Why Earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Â鶹ӰÊÓ?
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at Â鶹ӰÊÓ prepares Â鶹ӰÊÓs for careers in occupational therapy helping people do the things they want to do, improving their sense of satisfaction and contributing to their subsequent well-being. The three-year accredited OTD program includes two years on a health professions-focused campus in Hillsboro, Oregon, providing opportunities for interprofessional education and collaboration. The third year is distance-based. ​​
Pacific’s clinical Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is focused on advanced clinical development, with no dissertation required. Designed as a full-time cohort model, the OTD program curriculum consists of academic, laboratory and distance-based learning experiences integrated with both part-time and full-time professional fieldwork. Integrated fieldwork opportunities offer local, national, or international experience.
What Can You Do with a OTD Degree?
After successful completion of all requirements for the OTD degree, Pacific Â鶹ӰÊÓs are eligible to take the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) certification examination. Upon successful completion of this examination, the examinee becomes a nationally registered occupational therapist, certified for practice and eligible for state licensure. In 2024, over 94% of Â鶹ӰÊÓ OTD new Â鶹ӰÊÓs passed the NBCOT exam.
Pacific Â鶹ӰÊÓs with an OTD degree have robust career prospects as there is a high demand for qualified occupational therapists and a growing number of career opportunities. According to the , employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. There continues to be a high demand for qualified occupational therapists both in traditional and in emerging areas of practice. Societal and cultural changes have contributed to expanded opportunities for occupational therapy services. The following markets are emerging as opportunities for occupational therapists:
- Ergonomics Consulting
- Driver Rehabilitation and Training
- Accessibility Consulting and Home Design
- Low Vision Services
- Technology and Assistive Device Development and Consulting
- Health and Wellness Consulting
- Welfare to Work Programs
- Mental Health Services for Children and Youth
- Student Outcome Data
- OT Graduation Rates
- The Â鶹ӰÊÓ OTD program's academic year runs from late August through late July each year. Graduation occurs in mid-August. The following are the student graduation rates for the past three years.
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Graduation Year Students Entering/Graduating Graduation Rate 2022 40/39 98% 2023 40/39 98% 2024 39/37 95% Total 119/115 97% - OT Exam Pass Rates
- Upon graduation, Â鶹ӰÊÓ OTD students are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) licensing exam. The MBCOT publishes exam pass rates for each OT school on its website.
Clinical Education
The clinical education program for Pacific’s doctor of occupational therapy includes more than 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork education, plus a 14-week doctoral internship. The fieldwork experiences are opportunities to apply academic learning to the practice of occupational therapy in a variety of practice arenas such as developmental disabilities, mental health, physical rehabilitation, K-12 schools, and geriatrics. Pacific’s OTD program works with numerous facilities within the Portland, Ore., Metropolitan area and throughout the United States. Fieldwork sites are offered in diverse geographic locations, including several options in international settings. New fieldwork sites are continually added in order to provide variety and quality to the student's fieldwork experience.
Interprofessional Education
Pacific’s OTD program provides opportunities for students to explore models of person-centered healthcare and gain the skills to practice in a changing healthcare environment. Students who choose to pursue interprofessional experiences beyond what is required by their degree program can earn the Concentration in Interprofessional Education, offered by the College of Health Professions. This formal recognition is documented on transcripts as a specialization, indicating that students have gained specific competencies in interprofessional education.
Jon-Erik Larsen | Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management for Graduate and Professional Admissions
503-352-7221 | larsenj@pacificu.edu
Toll-free: 1-800-933-9308
The School of Occupational Therapy at Â鶹ӰÊÓ offers a professional entry-level occupational therapy program, accredited by the , 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, or 301-652-6611. Accreditation has been granted for academic years of 2014-15 through 2029-2030 at entry-level doctorate.
ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Additional Information
