The occupational therapy program provides a sequence of coursework, field placements, and capstone experiences that culminate in the occupational therapy doctorate (OTD). The University of Toledo offered the first OTD in Ohio and the first OTD program in the nation at a public institution. The OTD program is accredited by the:

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD
20852-4929
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 graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Due to the sequential nature of the curriculum, matriculation to the OTD program occurs fall semester only. Applications may be submitted after July for admission the following academic year. If you have questions, please contact us at occtherapydoctorate@utoledo.edu or 419.530.6670.

The following criteria are used for admission:

• Bachelor degree in any field of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at graduation. The Bachelor degree must be completed prior to starting the program, NOT prior to application.
• Completion of the OT Centralized Application System (OTCAS) and payment of fee.
• Completion of The University of Toledo's OTD supplemental application and payment of fee (including the Prerequisite Completion Plan form and Writing Sample).
• Prerequisites: Applicants must receive a B- or better in all prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program, NOT prior to application:
  • Introductory Biology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits), Lab required
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 semester or 8 quarter credits). Lab required, however, if Anatomy and Physiology are taken as separate courses, we require a lab for Anatomy but not Physiology
  • Introduction to Psychology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
  • Abnormal Psychology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
  • Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
  • Medical Terminology (course or proficiency test)
  • Statistics (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
  • Lifespan Human Development: You may meet this requirement by EITHER:
    1. obtaining a B- or better in a Lifespan Human Development course (3 semester or 4 quarter credits) that covers human development from birth to death OR
    2. obtaining a B- or better in both a Child Development (3 semester or 4 quarter credits) course AND a Gerontology/Psychology of Aging course (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
  • UToledo Writing Sample. This is not the same as the Personal Statement that is part of the OTCAS application.
• Three letters of recommendation (submitted through the OTCAS application only).

NOTE: You must apply via http://portal.otcas.org to access the OTCAS application. The OTCAS portal and UT Supplemental application opens in mid-July for each admission cycle. Refer to the UToledo Occupational Therapy webpage for detailed admission requirements.

Technical Standards.  The faculty encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or status as a veteran of any conflict, and disability status.  The demands of the occupational therapy doctoral program require students to be skillful in multiple domains, including cognition, emotional regulation, communication, and gross and fine motor coordination.  The purpose of these standards is to clearly state the expected capabilities of students in the OTD program. Potential applicants should self-assess that their abilities align with these expectations.  Within the program, course syllabi will identify specific expectations for students. 

Across the curriculum, the following are required to successfully complete the program:

• Communicate orally and in writing to complete individual and group assignments at the graduate level including papers, exams, presentations, projects, and demonstrations;
• Maintain interpersonal relationships with instructors, faculty, advisors, mentors, fieldwork educators, classmates, peers, and clients;
• Commit time and effort to complete independent and group work according to timelines and due dates;
• Manage and prioritize multiple concurrent demands;
• Maintain access to and use current technologies to engage with learning materials, submit work, and engage in clinical practices;
• Be punctual and attend class, practicum experiences, and fieldwork at both on- and off-campus locations, including necessary transportation and on-site mobility;
• Demonstrate a realistic understanding of the field of occupational therapy including the scope and diversity of the profession and the requirements of therapists in their day to day work;
• Demonstrate the willingness and ability to assume responsibilities for the full spectrum of occupational therapy services;
• Meet health requirements including specific vaccinations and screenings. (A detailed list of these requirements can be obtained from the program. It is the applicant's responsibility to inquire as to inquire as to the implications of any individual health related circumstances.);
• Respond adequately to the health and safety needs of clients/patients, including
• Complete training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
• Have knowledge of Center for Disease Control standards for infectious control, and
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations in classrooms, practicum sites, and fieldwork placements;
• Submit to criminal background checks.  Results may be required for fieldwork placement. Applicants/students with a criminal history may want to consult with respective licensing boards regarding their ability to obtain professional licensure.
• Maintain personal/professional records. 

