OTD FAQ

Welcome to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' OTD FAQ page.  This will address common questions that we receive from students who are interested in applying to our OTD program.

Accredited Doctoral-Degree-Level Occupational Therapy Program

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree 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 c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. 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 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. Students must complete Level II fieldwork and experiential requirements within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Admission to the Drake University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is based on academic and personal qualifications that are necessary for successful, competent practice as an occupational therapist.  Candidates are evaluated on the basis of the fit between their personal goals and the mission and goals of the OTD program.  Prior education, work experience, honors, awards, service to others and leadership activities are also considered in the admission process.  Prior shadowing in an OT environment is helpful, but not required. 

If you encounter problems with any of the links on this page, or if you have suggestions for additional questions we should address on this page, please contact the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at (515) 271-3018 or drakeot@drake.edu.  If you do not find the answer to your question here, please contact us for more information.