Abilene Christian University

Are you looking to expand upon your knowledge of Occupational Therapy care and want to become a leader in this field? Abilene Christian University’s on-campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program provides you with the skills and training you need to help patients with their physical needs and assume leadership roles within the industry. The OTD program at ACU builds on the foundational knowledge you have and teaches you advanced techniques on how to assist individuals as they recover from injuries, handle aging, or deal with chronic congenital or developmental disabilities. The OTD program takes 2.5 years to complete, shorter than many traditional Occupational Therapy programs. Through classroom instruction and 6 months dedicated to flexible field work, you learn comprehensive patient care and administrative skills.

ACU’s Doctor in Occupational Therapy Degree Program prepares you for a variety of field areas so you can help others live happier, more comfortable lives. This program includes free online learning resource subscriptions, scrubs, and CPR training. The OTD program gives you hands on experience with adaptive devices for disability patients, mission opportunities to serve international communities, and flexible clinical rotations so you continue in the field with confidence. Through the program, you are introduced to both the technical and leadership skills you need to serve individuals and communities wherever you serve.

ACU’s Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Capstone is a 14-week project and experience to help you master in-depth skills in one of the areas of specialization mentioned below. You have the opportunity to work with one of many clinical organizations to understand the use of different treatment techniques and further develop your understanding of Occupational Therapy. During your capstone, you receive real-world training from established therapists, learn how to work in the clinical setting, and review your on-site learnings with your site mentor.

A completed OTCAS application for admission. Upon submitting your OTCAS application, you’ll find instructions for paying the $65 ACU application fee.

An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent. Admission decisions are made based on the assumption that applicants will have their bachelor’s degree by the time of matriculation. If not, the graduate school admission is void.

A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2.

Three letters of recommendation. Recommendation forms are available through the OTCAS system. One letter should be provided from an occupational therapist and the other by a professional who has observed the applicant’s work. This includes individuals who have (a) observed the applicant during any healthcare-related volunteer or paid work, (b) previous or present instructors and/or advisors, (c) previous or present employers, or (d) health care professionals.

Applicants must demonstrate familiarity with the occupational therapy profession by documenting a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer/observation activity in a professional occupational therapy setting. Applicants are encouraged to complete observation hours in more than one clinical setting. Procedures for documentation are outlined in the OTCAS system.

Applicants must complete a Personal Statement as prompted by the OTCAS system and a supplemental question as part of the application process. The supplemental question includes spiritual and/or life experiences that influenced the applicant’s decision to apply to occupational therapy school, and clinical experience or observation that evoked passion about occupational therapy.

At the time of application, applicants must demonstrate the ability to complete all required prerequisite coursework prior to enrollment in the first semester of the program. Advance Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit will not be accepted for any prerequisite course. All Occupational Therapy course prerequisites other than Medical Terminology must be taken at an accredited school and successfully completed with a grade no lower than a C. Credit/no Credit designations are not accepted for prerequisite courses. Medical Terminology may be taken as a certificate or continuing education course. All prerequisite coursework must be completed within 7 years prior to enrollment. A maximum of 6 credit hours of prerequisites can be pending at the time of application.

"I remember telling my friends this school was so different from any of the others, as it had a certain ‘feel’ about it. This feeling definitely came from the community of loving individuals who not only want to see you excel academically, but in all areas of life."

Lexi Burns

"I am grateful for not only the academic enrichment I have received but also the spiritual and professional investment I will carry with me for years to come from faculty and fellow peers. I look forward to implementing the same culture into my future workplace!"

Tiley Elliot

"ACU has provided me with amazing clinical opportunities that foster so much growth!"

Kaleigh Tom

"When I picked ACU, I knew the community was tight-knit and the professors are experts and leaders in our profession, but I could not have anticipated how much I would love being a part of this program."

Haley Bohannon

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at ACU is fully 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 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. Learn more at MSOT and OTD.

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Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Program

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