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Doctor of Occupational Therapy

A hybrid OTD program that combines flexible online learning with immersive hands-on training, emerging technology, and dedicated faculty mentorship.

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Online coursework with six on-campus immersions in Chicago

Simulation, fieldwork, and capstone experiences

Fall entry term

Program available at the following campus(es):
Chicago

The OTD application portal opens January 2027.

An Experiential Entry-Level OTD Program

The Chicago School’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares you to help people of all ages develop, maintain, or regain the skills they need to complete everyday tasks, achieve greater independence, and improve their quality of life.

The OTD program emphasizes evidence-based practice and experiential learning. You will train for the modern field of occupational therapy through progressively advanced learning experiences that include simulation labs, fieldwork, six weeklong on-campus immersions in Chicago, and the doctoral capstone project.

Grounded in a whole-person perspective, the hybrid online OTD program trains you to evaluate the physical, psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and systemic factors that influence occupational performance across the lifespan. This approach prepares you to provide culturally responsive care that reflects each person’s unique needs, goals, and circumstances.

This rigorous Doctor of Occupational Therapy curriculum equips you to enter the profession with substantial practical experience, confidence in integrating technology, and a broader understanding of the diverse people and communities you will serve.

What Sets Our OTD Program Apart

Dedicated faculty mentorship, human-centered technology integration, and collaborative, interprofessional education makes all the difference.

Dedicated Faculty Mentorship and Advising

Experienced faculty practitioners are there to guide you from your first courses through your doctoral capstone experience.

Individual faculty mentoring, one-on-one academic advising, NBCOT® exam preparation, leadership and professional development, and doctoral capstone guidance will help you feel comfortable and confident every step of the way.

Human-Centered Technology in OT Practice

At The Chicago School, technology is not treated as an add-on or limited to a single course—it is integrated throughout your curriculum. Exploring assistive technologies, digital health solutions, and emerging healthcare technologies into your occupational therapy training is a core component of our OTD program.

Across each of these areas, the needs and goals of every client remain at the center. Through our human-centered approach, you’ll learn to evaluate and apply new tools ethically while considering how technology can improve access to care, participation, and inclusion for those you serve.

Interprofessional Education and Integrated Healthcare

Occupational therapists rarely work in isolation. That’s why our curriculum prepares you to work effectively within integrated healthcare systems through interprofessional education, team-based care, and collaboration with other healthcare disciplines.

This broader perspective will better prepare you to advocate for your clients, demonstrate the value of occupational therapy, and enter the profession ready to take your place as a key member of an integrated care team.

Curriculum

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy curriculum is organized around five curricular threads that work together as an integrated framework throughout the program:

Human-Centered Technology and Digital Health

Explore how technology can support occupational participation, accessibility, safety, independence, and quality of life. You’ll engage with telehealth, virtual environments, assistive and adaptive technology, digital health tools, wearable technologies, and other emerging approaches while learning to determine when and how technology best serves the needs of individuals, groups, and populations.

Interprofessional Practice and Team-Based Care

Develop the communication, collaboration, leadership, and decision-making skills needed to work effectively across healthcare, educational, community, and organizational settings. As you progress, you’ll prepare not only to contribute to teams, but also to lead initiatives, strengthen collaboration, advocate for occupational therapy, and help improve systems of care.

Equity, Inclusion, and Occupational Justice

Examine how social, cultural, environmental, economic, institutional, and systemic factors can influence a person’s ability to participate in meaningful occupations. You’ll learn to identify barriers to participation, provide culturally responsive and client-centered care, and advocate for more equitable opportunities for individuals, communities, and populations.

Holistic Health and Well-Being

Learn to consider the whole person by examining the physical, cognitive, psychological, social, environmental, lifestyle, and occupational factors that influence a person’s health and participation. You’ll apply this perspective across areas such as health promotion, prevention, chronic condition management, mental and behavioral health, community wellness, and quality of life.

Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional Identity

Build the skills to evaluate research, interpret data, measure outcomes, and integrate evidence with clinical expertise and client priorities. As you advance through the program, you’ll also learn to translate evidence into meaningful improvements in practice, programs, organizations, communities, education, and policy.

