Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Why an OTD?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a rehabilitation profession — helping people do the things they want and need to do in their everyday lives. These “occupations” include things, such as work, play, self care, leisure, rest and sleep, social participation, as well as health management and maintenance. Occupational therapy professionals (OTPs) have the opportunity to work with people of all ages, from infants to seniors.

Augustana University's Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) is an accelerated, hybrid, entry-level or pre-licensure program designed to meet adult learners where they're at in life — allowing them to remain in their existing, socially-supported environments. The hands-on component of the program, known as lab immersions, will take place in the Twin Cities — Minnesota.

The program will launch in Fall 2026. The Augustana OTD Program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Pending approval, the inaugural cohort would graduate in August 2028.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OT

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAM GRADUATION RATES

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS & COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

TUITION & FEES

FACULTY

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 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.

Mission, Vision & Values

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.

Student Learning Outcomes

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.

Contact Us

605.569.8698

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Office of Admission, School of Health Professions

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Tuition & Fees

A non-refundable seat deposit of $500 will be applied toward tuition will be required within 14 days of accepting an offer of admissions. For applicants accepted into the program in the calendar year prior to matriculation, this deposit will be due no later than Jan. 15 of the year of enrollment.

The following tuition rates and associated costs are per trimester for the academic year. These costs are only an estimate. Variable costs of the program are indicated by the use of ** in the cost breakdown below. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

DIRECT COSTS	COST BREAKDOWN	PROGRAM TOTAL
Tuition Effective Fall 2026	$51,500 annually	$103,000
Augustana General Graduate Fee (administrative support services, counseling and student support, technology resources, etc.)	$2,000/year ($667/trimester)	$4,000
Total Year One Direct Costs		$53,500
Total Year Two Direct Costs		$53,500
Total Program Direct Costs		$107,000

INDIRECT COSTS (REQUIRED)	COST BREAKDOWN ** indicates a variable cost estimate	PROGRAM TOTAL
AOTA Student Membership	$78/year	$156
State Association (of choice) Membership	$35 - $100**	$70 - $200**
Background Check	$88 - $166**	$88 - $166**
Minnesota Background Check	$50	$50
Site-Specific Additional Background Check	$50 - $200**	$50 - $400**
AHA CPR/BLS Training	$50 - $100**	$50 - $200**
OTD Fieldwork & Lab Kit	$300 (one time)**	$300**
All Required Digital Program Textbooks (as of April 2025)	$3,720**	$3,720**
NBCOT Licensure Preparation Materials	$200 - $400**	$400 - 800**
Fieldwork/Capstone Uniform	$300 (one time)**	$300**
Student Health Insurance (Estimate based on average Health Insurance Marketplace® rates)	$2,189/year **	$4,378**
OTHER INDIRECT COSTS (COSTS RELATED TO DISTANCE EDUCATION)	COST BREAKDOWN	PROGRAM TOTAL
Computer (Must meet program requirements)	$1,500**	$1,500**
Educational Applications & Software	$50 - $200**	$100 - $400**
Lodging, food, travel to/from orientation, lab immersions and commencement (Cost varies based on students proximity to the Sioux Falls campus and Twin Cities lab immersion site)	$700 - $3,650 per trip**	$4,900 - $25,550**
Lodging, food, travel to/from fieldwork and Capstone	$0 - $6,600 per 12- or 14-week experience**	$0 - $19,800**
Total Indirect Costs		$16,062 - $57,870**
Total Cost of Program Completion		$119,062 - $160,870

Direct Costs reflect the items that are billed to the student as part of programmatic tuition and fees.

Indirect costs are costs that the student pays directly in association with the requirement. Indirect costs are estimated costs that are not charged to a student’s university account but are still a part of life as a college student. This includes books and supplies, transportation and personal or miscellaneous expenses. Actual expenses will vary by student.