Occupational Therapy Doctorate

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 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 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 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. 

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, Level II fieldwork and preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

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.

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.