Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Post-baccalaureate, Entry Level Professional Doctoral Degree at Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences
Are you interested in becoming an occupational therapist? 香蜜影视鈥檚 Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences has the first entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) in Virginia and one of the first dozen established in the nation. Being at the forefront means you benefit from a top-notch academic experience that prepares you for a future in all practice settings. Graduate empowered to screen, evaluate, create, and deliver evidence based care plans.
You must have your bachelor鈥檚 degree to apply. The total length of the program is 109 credit hours, 3.0 years (nine semesters). The curriculum includes two, 12-week fieldwork experiences and one, 14-week capstone experience.
- Time to Completion
- 33 months
- Degree(s)
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- OTCAS Opens
- July 19
- OTCAS Preferred Deadline
- October 15
- OTCAS Closes
- May 15
- Program Start
- August
Next steps
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 teachers first and foremost. Our faculty combines decades of experience in the field with a passion for educating and supporting students. In addition, faculty are scholars and practitioners who 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 you鈥檒l start and finish the OT program with the same group of fellow students, so you鈥檒l find a strong community of support as you complete your courses. You鈥檒l also work together in special interprofessional seminar 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
Next steps
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine a better OT fieldwork experience than the one I had in the NICU through 香蜜影视. 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.鈥
Sarah Johnson, OTDClass of 2019
What You鈥檒l 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.
Murphy Deming Student Services
Our team is dedicated to ensuring Murphy Deming students receive a high-quality student experience and support for their well-being, development, engagement, and success.
Cost & Financial Aid
A great education is worth it. Our mission is to help you level up and bring your aspirations to life.
OT Student Support
The 香蜜影视 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 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?
Next steps
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鈥檚 ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
ACOTE庐 accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states鈥 educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE庐 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 .
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.
香蜜影视 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 .
香蜜影视 is made for聽you.
How will you make your mark?
香蜜影视 only accepts students from areas where it meets the educational requirements for licensure. If you鈥檙e interested in admission but not currently located in one of these areas, please reach out to admissions or the program director to have a conversation about your individual situation. We鈥檙e happy to help you think through the requirements.
For information on which states and territories our program meets the educational requirements for licensure by location, .
NOTE: Completion of an authorized educational program does not guarantee licensure or certification. States and territories may have additional requirements such as a background check, jurisprudence examination, other specific training requirements, recommendations, etc.
香蜜影视 recommends that students consult the appropriate licensing agency or board in the respective state or territory they intend to practice before beginning any academic program or coursework. Links to state license information can be found at . If students experience difficulty finding the license requirements for a specific state or territory, please contact the program director or admissions.
Student Consumer Information
香蜜影视 provides postsecondary education and employment data to help students make informed consumer decisions. Current and prospective 香蜜影视 students may find information and resources useful in planning for college and careers through the 香蜜影视 profile published by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).