Are you ready to break into the field of occupational therapy and become an occupational therapist or are you a practicing occupational therapist (OT) looking to develop advanced skills in practice, implementation or research?
In the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), we offer four great programs. Often, prospective students are not sure which program is right for them, or where their skills and goals fit best. This information will help you find the Pitt OT program that aligns most closely with your career path.
Did you find out which program would work for you? Learn more about it below and see how our other programs compare!
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Program |
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Entry-Level |
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) - Post-Professional) |
Doctor of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy (CScD in OT) - Post-Professional) |
Advanced Practice Certificate (Post-Professional Certificate) |
Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science (PhD) - Post-Professional) |
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Who is this for? |
Individuals who want to become an occupational therapist | Practicing occupational therapists who have a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy who want to advance their training and obtain a master’s degree | Practicing occupational therapists who have a master’s degree and want to advance their clinical career and obtain a clinical doctorate degree | Practicing occupational therapists looking to enhance their current skills | Practicing occupational therapists with a master’s degree who want to advance their training and pursue a career in research |
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Why this degree? |
To become an occupational therapist | To advance your career by increasing your knowledge of best practices through specialized training | To advance your career by building a foundation for moving into leadership positions in clinical, community or university settings |
To allow occupational therapists to develop advanced skills for implementing evidence into real-world practice at the individual and system levels |
To advance your career by learning to execute independent and collaborative research and lead research teams, to develop original questions of theoretical importance, design rigorous projects, and analyze and disseminate results |
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Time Commitment |
32 months (8 terms, including 2 summer terms) | 8 months (2 terms) | Designed for working occupational therapists. The program is fully online and can be completed on a part-time basis in as little as 28 months |
Can be completed in as little as 12 months. The certificate can be earned as a stand-alone basis or as part of your CScD in OT. |
8-10 years (with vs. without a credit transfer) |
| Application and Start Date | Applications are due by February 1. This program offers rolling admission, so apply early! The program starts in August. | Applications are due in May. The program starts in August. |
This program has 2 start dates – fall and spring.
Fall: Applications are due in May. The program starts in August.
Spring: Applications are due in November. The program starts in January. |
This certificate program has 2 start dates – fall and spring.
Fall: Applications are due in May. The program starts in August.
Spring: Applications are due in November. The program starts in January. |
This program has a rolling application and can start in the fall, spring or summer terms. |
We understand that your dream career in occupational therapy may be what is driving you to elevate your education. So which types of jobs require what level of education? See below for some of the various occupations available per education level.
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Program |
Next Steps and Job Opportunities |
|---|---|
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OTD |
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MS in OT |
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CScD in OT or Advanced Practice Certificate |
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| PhD |
Graduates of the PhD program will typically be hired into academic positions, most often research-oriented tenure track positions. Their work centers on the critical evaluation and application of published evidence to advance theoretical thinking and scientific research. |
Now that you understand the path to your dream career in occupational therapy, and you know that Pitt offers the Occupational Therapy program to get you there, what do you need to apply? Here's what you need to know:
- Ensure your essays reflect your passions, philosophy, leadership skills, and goals. Explain how our program can help you accomplish these goals.
- For the MS in OT program: Explain in your application essay how you would like to advance your career and why you would like to do so. What problems do you see in your current practice and how might you resolve them with skills you plan to gain?
- For the CScD in OT program: Explain your reasoning for pursuing this advanced clinical degree. What do you plan to do with the skills you will gain, and how do you see this program influencing your career trajectory?
- Pursue leadership experiences and other opportunities or ways to create and improve systems that better serve others.
- Request letters of recommendation from those who know you best and ask early! We require three letters of recommendation, and one letter of recommendation must be from a practicing occupational therapist that you have shadowed. Ideally, their letter will address your professional behaviors in the clinical setting.
- For the CScD in OT program, you only need 2 letters of recommendation.
- For the PhD program: We recommend you make a connection with the faculty member whom you would like to collaborate with early! Research mentors must be available to enable you to engage in a plan of study and research in your major area of interest. A letter of support must also be provided by the research mentor directly to the SHRS Admissions Office before the application is reviewed.
Still have questions? Or, ready to find out more information on the program of your choice? Contact us! Our enrollment specialists are available to support you. Sign-up to meet with them virtually or in-person, or feel free to reach out anytime by phone or email.
Our OT programs offer regular information sessions where you can learn about our programs directly from faculty and current students. Register to join us soon!
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A collaboration with the Occupational Therapy Department Faculty and SHRS Enrollment and Recruitment Team
(Updated August 2022)