Year OneYear TwoYear ThreeOn-Campus Immersions

Year One

Focus: Foundational knowledge in occupational therapy, anatomy, neuroscience, communication, ethics, evaluation, and intervention principles.

Semester 1

  • OT5101 - Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
  • OT5102 - Functional Anatomy (3 credits)
  • OT5103 - Professional Communication and Ethics (3 credits)
  • OT5104 - Evaluation Skills in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)

Semester 2

  • OT5201 - Functional Neuroscience (3 credits)
  • OT5202 - Applied Biomechanics (3 credits)
  • OT5203 - Occupational Therapy in Physical Rehabilitation (3 credits)
  • OT5204 - Physical Disabilities – Level I Fieldwork (1 credit)

Semester 3

  • OT5301 - Pediatric Conditions and Interventions (4 credits)
  • OT5302 - Pediatrics – Level I Fieldwork (1 credit)
  • OT5303 - Interventions to Support Occupations (3 credits)

Year Two

Focus: Applying your knowledge across pediatric, adult, geriatric, mental health, and community settings while developing population health perspectives, systems thinking, leadership skills, and scholarly inquiry.

Semester 4

  • OT6101 - Mental Health and Community Based Occupational Therapy (4 credits)
  • OT6102 - Mental Health – Level I Fieldwork (1 credit)
  • OT6103 - Healthcare Systems, Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)

Semester 5

  • OT6201 - Adult and Geriatric Conditions and Interventions (3 credits)
  • OT6202 - Research Methods in Occupational Therapy (4 credits)

Semester 6

  • OT6301 - Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
  • OT6302 - Advanced Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
  • OT6303 - Occupational Therapy Education, Management, and Leadership (3 credits)

Year Three

Focus: Synthesizing your knowledge through advanced clinical reasoning, leadership, management, evidence-based practice, and doctoral capstone preparation and execution.

Semester 7

  • OT7101 - Level II Fieldwork A (10 credits)
  • OT7102 - Pre-Capstone I: Project Development (4 credits)

Semester 8

  • OT7201 - Level II Fieldwork B (10 credits)
  • OT7202 - Pre-Capstone II: Foundations (4 credits)
  • OT7203 - Transition to Occupational Therapy Practice (2 credits)

Semester 9

  • OT7301 - Doctoral Capstone Project Implementation (11 credits)
  • OT7302 - Post-Capstone: Project Analysis and Presentation (4 credits)

On-Campus Immersions

During your first six semesters, you’ll participate in a weeklong on-campus immersion at the Chicago Campus that transforms your online coursework into hands-on training. These immersions emphasize clinical reasoning skills, psychomotor skill development, professional behavior, interprofessional collaboration, and preparation for fieldwork and clinical practice. Your final three semesters focus on Fieldwork and Doctoral Capstone experiences.

Experiential learning activities vary by semester and may include:

  • Skills laboratories and simulation-based learning experiences
  • Clinical assessment and intervention practice
  • Functional anatomy and movement analysis
  • Range of Motion (ROM) and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)
  • Therapeutic transfer and mobility training
  • Splinting and adaptive equipment instruction
  • Standardized patient encounters
  • Clinical reasoning and case-based problem-solving
  • Team-based learning and interprofessional activities

Occupational Therapy Career Outcomes

The future is bright for occupational therapists, with a median annual wage of $100,330 and employment projected to grow 15% from 2025-2035, much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational therapists can work in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • Nursing homes
  • School systems
  • Early intervention programs
  • Mental health and community health organizations
  • Home healthcare
  • Private practice settings

As your career develops, your doctoral preparation can also support opportunities in leadership, program development, advocacy, education, and scholarship.

Meet the OTD Faculty

holley
dr timothy holley

Timothy Holley, DHSc, MSOT, OTR/L

Founding Program Chair

Timothy D. Holley, DHSc, OTR/L, brings more than 20 years of occupational therapy experience to his role as Program Chair of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at The Chicago School. An educator and healthcare leader, Dr. Holley integrates health science, human factors, and systems engineering principles to advance occupational therapy education, foster innovation, and prepare future practitioners for an evolving healthcare environment.

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Additional Program Information

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is open to any person who meets entrance requirements as outlined below.

Important Dates

Entry Term: Fall 2027

Admissions notifications will begin in April 2027 and will be rolling after that point.

