |
*Student(s) moved cohorts. The entry-level OTD program enrolls two cohorts per year (in August and January). Effective January 2024, ASOT will enrol a single cohort per year each fall.
Continuing Education
ASOT uses the online continuing education platform, Teachable, to disseminate students’ presentations and scholarly work. Learners may select from a library of unique presentations and earn free CEUs in the process.
Upcoming Events
- April 16 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Virtual Info Session: Post-Professional OTD
- May 6
Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy DPAM Workshop