2 years and 8 months
(8 terms, including 2 summer terms)
2 years and 8 months
(8 terms, including 2 summer terms)
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The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at Pitt offers an innovative, hands-on curriculum that prepares students to lead in occupational therapy with cutting-edge research, clinical experiences and community impact!
Students are mentored by faculty who are renowned clinicians and researchers. They will guide students through didactic, fieldwork and capstone experiences that go beyond the generalist level of an occupational therapist. With their innovative leadership and focus on advocacy, graduates will be prepared to practice at the top of their license.
Rankings by U.S News & World Report.
Start Term
Fall term (August)
Application Opens
July 18, 2025
Application Closes
June 20, 2026
Duration
2 years and 8 months
(8 terms, including 2 summer terms)
Commitment
Credits
99
Type of Degree
Graduates of the OTD program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
The OTD program is designated as a Program of Merit (POM) in Gerontology by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education.
Format(s)
Students complete fieldwork experiences and a doctoral capstone experience at facilities external to the University of Pittsburgh.
The Pitt2Pitt scholarship can help graduating University of Pittsburgh seniors or alumni complete a Pitt master’s degree or certificate program.
This is a participating program. There is no application process for the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship! Learn more by visiting the Pitt2Pitt website.
Earn your Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from a program with exceptional certification exam pass rates and on-time graduation rates!
The Pitt OTD program’s NBCOT outcomes can be found at NBCOT. To locate University of Pittsburgh program results, select Pennsylvania, OT Doctoral-Level Programs and a year.
Average Class Size
60
All states require NBCOT initial certification for occupational therapy state regulation (e.g., licensing).
The OTD program is accredited 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 is 301-652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the OTD program are 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 in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
NOTE: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
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