Occupational Therapy Doctorate

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree 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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.AOTA and its web address is 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 to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Refer to the ACOTE website for further information regarding OTD accreditation: acoteonline.org

OTD Program Mission
 
The mission of the Augustana University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program is to prepare innovative, resilient practitioners committed to lifelong learning, critical problem-solving and ethical service. A curriculum of excellence empowers students to approach challenges with curiosity, creativity and evidence-informed decisions. Focused on occupation and client-centered care, we emphasize meaningful relationships, a belonging community of diverse experiences and leadership through service. Our graduates are self-directed professionals who deliver transformative care, lead with purpose and drive impactful change in a dynamic and evolving world.
 
OTD Program Vision

The vision of the Augustana University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program is to position Augustana University as a bold leader in innovative, responsive and forward-thinking occupational therapy education of enduring worth that positions graduates for opportunity and leadership in traditional and emerging practice environments.
 
OTD Program Values
 
Consistent with Augustana University and the profession of occupational therapy, the Augustana Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program is founded upon the core values of trust, compassion, curiosity, innovation, integrity, ethical, belonging, respect, occupational justice and advocacy. These values guide all program initiatives and ensure that the program's mission, vision, goals and outcomes are achieved.

For a student to graduate from the Augustana Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program, the student must be in good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all semesters of the academic program and satisfactorily complete the following:

1. successfully complete the required 100 trimester credit hours of academic, fieldwork education and doctoral capstone education coursework;
2. exhibit professional behaviors consistent with professional practice as described in the AOTA Code of Ethics, AOTA Standards of Practice, Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and Augustana Honor Code;
3. maintain professional membership in AOTA and your identified state association;
4. complete all required Augustana University and OTD Program documents in preparation for graduation; and,
5. honor all professional and financial obligations to Augustana University as published in Augustana University and OTD Program Handbooks, and as specified in any written communication from the university's administrators. 

Augustana OTD graduates will:

• serve their communities by designing and implementing occupation-informed, client-centered practice that leverages strengths to address the unique needs of clients across diverse populations and practice contexts;
• demonstrate therapeutic use of self to effectively engage with clients, build strong therapeutic relationships, and understand client’s occupational experiences to respectfully serve their occupational therapy needs;
• achieve entry-level competence by demonstrating knowledge and skills to apply occupational therapy processes, theories and evidence consistent with generalist practice, in preparation for the national certification exam;
• collaborate effectively with intra and interdisciplinary teams — demonstrating skills in communication, coordination and leadership to enhance client outcomes and optimize service delivery across all practice models and contexts;
• commit to ongoing professional development through the ability to create and innovate with emerging evidence, technologies and practices in the field of occupational therapy; and,
• uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional practice — advocating for clients’ rights to promote occupational justice and accessibility to equitable services empowering health and well-being.