Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Post-Professional)
Post-Professional OTD Program Overview
Are you currently a licensed occupational therapist in good standing? If so, Spalding University’s entirely online Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate may be the next step in your career. This program is designed to provide continuous learning and advanced expertise so that occupational therapists can serve as transformative leaders. Prepare to drive meaningful change in healthcare delivery, policy and practice.
- 100% online
- 30 credit hours
- Four 13-week trimesters
- Self-directed capstone
Courses
The curriculum for the Post-Professional OTD prioritizes active inquiry, critical thinking and reflective practice that directly applies to evidence-based practice.
Courses include Occupational Therapy Theory in Practice, Education and Research, Leadership, Advocacy and Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice and Evidence Based Occupational Therapy Practice Capstone.
You’ll work closely with your faculty mentors to customize your program of study, fieldwork and capstone to your professional interests.
As a practitioner and doctoral student, you’ll be setup for success. You’ll take one online course per trimester (13 weeks), allowing you to dedicate yourself to your studies without sacrificing your career. We’ll guide you through the program with a unit-by-unit breakdown of course content.
Accreditation
The Post-Professional OTD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (telephone: 301-652-2682; www.acoteonline.org) located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
Graduates of the program are 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.
Admissions Requirements
We accept applications to the post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program on a rolling basis. If you are accepted into the post-professional OTD program, you will be eligible to begin classes at the start of the next trimester.
Learn about application deadlines and discover how Spalding’s Post-Professional OTD program can elevate your practice.
Spring trimester begins: January 12, 2026
Application deadline: January 5, 2026
Tuition
Learn about tuition and fees for our Post-Professional OTD program, as well as your financial aid options. Spalding Alumni qualify for a 10% tuition discount on the post-professional OTD Program.
If you are an employee of one of Spalding University’s Community Partners, you may be eligible for a discount on tuition for Spalding’s post-professional OTD. Please see our list of current community partnerships.
Find Possibility in the Heart of the City
DISCOVER YOUR GROWTH POTENTIAL
Meet the needs of the times as an occupational therapist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14% job growth for occupational therapists between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Post-Professional OTD + MBA Dual Degree
Beyond our traditional Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PPOTD) degree program, we proudly offer a dual degree program which combines our PPOTD with the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The PPOTD + MBA is designed for licensed occupational therapy professionals seeking entrepreneurial endeavors and who strive to maximize their impact either through leadership in healthcare organizations or higher education. You will graduate from the PPOTD + MBA dual degree with advanced marketability and excel in the management of complex healthcare business operations. Students have three options for pursuing this dual degree:
- Track 1: Students will take the MBA and PPOTD portions simultaneously
- Track 2: Students will complete the PPOTD curriculum, followed by the General MBA track curriculum
- Track 3: Students will complete the General MBA track curriculum, followed by the PPOTD curriculum
High-Impact Career Preparation
Spalding OTD graduates are prepared to work as occupational therapists in settings such as:
- Home health agencies
- Hospitals
- Inpatient rehabilitation units
- Outpatient clinics
- Sports medicine practices
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Wellness and sports performances
- Workplace health centers
A major lesson I hope students take from our program is to continue to seek the “why” in what they are doing, whether it is the treatment they are providing for patients or something related to their personal lives. I want students to explore best practices to make the profession even better for the next generation. I teach compassion and understanding not only from the patient’s perspective, but also from working with family members, colleagues, and really, whomever is at the receiving end.
Dr. Jyoti Heiple, Assistant Professor at the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT)
Spalding’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is led by Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy faculty.
You will work closely with our faculty of doctorally-prepared experts specialize to customize your program of study, fieldwork and capstone to your professional interests.
