Doctor of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level, O.T.D.

The Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) Program gives students a solid foundation for implementing the occupational therapy process in a variety of practice settings. The scope of the occupational therapy curriculum is intentionally broad to address diverse client populations across the lifespan in a range of environments. The courses offer depth of content that progresses from understanding of fundamental facts and concepts to application in dynamic clinic scenarios,  fieldwork experiences, and a capstone project. The curriculum is designed to prepare students by providing knowledge and skill to be competent entry-level practitioners. Upon completion of all the academic, fieldwork, and capstone requirements, students are awarded an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.

Certification and Credentialing

Graduates of the entry-level O.T.D. Program must complete the following to practice as an occupational therapist. 

• Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
  • Information about NBCOT and the certification examination can be found at https://www.nbcot.org.
  • A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. 
  • Successful completion of this examination results in the credential as a registered occupational therapist (OTR). 
• After obtaining the registered occupational therapist credential from NBCOT, a practitioner must obtain state licensure. Practitioners must work with licensing boards within states they plan to work in order to obtain initial licensure and maintain their license to practice.

Contact Information

cssoth@css.edu

The College of St. Scholastica Occupational Therapy entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy graduates will: 

1. Utilize occupation as the core of the profession to promote health and wellbeing, prevent disease, support rehabilitation, and enhance individual, group, and population participation in occupational engagement.
   1. Design evaluation and intervention strategies for individuals, groups, and populations that are occupation-based to maximize meaningful occupational outcomes.
   2. Develop intentional relationships with individuals, groups, and populations.
   3. Appraise physical, personal, temporal, virtual, situational, cultural and social contexts and environments that affect occupational performance.
   4. Support and implement client-centered strategies that promote collaboration with clients, caregivers, and other professionals in the delivery of occupational therapy services.
2. Value the contribution of scholarly inquiry to the profession of occupational therapy
   1. Critically appraise and synthesize information from best research evidence, clinical experience, client choices, and expert consensus to make decisions in collaboration with individuals, groups, and populations.
   2. Interpret, synthesize and apply information to inform professional practice and support knowledge translation.
3. Demonstrate professionalism during interactions with clients, communities, and professionals.
   1. Advocate for the profession, community, and individuals by demonstrating inclusive excellence and leadership skills throughout experiences and inter-professional interactions.
   2. Utilize ethical principles as a guide during professional interactions.
   3. Develop and sustain professional and therapeutic relationships through effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
   4. Justify the concepts and opinions of the profession of occupational therapy while seeking to understand the perspectives of others.
   5. Commit to a lifelong love of learning through self- assessment, reflection, and engagement in professional organizations for continued competence in occupational therapy practice.
4. Use various forms of clinical reasoning (such as diagnostic, narrative, procedural, pragmatic, interactive and conditional, scientific, and ethical) throughout the occupational therapy process.
   1. Integrate learned knowledge with active problem solving to reflect subjective and contextualized knowledge when making decisions.
   2. Explain how a practitioner's skills and personal life situations can influence decision making.
   3. Apply an ethical decision making framework to practice situations.
   4. Understand the meaning of role interruption and change from a client's perspective. 
5. Exhibit confident leadership for innovative practice and administration that impacts society and the occupational therapy profession.      
   1. Synthesize evidence, assessment data, and project outcomes to demonstrate in-depth knowledge through a scholarly doctoral capstone project in clinical practice, research, administration, program or policy development, advocacy, education, or leadership that advances the field of occupational therapy. 
   2. Integrate knowledge of direct client care, program development, quality improvement, personnel development, policy application, evidence, and education for advanced advocacy with individuals, groups, populations, and stakeholders.  

Requirements

Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Entry-level O.T.D. Occupational Therapy Program.  

Program Requirements

Major Credits: 91
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Grade: C
Other Requirements: 

1. Take all courses in sequence; if a student fails a course, the student must retake that course when it is next available which may require the student to stop out of the OTH Program resulting in a delay of graduation;
2. Successfully complete Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences. Complete all Level II Fieldwork and the doctoral capstone within 24 months following completion of didactic coursework;
3. Complete the doctoral capstone experience after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as as compilation of preparatory activities for the capstone project defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3;
4. Complete all OTH Program requirements within 5 years.

Program Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
M.S. Occupational Therapy Courses 1		73
OTH 8777	Topics in Occupational Therapy (Occupational Therapy Program Management) 2	2
OTH 8777	Topics in Occupational Therapy (Doctoral Capstone Seminar I: Project Proposal )	3
OTH 8777	Topics in Occupational Therapy (Doctoral Capstone Seminar II: Project Assessment)	2
OTH 8777	Topics in Occupational Therapy (Doctoral Experiential Component)	10
OTH 8777	Topics in Occupational Therapy (Doctoral Capstone Seminar III: Synthesis and Dissemination)	1
Total Credits		91

¹

Candidates must first complete the M.S. Occupational Therapy curriculum before starting the O.T.D. Capstone Project and Experience.

²

Capstone courses and credits are subject to change with the accreditation application process.

Students accepted into the Entry-level O.T.D. Program must be able to comply with the following:

• Perform the Technical Standards and Essential Requirements.
• Provide verification of vaccinations/immunizations including: Hepatitis B series or verified immunity; 2 MMR vaccinations or verified immunity; 2 varicella vaccinations or verified immunity; current Tdap; COVID-19 vaccination and boosters; flu vaccination annually.
  • Any exemptions or waivers granted by The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) are unique to CSS and do not apply to fieldwork sites. Students must meet Program and fieldwork site specific requirements related to vaccinations; exemptions or waivers may impact progression in the Program.
• Participate in required healthcare worker screens (e.g. tuberculosis screening, drug tests/screens).
• A criminal background check (CBC) is not a component of the application, interview, or the admission process. However, it is a mandatory component for participation in clinical fieldwork. All admitted students will undergo a CBC involving federal, state, and local records that extend back a minimum of five years. Progression in the program is contingent upon review and acceptance of the student’s CBC report. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to take the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. An individual who has a felony background can have their background reviewed prior to actually applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review with NBCOT. There is a fee for this service.
• Carry a health insurance policy while enrolled, including while on fieldwork.
• Retain current certification in CPR (basic life support including defibrillation and ambu bag).
• Tuition and fees (https://resources.css.edu/academics/ot/docs/ist_otd_cost-attendance_26-28.pdf) by year and total program costs, for the estimated cost of attendance in the entry-level O.T.D. Program.

Degree Requirements

To graduate from The College of St. Scholastica, graduate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.

Minimum GPA: 3.0