  • Application Opens: January 2027
  • Priority application deadline: TBD
  • Final deadline: TBD
  • Deposit Deadline: TBD
  • First cohort begins: Fall 2027

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed application and $50 application fee.
  • Degree Requirements
    • Completion of a minimum of 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits) of undergraduate coursework from an institutionally accredited institution (College Credit Plus courses taken in high school count toward the four years).

      AND
    • Active certification and license as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) with at least two years of experience with a prerequisite course in statistics.

      OR
    • Bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited institution in biology, psychology, exercise science, pre-healthcare, or similar.
  • A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
    • Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must submit an essay.
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was earned. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all institutions where credit was received to enhance applications.
  • Two letters of recommendation from academic professors or professional or volunteer experience supervisors.
  • Virtual interview with OT faculty. An applicant is invited for interviews based on an evaluation of the submitted application and supporting materials.
  • Successful completion of a background check through our approved partner.
  • Applicants must demonstrate completion of the following undergraduate coursework with a grade of C or higher or graduate coursework with a grade of B- or higher:
    • One course in abnormal psychology or human development
    • One course in statistics
    • One course in human anatomy and physiology (3-4 semester credits or equivalent, lab recommended)

Transfer Credit
Applicants transferring from another Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program may transfer up to nine credits.

Accreditation & Licensure

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.

Telephone: 301-652-AOTA

Website: www.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.

Licensure

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at The Chicago School is currently seeking accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). Upon receiving accreditation, you will be able to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). Graduates who pass the exam will earn the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR®) credential and may then apply for state licensure.

For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.

Mission, Vision, and Philosophy

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at The Chicago School is to prepare innovative, culturally responsive, evidence-based occupational therapy leaders who promote health, well-being, occupational participation, and social justice among individuals, groups, populations, and communities through occupation and interprofessional practice.

Consistent with The Chicago School’s mission to educate change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice, the OTD program emphasizes integrated healthcare education, interprofessional collaboration, population-informed care, and occupational justice to address complex health and social challenges. Graduates are prepared to contribute meaningfully to integrated, team-based models of care that improve outcomes for individuals, organizations, and communities locally and globally.

Vision

The OTD program envisions graduates as leaders, collaborators, and change agents who advance population health, health equity, and occupational justice through innovation, interprofessional leadership, and systems-level impact.

Philosophy

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program believes in the transformative power of occupation and the inherent dignity and uniqueness of every person. Occupation serves as the foundation for health, participation, and quality of life. The program values client-centered care, holistic health, diversity, equity, inclusion, occupational justice, scholarship, leadership, and interprofessional collaboration. Graduates are prepared to become reflective practitioners, advocates, scholars, and change agents who contribute to the advancement of occupational therapy and integrated healthcare.

Tuition and Fees
OTD Program Tuition and Fees 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total
Credit Hours 30 24 45 99
Tuition per Credit Hour $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 -
Program Tuition $37,500 $30,000 $56,250 $123,750
Program Annual Fees $2,490 $2,490 $2,490 $7,470
One-Time University Fees² $215 - - $215
Estimated Total Program Tuition and Fees¹ $40,205 $32,490 $58,740 $131,435

¹The Chicago School reserves the right to change the schedule of tuition and fees at any time and without prior written notice. The Chicago School evaluates and adjusts tuition and fees yearly to align and expand enhancements to teaching, learning, and student support services. For planning purposes, students can expect an annual increase of up to 5%. Tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year are typically communicated in May each year.

²One-Time University Fee is an Academic Success Lab and Experiential Learning Technology fee that is charged in year 1.
Other university fees may apply. For a full listing of fees, please visit the university Tuition and Fees webpage.

Fieldwork Across Populations and Practice Settings

Fieldwork provides opportunities to move from classroom learning into professional occupational therapy settings. Across Level I and Level II experiences, you’ll work with diverse populations and gain exposure to a wide variety of practice environments.

For a full breakdown of fieldwork graduation requirements, navigate to the Graduation Requirements menu below.

Level I Fieldwork
Observe occupational therapy practice, become familiar with clinical environments, and begin applying concepts from your coursework.