We urge applicants to ask questions about the program's technical standards for clarification and to determine whether they can meet the requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. We expect that any student who requires accommodation to attain the course objectives will work with the Student Disability Services to notify the course instructor at the first opportunity.  Revealing a disability is voluntary; however, such disclosure is necessary before any accommodations may be made in the learning environment or in the program's procedures. We handle disability-related information in a confidential manner. Reasonable accommodations will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and require program and institutional approvals.

Requirements and Criteria for Retention and Graduation.  A student admitted into the OTD program must comply with rules and regulations for conduct and academic performance as stipulated by the College of Graduate Studies Health Science Campus and the College of Health and Human Services.

• A student will be placed on academic probation if her/his cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 during any semester. If the student remains on academic probation for two consecutive semesters, the student will be dismissed.
• A student admitted under provisional status whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 following completion of the first 15 credits will be dismissed from the program and from the Health Science Campus College of Graduate Studies.
• A grade of C or better or a grade of S must be earned in all courses. No grade lower than a C, is allowed in the total of 95 credits required for graduation. A student who receives a grade of C minus or lower or a grade of U may repeat the course one time, realizing that the sequence of study will be disrupted and that additional time and expense will be required to complete the program. A student wishing to repeat a course will be required to apply for an academic leave until the course is re-offered in its regular sequence.
• A maximum of 2 courses of C plus or lower grades may be part of the student’s Plan of Study. A student who exceeds the maximum will be subject to dismissal.
• A student who receives two or more grades of D, F or U in any one semester forfeits the opportunity to repeat and will be dismissed from the program.
• Continuous enrollment in the OTD program is required because of the sequential nature of the course work. Withdrawal from one course may require complete withdrawal from the semester and will be considered a stop-out. If a student elects to stop-out for any reason, s/he will be required to apply for an approved academic leave or withdraw from the program altogether. Academic leave may be effective from one to three semesters, after which time, readmission will be required.
• A student who has been dismissed from the program or who has been on academic leave for longer than one year, must apply for readmission into the OTD program. Readmission will be determined on an individual basis dependent on the reason for dismissal or the conditions requiring academic leave.
• Students are expected to comply with the requirements of fieldwork and capstone sites and the academic program in completing Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences, and the Capstone experience. Level I fieldwork will be completed during the academic portion of the program while Level II fieldwork and the Capstone experience will be completed after the academic portion of the program is completed. The student will need to complete a minimum of 940 hours of Level II fieldwork to meet the 6-month Level II fieldwork requirement. The student will need to complete a minimum of 640 hours on the Capstone experience courses including the Capstone Practicum, Dissemination, and Mentored Studies.
• Student must complete all level II FW in 24 months following the didactic portion of the program. The capstone experience must be completed within 12 months following completion of level II FW.
• Completion of all program requirements within 6 calendar years.
• All professional occupational therapy coursework must be completed at The University of Toledo
• It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to assure that all administrative and academic requirements have been met.
• Professional and ethical behavior is expected from each student throughout the occupational therapy program. Behaviors align with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s ethical standards for practice.

Unique features of the program include fieldwork or experiential opportunities in every semester, and the opportunity to complete an individualized capstone to develop specialized skills in a practice area of choice, and an individual research project.

Plan of Study Grid

First Term		Hours
OCCT 7000	Foundations of Occupational Therapy	3
OCCT 7010	OT Models of Practice I	5
OCCT 7110	Research in OT I	4
OCCT 7210	OT Advocacy I	2
OCCT 7310	FW and Professional Dev I	1
	Hours	15
Second Term
OCCT 7020	OT Models of Practice II	5
OCCT 7030	OT Models of Practice III	4
OCCT 7320	FW and Professional Dev II	1
OCCT 7400	Conditions in OT	2
OCCT 8120	Research in OT II	3
	Hours	15
Third Term
OCCT 7040	OT Models of Practice IV	5
OCCT 7220	OT Advocacy II	2
OCCT 7330	FW and Professional Dev III	1
	Hours	8
Fourth Term
OCCT 8050	OT Models of Practice V	5
OCCT 8060	OT Models of Practice VI	4
OCCT 8130	Research in Occ Therapy III	3
OCCT 8230	OT Advocacy III	2
OCCT 8340	FW and Professional Dev IV	1
	Hours	15
Fifth Term
OCCT 8070	OT Models of Practice VII	4
OCCT 8080	OT Models of Practive VIII	3
OCCT 8240	OT Advocacy IV	3
OCCT 8350	FW and Professional Dev V	3
	Hours	13
Sixth Term
OCCT 8360	Fieldwork Level II	3
OCCT 8400	Phys Agent Mod and Non Occ Met	2
	Hours	5
Seventh Term
OCCT 8360	Fieldwork Level II (continued)	3
OCCT 8370	Fieldwork Level II	6
	Hours	9
Eighth Term
OCCT 8140	Research in OT IV	3
OCCT 8380	Capstone Practicum	6
OCCT 8900	Mentored Capstone Dissemination	3
OCCT 8910	Mentored Studies:Capstone Area (or Elective in Capstone Area)	3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	95

