For Students Holding a Bachelor’s Degree Seeking an Entry-Level Professional OT Degree
The University of Florida’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares students to become professional-level OT practitioners who are leaders in the rapidly changing and dynamic contemporary health and human services delivery systems. The program will facilitate students’ clinical knowledge and skills, professional development, leadership and advocacy skills, and advanced knowledge base to inform high quality, evidence-informed practice in occupational therapy. Students will engage in projects and leadership activities that will improve practice quality and advance evidence-based clinical practice.
Accreditation
The entry-level OTD degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814; tel. (301) 652-AOTA.
OTD Graduation Rates
| graduation year | Students Entering | Students Graduating on time | students who withdrew due to reasons other than performance | Students graduating off cycle | Graduation Rate for students graduating on time | Graduation rate including students graduating off cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 47 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 97.9% | 100% |
| 2023 | 56 | 54 | 0 | 2 | 96.4% | 100% |
| 2024 | 56 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 98.2% | 98.2% |
| Total | 159 | 153 | 2 | 3 | 97.5% | 99.4% |
The average program graduation rate over the 3 most recent calendar years for the percentage of students who are enrolled in the institution’s official enrollment date (ten-day census date) at the start of the student’s program and complete the program within the programs’ published academic terms is 96.2%.
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 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.
Information about the credentialing of occupational therapists can be found at the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®). The first cohort of graduates took the NBCOT Certification Examination in 2022.
Requirements for graduation
All students must complete the required prerequisite courses prior to beginning the OTD program. All students must also complete the college required Introduction to Public Health course. Students need to obtain 107 graduate credits before matriculation can be expected from the OTD program.
Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
University degree certification for graduation from the OTD degree program requires the following:
- students have successfully earned, at a minimum, a C or S in all courses;
- an overall GPA of 3.0;
- have completed all required courses;
- have no incomplete (I) courses;
- have successfully completed three Level 1 fieldwork placements, two Level 2 placements, and the capstone experience and project.
Questions?
Check out our FAQ page or contact us for more information!
Program news
Students, faculty have strong showing at Florida Occupational Therapy Association conference
Department of Occupational Therapy students, faculty and preceptors took home several awards at this year’s annual conference.
PHHP Outstanding Alumni 2025
Seven graduates are recognized for contributions to clinical care, public health practice, education, research and policy.
Welcome new students
The college welcomed hundreds of new faces this week as classes kicked off for the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Finding my voice and breaking barriers
Avanna Tiwarie shares her journey as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student with hearing loss.