Level II Fieldwork
Complete two full-time experiences designed to build the hands-on skills and clinical competency needed for entry-level practice. Your experiences will be coordinated by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator.

Practice areas may include:

  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Pediatrics
  • Mental health
  • Acute care
  • Community-based practice

By working across populations and settings, you will graduate with a broader understanding of where occupational therapists practice and how their role adapts to different client needs.

Doctoral Capstone Experience

In your final year, you’ll complete an individualized doctoral capstone that lets you explore an area of occupational therapy aligned with your interests and professional goals, and develop skills beyond a generalist level.

For a full breakdown of doctoral capstone graduation requirements, navigate to the Graduation Requirements menu below.

Your capstone may focus on one or more of the following areas:

  • Clinical practice skills
  • Research skills
  • Administration
  • Leadership
  • Program and policy development
  • Advocacy
  • Education
  • Community-based practice, including emerging areas

The doctoral capstone consists of two parts:

  • Capstone project: Complete an individual project that synthesizes and applies knowledge gained throughout the program.
  • Capstone experience: Put your skills into practice during a 14-week experience totaling at least 448 hours after finishing all coursework and Level II fieldwork.

Along the way, you’ll also build a professional portfolio that showcases your doctoral-level work, leadership, and expertise as you pursue career opportunities.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for conferral of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from The Chicago School, students must successfully complete all academic, fieldwork, doctoral capstone, professional, and institutional requirements of the program.

Students must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Completion of Required Curriculum
    • Successfully complete all required courses in the OTD curriculum.
    • Successfully complete a minimum of 99 semester credit hours required for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.
    • Complete all required didactic, laboratory, simulation, experiential, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone components of the curriculum.
    • Satisfy all course prerequisites, progression requirements, and academic standards established by the OTD program and The Chicago School.
  2. Academic Standing
    • Maintain satisfactory academic standing throughout the program in accordance with The Chicago School’s academic policies and the academic progression requirements established for the OTD program.
    • Successfully remediate any academic deficiencies when remediation is permitted by program and institutional policy.
    • Have no outstanding academic requirements or unresolved conditions that prevent degree conferral.
  3. Level I Fieldwork
    • Successfully complete all required Level I Fieldwork experiences included within the OTD curriculum.
    • Demonstrate satisfactory performance in the learning objectives and competencies established for each Level I Fieldwork experience.
    • Complete fieldwork experiences across the curriculum as required by the program.
    • Complete at least one Level I or Level II Fieldwork experience addressing behavioral health or psychological and social factors influencing engagement in occupation.
  4. Level II Fieldwork
    • Successfully complete a minimum of 24 weeks of Level II Fieldwork.
    • Successfully complete all Level II Fieldwork requirements and demonstrate entry-level occupational therapy practice competencies established by the program.
    • When Level II Fieldwork is completed on a part-time basis, the experience must be consistent with the fieldwork site’s usual and customary personnel policies and constitute at least 50% of a full-time equivalent at that site.
    • Complete Level II Fieldwork within the timeframe established by the OTD program and applicable ACOTE requirements.
  5. Doctoral Capstone
    • Successfully complete all required doctoral capstone preparation coursework.
    • Successfully complete an individual doctoral capstone experience and doctoral capstone project.
    • Complete the doctoral capstone experience only after successful completion of all required coursework and Level II Fieldwork.
    • Successfully complete a minimum 14-week doctoral capstone experience consistent with the individualized objectives and learning plan established by the student, faculty, and capstone site/mentor, as applicable.
    • Complete the required doctoral capstone project demonstrating synthesis and application of knowledge at the doctoral level.
    • Successfully complete all required dissemination, presentation, evaluation, and/or final documentation associated with the doctoral capstone project.
  6. Professional Behaviors and Competencies
    • Demonstrate professional behaviors and competencies expected of an entry-level occupational therapist throughout the didactic, experiential, fieldwork, and capstone portions of the curriculum.
    • Demonstrate ethical conduct consistent with applicable professional standards, institutional policies, fieldwork and capstone requirements, and the standards of the occupational therapy profession.
    • Demonstrate satisfactory performance in required competency assessments established by the OTD program.
  7. Program and Institutional Requirements
    • Complete all required program assessments and activities used to evaluate achievement of the OTD Program Learning Outcomes.
    • Satisfy all applicable policies and requirements of The Chicago School for degree conferral.
    • Fulfill all financial and administrative obligations required by The Chicago School for graduation and degree conferral.
    • Submit all required graduation and degree conferral documentation by established deadlines.
  8. Degree Conferral
    • Upon verification that all academic, fieldwork, doctoral capstone, professional, and institutional requirements have been successfully completed, the student will be eligible for conferral of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree.