Note. Student must complete all Level II fieldwork within 24 months following didactic portion of the program. The capstone experience must be completed with 12 months following completion of Level II fieldwork. 

PRACTICE: 1. Compare, contrast and evaluate models of practice and integrate them with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. 2.Examine the interactions between occupations, client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, and contexts and environments. 3/ Describe the relationship between human development and occupation from a life span perspective. 4. Distinguish the relationships between wellness and occupation, identify at risk populations and implement occupation-based interventions to enhance wellness and prevent disease. 5. Investigate and grade the demands of an occupation, reflecting the specific body structures, body functions, performance skills, and performance patterns that are required to successfully engage in occupation. 6. Interpret screening, assessment, and occupational profile data to evaluate clients occupational performance. 7. Interpret evaluation results to diagnose problems related to occupational performance and participation. 8. Illustrate collaboration with clients to develop individualized goals for occupational performance and implement interventions to achieve them. 9. Practice occupational therapy services consistent with clients needs and context, including reassessment and discharge. 10. Show how to effectively communicate and educate via written, oral, and nonverbal means, with clients, family members, significant others, team members, and the community at large. 11. Demonstrate therapeutic use of self, including personality, insights, perceptions, and judgments, as part of the therapeutic process. 12. Show how to effectively and professionally document all aspects of the occupational therapy process. 13. Recognize and apply codes, guidelines, polices, and standards of practice put forth by AOTA and regulatory bodies. 14. Apply accepted Practice Standards regarding supervision of and collaboration with occupational therapy assistants.
ADVOCACY: 15. Evaluate and judge the relevance of current socio-political, legal, economic, international, geographic, demographic, and health disparity issues and trends, including as they affect occupational therapy practice. 16. Justify, design, and engage in initiatives that meet society s occupational needs within existing organizations and through new, entrepreneurial services and programs (e.g., private practice) to move the profession of occupational therapy forward as an integral discipline in health care, human services, and education. 17. Apply principles of management, administration, and supervision (e.g., COTAs, students, other rehabilitation personnel, volunteers) into a personal framework for directing and developing occupational therapy services, personnel, and programs. 18. Choose, design, and implement teaching/learning experiences for a variety of audiences. 19. Practice in collaborative interprofessional practice to improve service delivery in complex systems and organizations. 20. Demonstrate advocacy efforts for clients and the profession to influence practice, legislation, policies, and reimbursement funding.
RESEARCH: 21. Use principles of research design to describe, analyze, critique, and interpret research protocols and articles relevant to the field of occupational therapy. 22.Interpret research findings to enhance their practice and promote research in the profession at multiple levels including collaboration with independent researchers. 23.Produce and disseminate guided, individualized, scholarly projects. 24.Identify specific ways that occupational therapists can contribute to occupational therapy research, including initiation of research, collaboration in research, participation in advanced studies, application for grants, and support of research as a member of the profession of occupational therapy. 25.Explain, apply, and demonstrate professional ethics as they are pertinent to laws and institutional policies that govern client confidentiality and rights of research participants.
AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING: 26.Recognize and accept personal responsibility for life-long learning, professional behavior, and demeanor through reflective practice. 27. Develop skill in seeking out information (e.g., library resources, electronic media, internet searches) to compile evidence in support of practice, advocacy, and research. 28. Show leadership skills and guide the profession by disseminating research, conducting presentations, and assuming leadership and mentorship roles, including fieldwork education.