Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Explore the new academic spaces at Bridgeside Point for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy, featuring several classrooms with modular tables and a collection of practical spaces where students can practice and perfect their skills in a hands-on setting:
Visit the research spaces of the Department of Occupational Therapy:
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program prepares students to become occupational therapists. The program is designed to develop the next generation of doctorally trained occupational therapists who will be able to rigorously implement evidence-based practice, understand care delivery models, and meet the future occupational needs of society. Students will develop the skills needed to assume leadership roles within health, education, and wellness systems. The OTD curriculum includes course content and learning activities that prepare students beyond the generalist level of an occupational therapist in practice skills, research skills, administration, professional development, leadership, advocacy and theory.
OT Ranking
Pitt's OT program is currently ranked #3 in the nation based on the most recent surveys of Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report.
Why Choose Pitt OT?
Aside from being highly ranked, here are some other reasons to study Occupational Therapy at Pitt!
About
Learn more about the structure of Pitt's 32 month OTD program.
Admission
Students must have a Bachelor's degree to apply to the OTD program. View a list of OTD admission requirements, application instructions and information about the review process.
Upcoming OTD Information Sessions
Please join us for us for one of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Information Sessions. View the complete list of upcoming sessions.
Curriculum
Review the OTD three-year program curriculum and plan of study - an integration of didactic and fieldwork experience.
Fieldwork
View detailed information on the OTD fieldwork requirements where students gain valuable hands-on experiences.
Program Outcomes
The Pitt OT Department has a long tradition of producing excellent program outcomes.
Graduation Rates
| Year of Entry | # Entered | # Graduated | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 45 | 44 | 98% |
| 2018 | 53 | 50 | 94% |
| 2019 | 51 | * | * |
| 2020 | 57 | * | * |
| 3-Year Total | 98 | 94 | 96% |
*Note: Our cohorts of students who entered the program in 2019 and 2020 are still working toward their degrees.
Cost of Attendance
How much does it cost to attend the OTD Program? View our Cost of Attendance.
Accreditation
The OTD Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA 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 that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) program results can be found online at NBCOT. To locate University of Pittsburgh program results, search for Pennsylvania, then OT Doctoral-Level Programs and choose a year.