Occupational Therapy, OTD

Program Description

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level curriculum prepares students to be reflective practitioners in traditional and emerging areas of practice. Occupational therapists work with persons, groups, and populations across the lifespan to promote and facilitate participation in all aspects of daily life through the therapeutic use of occupations (life activities). The entry-level doctoral program prepares graduates to practice in a variety of settings such as hospitals, homes, private practice, rehabilitation facilities, schools, community organizations, government or global agencies, industry, academia, and research centers. Doctoral students will complete an independent Capstone project of their choosing to demonstrate the ability to synthesize and apply in-depth knowledge of an area of occupational therapy.

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Post Professional curriculum is for individuals who hold certification and licensure as occupational therapists. The OTD program will provide post-professional graduate education opportunities to currently practicing occupational therapists with a bachelor or a master’s degree and are interested in advancing their professional careers within the following focus areas: clinical practice, research skills, administration, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. The post professional curriculum is online and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis while maintaining employment.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation 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. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 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.

Admission Requirements

OTD Transfer of Credit Policy

On a case-by-case basis, the OTD Admissions Committee may accept graduate credit earned at a regionally accredited entry-level Master of Occupational Therapy program. Acceptance of transfer credits on a graduate degree program occurs through recommendation of the student’s major advisor at the institution of program of study, the OTD Admissions Committee, and approval of the MSU Graduate College. Transfer hours may count for up to 30% of the Program of Study. Transfer credits must have been earned within five-years of the time of admission to the OTD program. Grades on transfer courses accepted in the degree program are included in the overall graduate grade point average.

A student requesting transfer credit is responsible for providing an official course syllabus from the school from which the student received the academic credit. The syllabus will be reviewed in terms of the doctoral level standards assigned to the MSU course. If the objectives are directly aligned with the MSU OTD objectives for the course and the student earned a B or higher, transfer credit may be granted for an MSU OTD course.

OTD Experiential Learning/Work Experience Related Policy

Work experience will not be awarded credits required to graduate from the OTD program. The OTD admission committee and the program director will determine if previous work experience may be counted as the observation or volunteer hours needed for admission to the program.

OTD Advanced Placement Policy

Advanced (accelerated) course placement in the entry-level OTD Program is not offered. This does not refer to high school advanced placement (AP) credits, which may or may not be applied toward OTD Program prerequisites: https://www.missouristate.edu/admissions/advancedplacement.htm

OTD Additional Requirement

Once accepted to the OTD program, all students must provide the following:

1. A non-refundable confirmation deposit of $500 to the OTD program to reserve a seat in the incoming class. Upon admission into the OTD program, this fee will be applied to the fall session tuition.
2. Current CPR and AED certification.
3. Evidence of current physical examination indicating good physical health, a TB skin test or chest X-ray, and up-to-date immunizations (MMR, tetanus, and a complete Hepatitis B Series).
4. A Signed acknowledgment of the capacity to meet the technical standards and tasks required of an occupational therapist.
5. Ongoing security checks and annual drug screening required by clinical agencies. Students must submit drug screening test and criminal record check and receive a response that the student has not been convicted of any crime according to Section 660.317 RSMO or other disqualifications that would prohibit licensure as a Registered Occupational Therapist.
6. Students who fail these checks or procedures will be subject to further review by the OTD program admissions committee. This may result in dismissal from the OTD program.
7. Evidence of professional association memberships, liability insurance, and health insurance.
8. Signed acknowledgment of The American Occupational Therapy Association’s Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards to which all OTD students will adhere.

OTD Retention Requirements

After admission into the OTD Program, a student must achieve the following for retention in the program:

1. Maintain a GPA of 3.00, with no more than 9 semester hours of graduate work below a grade of “B”, and no hours of graduate work below a “C”.
2. Demonstrate acceptable levels of maturity and integrity, as well as behaviors and attitudes normally expected of healthcare professionals.
3. Demonstrate acceptable professional progression in application of skills and knowledge.
4. Maintain current health and liability insurance.
5. Maintain current CPR and AED certification.
6. Must complete Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project requirements.
7. Must complete the program within seven years of the start of the program.
8. Approval of the plan of study by the Program Director.

Additionally, entry-level OTD students must complete Level II Fieldwork and experiential requirements within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Students who fail to meet the retention criteria may:

1. Be placed on academic or clinical probation in the OTD program.
2. Be dismissed from the program, based on the judgment of most of the Program Director, and OT Faculty Retention Committee.

Students who fail to meet the probationary criteria or are dismissed from the program are not eligible for readmission into the OTD Program. Students have the right to follow the University’s appeal process on any disciplinary sanction received. Students should refer to the Missouri State University Occupational Therapy Student Handbook for additional policies and procedures.