Certification and Licensure Following Graduation
Graduation from the OTD program is separate from professional certification and state licensure. Graduates of an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy program are eligible to apply to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. Successful completion of the NBCOT examination is required for certification and is commonly required as part of state occupational therapy licensure.

Graduates must independently satisfy the occupational therapy licensure requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Licensure requirements may vary by jurisdiction.

Passing the NBCOT examination and obtaining state licensure are not requirements for conferral of the OTD degree.

Policies and Procedures

For detailed information about The Chicago School’s academic policies and procedures, along with additional student resources, visit the Academic Catalog.

View Academic Catalog
Program Data
Metric 2024 2025 2026 3-year total
Program Graduates 0 0 0 0
Graduate Rate 0 0 0 0
NBCOT Pass Rate 0 0 0 0

For further information on National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) program data results, see the NBCOT website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Chicago School’s OTD program accredited?

The occupational therapy program is pursuing accreditation through ACOTE®, with the candidacy application scheduled for submission in December 2026.

When will the first Doctor of Occupational Therapy cohort at The Chicago School begin?

The first Doctor of Occupational Therapy cohort will begin in fall 2027.

What is the doctoral capstone?

The doctoral capstone includes an individualized project and in-depth experience that allow you to apply your knowledge, develop advanced competency, and explore an area of occupational therapy aligned with your interests and professional goals.

How many fieldwork experiences are required for he OTD program?

You will complete Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences in accordance with ACOTE® standards.

How many hours a week should I devote to my studies?

For every credit hour, expect to devote two to three hours per week reading and completing assignments. For example, for a three-credit hour course, you would spend at least six hours a week on that course material. A 12-credit semester would require at least a 24-hour-per-week commitment to study the materials and complete assignments. Some semesters may be more time intensive than others.

When am I required to be on campus?

There are full-week immersions for the first six semesters of the program. Students will meet at The Chicago School’s Chicago Campus to complete hands-on labs and competencies. Specific dates will be announced to accepted students.

Do I need to complete my fieldwork and capstone requirements in Chicago?

No, not necessarily. The program has established fieldwork partnerships both in the Chicago area and other geographical locations. Enrolled students will be surveyed regarding their fieldwork location preferences. Students' first choices are not guaranteed, but their preferences will be carefully considered by the academic fieldwork coordinator. Capstone site options are initiated by students starting in year three with guidance and support from the doctoral capstone coordinator.

With a lot of the program being online, will I consistently have access to professors to ask questions and get support?

Yes! Our instructors and advisors are available for in-person and remote office hours throughout the OTD curriculum. Some online courses will have synchronous meeting requirements, giving students the chance to interact in real time and build a supportive learning community. The faculty are dedicated to giving all students the tools they need to succeed in the program and to develop confidence in their clinical skills.

How much do occupational therapists make?

Occupational therapists earn a median annual wage of $100,330, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual salaries can vary depending on the state where you practice.

Is the Doctor of Occupational Therapy an online program?

Yes, all coursework is completed online, with six week-long on-campus immersions at our Chicago Campus meant to provide hands-on training that will bridge the gap between online coursework and real-world practicum.

How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?

For the average student, it takes about seven to eight years to become a licensed occupational therapist. Typically, students gain their bachelor's degree, which can take four years to complete. Then, students can go directly to the OTD program, a three-year program that includes hands-on fieldwork training. After completing the doctorate program, graduates must pursue licensure in their state, which can take a few months.

Will I become a licensed occupational therapist after graduating from The Chicago School’s OTD program?

The OTD program alone does not automatically qualify you to become a licensed occupational therapist; you must pass a certification exam first. Once the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program receives accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by NBCOT and can apply for state licensure in the state where you’ll be practicing. Learn more about state licensure eligibility for the OTD program.

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