Occupational Therapy

OTD

Why study Occupational Therapy?

The University of Cincinnati’s new Doctor of Occupational Therapy provides students with the opportunity to earn the highest level of education for an entry-level occupational therapist. The program will allow you to sit for the board licensing exam, and once you pass the board exam, and meet additional requirements set forth by the state in which you seek licensure, you will be eligible to work as a licensed occupational therapist (OT). 

The mission of the program is to educate students to become occupation-based clinicians capable of competently and independently evaluating, treating and/or consulting with clients of diverse cultural backgrounds in a variety of settings. In addition, it is the mission of the program to offer flexibility to students by offering courses through a mix of online learning technologies and face-to-face instruction. The program strives for excellence in teaching, service, scholarly activity, and leadership while supporting the professional growth of faculty and students, instilling a commitment to lifelong learning, and responding to the needs of the region that it serves. 

Occupational Therapy is an allied health profession that promotes optimal health and function through facilitating successful and satisfying participation in the roles and everyday activities (occupations) that individuals want and need to do. OT's are client centered healthcare practitioners that use a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. Consideration of an individual’s physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and emotional abilities, as well as environmental impacts, are central to the occupational therapy evaluation and intervention process. 

Occupational Therapy services typically include: 

  • an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and OT determine the person’s goals

  • customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach stated goals

  • an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or to make changes to the intervention plan 

This intensive program is designed to prepare students for all areas of OT practice including pediatrics, rehabilitation, gerontology, mental health, and more. UC’s OTD program has partnerships with over 150 fieldwork sites including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, UC Health, Veterans Medical Center, TriHealth, and more. 

Admission Requirements

Please visit our Admission Requirements page for detailed information about the application process.

Early Admission Opportunities

The OTD program offers two early admission opportunities to qualified students. High school seniors entering the UC Bachelor of Health Sciences – Pre-Occupational Therapy program may apply to the High School Early Assurance Pathway. UC juniors may apply to the Junior Early Assurance Pathway. Students who maintain minimum requirements for these programs have a spot reserved in the OTD program when they graduate. 

The OTD program prepares graduates for a career as an OT.

OT's provide preventative and rehabilitation services to individuals of all ages in areas related to successful and satisfying physical, sensory, psychological, social, cognitive, and behavioral performance in meaningful activities (occupations). 

Graduates find careers working with patients across the lifespan in a variety of locations: 

  • hospitals 

  • rehabilitation and long-term care facilities 

  • outpatient clinics 

  • nursing facilities 

  • community based programs 

  • mental health facilities 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for OT's is expected to grow by 14% (much faster than the national average) and the median pay is $85,570 per year. It is projected that the number of job opportunities will be particularly higher in hospital, skilled nursing, and community settings as the number of elderly needing occupational therapy is expected to rise in proportion to the increase of the elderly population. 

Application Deadlines

Visit the How to Apply page to find information on application deadlines, how to send your materials, and more. 

 

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UC's OTD 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 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 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.

Contact Information

Occupational Therapy
Health Sciences Building
3225 Eden Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45267
(513) 558-7477
occupationaltherapy@uc.edu

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Program Code: 35DOC-OT-OTD