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.

• The Augustana University OTD Program uses a rolling admission format on OTCAS. The 2026-27 admission cycle closes June 14, 2027.
• The Augustana OTD Admission Committee reviews completed and verified applications in the order of receipt as they are submitted.
• Applicants will be notified of their status (Admit, Waitlist or Deny) within 30 days of application submission as long as all documents are verified within 14 days of that period.

• The maximum size for an OTD cohort is 60, though target enrollment for the class of 2028 is 30 and 2029 is 45.
• When the cohort has reached capacity, other applicants meeting admission criteria and recommended for acceptance are added to a waitlist. Waitlisted applicants can confirm with the admission team their placement on the waitlist and the timeline for a decision. The OTD waitlist closes when the admission cycle ends (posted as the last date to apply.)

Applicants are evaluated based on cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement and (if applicable) an optional supplemental statement. Applicants who meet eligibility requirements (complete verified transcripts, letters of recommendation received, essay(s) completed, meets GPA and degree requirements) are invited to complete a virtual interview.

Interviews are conducted through an interactive video platform (Kira Talent) where students record themselves responding to a short series of questions. Students are provided a short amount of time to prepare their response following each prompt. All responses are time limited and single take to assess the applicant’s ability to respond in the moment.

• The director of admission and designated reviewers review and score interview recordings using a standardized interview rubric. Interview scores are incorporated into the holistic admission score. Applicants meeting the scoring threshold with these combined scores are categorized as Admit or Waitlist, while those not meeting the threshold score are denied admission.
• For eligible Augustana students and alumni who apply to the OTD program through Direct Admit routes, the process may differ slightly.

 → See OTD Pathways for more information.

• The Augustana OTD Admission Team offers selected applicants admission into the program based on a holistic evaluation of their application, supporting documents and interview (if applicable).
• Applicants meeting the scoring threshold with these combined scores are categorized as Admit or Waitlist, while those not meeting the threshold score are denied admission.
• All applicants are notified by their preferred email regarding final selection decisions.
• Applicants who are denied admission following their interview may request a meeting with the Augustana OTD director of admission to discuss ways to strengthen their application or eligibility for our accelerated, hybrid OTD program.

Exceptions to Augustana OTD Program admission requirements are granted infrequently and only under exceptional circumstances. If you believe you have an exceptional circumstance, you must first speak with a member of our admission team who will direct you through the exception process.

If deemed a possibility, you must submit a formal request letter and all required, verifiable proof documents directly to OTCAS.

• Deadline: All final exception documents must be uploaded to OTCAS by the final June application deadline.
• Varying Dates: The specific June deadline varies annually. It is posted on this website and the OTCAS portal.
• Strict Cutoff: No clarification or supporting documents will be accepted after the posted deadline.
• Recommended Timeline: You must begin this process at least one (1) month before the deadline. This allows for third-party verification processing.
• Review Window: Final decisions are made within 14 days of receiving a completed submission.
• Ethics Warning: Any falsification of documentation or statements results in immediate disqualification from the program. 

The Augustana OTD Program wants you to be successful. You may want to consider the following as you navigate your application process:

Communication & Self-Advocacy

• Respond promptly: Return team correspondence quickly to demonstrate your professional reliability and eagerness.
• Self-advocate: State your preferred contact methods and frequency so the admission team can connect with you effectively.
• Build relationships: Use the application process to know the team, ensuring the program is a mutual culture fit.

Kira Interview Best Practices

• Stay focused: Maintain sharp concentration to show you can tune out distractions during high-stakes tasks.
• Dress professionally: Wear business attire to signal respect for the committee and the profession.
• Control environment: Limit distracting backgrounds and close doors to keep the reviewer's focus entirely on you.
• Manage pets: Keep animals out of the room to prevent sudden, unprofessional interruptions during your recording.
• Position camera: Face the lens directly at eye level to create a natural, human connection with the viewer.
• Use stable technology: Choose an office over a car to guarantee a reliable internet connection and clear audio.
• Avoid phones: Record on a computer to ensure a steady video frame and stable formatting.
• Smile naturally: Maintain a warm expression to project warmth, confidence and approachable bedside manner.
• Frontload responses: State your main answer immediately so your core message is never lost.
• Add details last: Fill in context later to provide depth without diluting your primary point.
• Accept time limits: Unfinished responses are okay if answered upfront, proving you can deliver quality under strict constraints.
• Handle pressure: Stay calm under stress to show how you will react to heavy clinical workloads.
• Highlight key strengths: Pre-plan personal details so you control your narrative and stand out from other applicants.

Letters of Recommendation

• Avoid friends: Skip personal friends because objective professional evaluations carry much more weight.
• Choose mentors: Ask supervisors or teachers who can accurately speak to your academic stamina and work ethic.
• Target the fit: Ensure references vouch for your readiness specifically for a fast-paced, hybrid learning environment.
• Pre-screen writers: Ask references beforehand if they will give positive reviews to avoid lukewarm recommendations.

Essay Writing

• Answer the prompt: Read instructions carefully to prove you can follow precise directions.
• Check program names: Ensure you do not mention other universities, showing Augustana is your genuine priority.
• Proofread closely: Double-check everything to demonstrate the meticulous attention to detail required for patient documentation.

Prerequisite Coursework

• Master the material: Do not treat prerequisites as checklists, as this knowledge forms the foundation of your future practice.
• Retain knowledge: Core concepts will not be re-taught, so you must arrive ready to hit the ground running.
• Apply learning: Be ready to use past knowledge immediately to solve complex, real-world clinical problems.

OTD Program Admission Philosophy

• First step in your graduate education journey: Treat the application as your first class to set the tone for your academic journey.
• Demonstrate life skills: Show how you solve novel problems, giving reviewers a glimpse of your real-world adaptability.
• Display priorities: Make decisions to showcase professionalism, proving you are ready to transition from student to practitioner.