Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program (OTD)

Bradley University's new entry-level occupational therapy (OTD) doctoral program feeds your curiosity, supports your authentic perspectives, and seeks to help you be bold, to be one of a kind, to BE YOU. We Believe in the power of self & best practices by using Evidence-based care and we Yearn for continuous growth and development to provide for the Occupation-based needs of the Unique individuals we are and we serve. The Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Bradley University (BU) is designed to educate and support students seeking to qualify for the National Board Certification Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national boards exam to become a licensed occupational therapist. This is on campus, three-year, 105 credit hour program runs continuously through fall, spring, and summer. The first students will begin in May 2025.

Bradley’s occupational therapy doctorate program will prepare occupational therapists to be professionally competent leaders in providing ethical, evidence-based occupational therapy services using interprofessional collaboration and creative thinking to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of diverse people, environments, and populations.

Student Learning Outcomes: After completing the occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) degree, you’ll be able to demonstrate the following:

• Advocate for occupational therapy services for diverse populations, groups, and individuals as a member of a healthcare team.
• Assess occupational performance of individuals, groups, and populations using evidence-based concepts and principles.
• Provide therapeutic interventions based on client centered care and evidence-based principles.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, client, and stakeholders to formulate a successful transition from service and document results.
• Complete all duties in an ethical, legal, safe, and professional manner in accordance with state, federal, and association rules/regulations.
• Demonstrate the importance of professional development, support professional organizations, and advocate for the future of occupational therapy services.

Deadlines

• Application open July 2024
• Program opens May 2025

Degree Completion Requirements

1. Complete all requirements for didactic, fieldwork, and capstone project per the occupational therapy handbook
2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
3. Demonstrate professionalism during interactions with faculty, supervisors, and peers in accordance with Bradley University policy.
4. Complete all requirements for degree completion listed in the Graduate Catalog.
5. No final comprehensive exam is required for graduation.

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-AOTAand 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.

Program Curriculum Threads

Critical Thinking

The faculty are committed to developing clinician/leaders who are clinically competent and able to practice based on theory and the best evidence available. These students will understand how practice is derived from theory and theoretical perspectives, and then refined through the use of evidence.

Social Awareness

Our clients do not always come from the same background as we do, and it is imperative that future occupational therapists strive to understand the client as a whole person. This involves developing sensitivity and cultural humility.

Leadership

The faculty foster leadership skills by focusing on the needs of others, especially your clients, and collaborating with colleagues to create change to better the lives of those we serve. This collaboration leads to increased engagement, trust, stronger relationships, and increased innovation.

Ethical Practice

Ethical behaviors and practices are embedded in traditional practice and the AOTA Code of Ethics (2015). This includes caring effectively for the health and wellness of our patients/clients and using the best evidence possible in all decision making.