Occupational Therapy Doctorate

A doctoral degree to transform your career and community

Cedar Crest College is committed to providing students with ground-breaking opportunities to earn degrees that will transform their lives and make a difference in the world.

The new Occupational Therapy Doctorate program develops ethical occupational therapy leaders who are committed to clinical excellence, scientifically informed practice, advocacy for occupational justice and positive social change, and serving the health and occupational needs of diverse populations. Students are given the opportunity to explore the dynamic field through community-based and emerging practice sites and innovative practice areas.

An Occupational Therapy Doctorate from Cedar Crest College leads students to employ such fundamental skills as analysis, adaptability, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. The combination of classroom work, research, and fieldwork experiences provides students with an expanded lens to view and understand concepts such as occupational justice, healthcare management, advocacy, leadership, and preventative health.

Program Delivery

This full-time, on-campus, entry-level doctorate program is completed in 33 months. The courses incorporate lectures, experiential learning, research, and hands-on field experience and are guided by four main principles:

1. Clinical Excellence
2. Scientifically Informed Practice
3. Leadership & Advocacy
4. Occupational Justice & Positive Social Change

The program is designed for full-time students to complete 108 credits comprised of 83 academic credits, 16 fieldwork credits, and nine capstone credits.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.  

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, 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 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.

Students must complete all required courses, two Level II fieldwork placements, and the doctoral capstone to be eligible for graduation. 

All components of the program must be completed within 51 months of matriculation.

Tuition & Fees