Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Help people gain independence in their day-to-day life.

Occupational Therapists help clients engage in meaningful life activities and promote well-being in their personal and vocational lives. This high-demand field is expected to grow by more than 14% through 2031.

Offered by the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences at Mary Baldwin, this program prepares you for work as an occupational therapist in any practice setting after graduation and licensure.

Time to finish
36 months
Format
In person
Degree
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
OTCAS Opens
July 21
OTCAS Closes
February 28
Program Start
June
Two occupational therapists help boy learn shoe tying skills

Why Earn an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) at Mary Baldwin?

Our occupational therapy program emphasizes connections and real-life experience. Learn alongside other students as part of our innovative interprofessional curriculum while also engaging with clients and organizations in the community.

As an OT student, you’ll benefit from a top-notch academic experience that prepares you for all practice settings and empowers you to screen, evaluate, create, and deliver evidence-based care plans.

Immersive Training in the Field

During fieldwork, you’ll deliver OT services to real clients while being supervised by a supportive and skilled OT fieldwork educator. Your fieldwork will span a variety of practice settings and clients to ensure you’ve had a well-rounded experience when you graduate. Through your student-centered doctoral capstone experience, you’ll further develop professional skills to set your career on an exciting trajectory.

An Experienced, Award-Winning Faculty

Learn with and be mentored by faculty who are both scholars and practitioners. Our faculty combines decades of experience in the field with a passion for educating and supporting students. In addition, faculty engage in a wide variety of professional and scholarly pursuits, creating new opportunities for students to work and learn outside the classroom.

Shared Experience

Studying in a cohort model means that you’ll start and finish the OT program with the same group of fellow students, so you’ll find a strong community of support as you complete your courses. You’ll also work together in special interprofessional case study groups, research, clinical collaboration scenarios, and community outreach.

Excellent Preparation for Licensure & Practice

With a robust curriculum and rich fieldwork experiences, Mary Baldwin OTD students are well-prepared for the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam. In fact, our most recent three cohorts had a 100% new graduate pass rate.

Additional information about program accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) is available at www.acoteonline.org

“I couldn’t imagine a better OT fieldwork experience than the one I had in the NICU through MBU. I gained so much confidence from being able to do this program successfully and to have those interactions with health practitioners, parents, and nonprofits. Now when I have an idea in the future, I know I can take it to the end and make it happen.”

Sarah Johnson, OTDClass of 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

A great education is worth it. Our mission is to help you level up and bring your aspirations to life.

What You’ll Learn: Occupational Therapy Curriculum 

Our curriculum is grounded in evidence-based practice. Your learning experiences at Mary Baldwin build competence, professionalism, ethical behaviors, values, and engagement in professional responsibilities.

Your coursework will include foundational science classes, hands-on lab work, and seminars dedicated to contemporary issues in occupational therapy and the greater healthcare landscape.

Student Support

The MBU OT program provides membership to the Virginia OT Association and American OT Association for the three years you’re in the program. We also provide two practice tests and a year-long subscription to prepare for the NBCOT certification exam. Our OT faculty offers support every step of your journey – while you’re a student and post-graduation.

Meaningful Careers

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings to support the occupational performance of individuals, groups, and populations. Common places of employment include: 

  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Long-term care or skilled nursing facilities
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Early intervention programs
  • Home health agencies
  • Community health organizations

Questions?

Email aellington@marybaldwin.edu

Ready to get started?

Requirements to practice

Graduates of the program 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 graduate 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.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

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. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

NOTE: Completion of an authorized educational program does not guarantee licensure or certification. States may have additional requirements such as a background check, jurisprudence examination, recommendations, etc.

Mary Baldwin University recommends students consult the appropriate licensing agency or board in the respective state or territory in which they intend to practice before beginning any academic program or coursework. If students experience difficulty finding the license requirements for a specific state or territory, please contact the program director or admissions.

Technical Standards

View the Minimum Technical Standards for Admissions, Continuation, and Graduation for the OTD program here.

It’s time to level up your career. Apply today!