November 1
- Application Deadline: November 1
- Admission Interview: TBD (by invitation only)
- Additional information can be found in the below Admission Requirements section.
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This full-time cohort program begins each fall and is completed in only 32 months, just two terms past what is required for a master’s degree.
Cost consists of program tuition (cost per term times number of terms) as well as any applicable University and degree-specific fees. Students are subject to two tuition increases.
Chatham University’s entry-level OTD program has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). More information can be found by visiting our accreditation page.
Occupational therapy has joined the number of health-related professions that have been transitioning to the entry-level doctorate. In some settings, this has impacted hiring practices, salary differentials, and leadership appointments.
The program guides students through introspection and self-reflection to develop individualized, authentic leadership skills, and prepares them with the tools and knowledge to be leaders within the OT profession and society at large. Students are provided opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to explore and apply cutting-edge theories and intervention approaches. They gain an understanding of professional responsibilities and advocacy through engagement in various personal and professional leadership and scholarship opportunities.
—JODI SCHREIBER, OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT, associate professor of occupational therapy
An acknowledged leader in graduate education in the health sciences, Chatham has offered an accredited entry-level OT graduate degree for 25 years. The program boasts a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation and an NBCOT pass rate of 99% within one year of graduation.
The vision of the ELOTD at Chatham is to cultivate personal and professional growth as globally-minded citizens and as leaders in healthcare. At its core, the program promotes sustainable health and wellness for all persons, communities and populations.
Chatham’s entry-level OTD program provides students with opportunities to engage in a variety of leadership activities throughout the curriculum. They are assigned a leadership advisor, and take part in a leadership advising group. In addition, there are multiple opportunities to engage in advocacy and leadership roles throughout the program, including program committee positions to foster the development of professional service and leadership skills.
Healthcare is becoming increasingly interprofessional in nature. Entry-level OTD students have myriad opportunities to engage in interprofessional education and community outreach, including the Ecuador trip, and other endeavors.
Chatham OTD graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) certification exam. Successful completion of this exam certifies the therapist as an OTR®. State licensure is required by most states and is usually based on the results of the NBCOT® certification exam.
Chatham University’s entry-level doctor of occupational therapy degree program (OTD) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status 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. View ACOTE's website here, or call them at 301-652-AOTA.
View Full Accreditation & Student OutcomesChatham receives numerous requests from employers who are interested in hiring our graduates. The OTD program maintains a bulletin board of current job opportunities. In addition, all job openings are emailed to students during their final term in the program. 100% of our graduates who are seeking employment find jobs as occupational therapists.
View Student OutcomesChatham's location allows for access to a network of resources from surrounding colleges and universities. The many nearby hospitals, clinics, and community agencies offer a wide variety of opportunities for observation and fieldwork experiences. There’s lots of opportunity to network with local OT clinicians through guest lectures and panel discussions.
The Class of 2018 created the Joyce Salls Occupational Therapy Student Award, which honors Dr. Salls’s dedication to her students and the field of Occupational Therapy. The purpose of this award is to provide recognition and financial assistance to a deserving occupational therapy student at Chatham University’s School of Health Sciences.
Give NowLearn about occupational therapy student and faculty accomplishments, alumni achievements, and various activities that occurred over the last academic year—in Pittsburgh, and all over the country.
Learn MoreWant more details? Download our PDF for answers to the most frequently asked questions about Chatham's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
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