Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Help people gain independence in their day-to-day life.
Occupational Therapists help clients engage in meaningful life activities while promoting individual and communal well-being. This high-demand field is expected to grow by more than 14% through 2031.
Offered by the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences at Mary Baldwin, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program prepares you for work as an occupational therapist in any practice setting after graduation and licensure.
- Time to Completion33 months
- FormatOn Campus
- Degree(s)Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- OTCAS OpensJuly 19
- OTCAS Preferred DeadlineOctober 15
- OTCAS ClosesMay 15
- Program StartAugust
Next steps
Why earn an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) at Mary Baldwin?
Our occupational therapy program emphasizes connections and real-life experience. Learn alongside other students as part of our innovative interprofessional curriculum while also engaging with clients and organizations in the community.
As an OT student, you’ll benefit from a top-notch academic experience that prepares you for all practice settings and empowers you to screen, evaluate, create, and deliver evidence-based care plans.
Immersive Fieldwork
During fieldwork, you’ll deliver OT services to real clients while being supervised by a supportive and skilled OT fieldwork educator. Your fieldwork will span a variety of practice settings and clients to ensure you’ve had a well-rounded experience when you graduate. Through your student-centered doctoral capstone experience, you’ll further develop professional skills to set your career on an exciting trajectory.
Academic Community
Studying in a cohort means you’ll start and finish the OT program with the same group of fellow students, so you’ll find a strong community of support as you complete your courses. You’ll also work together in special interprofessional seminar groups, research, clinical collaboration scenarios, and community outreach.
Excellent Licensure Training
With a robust curriculum and rich fieldwork experiences, Mary Baldwin OTD students are well-prepared for the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam. In fact, our most recent three cohorts had a 100% new graduate pass rate.
The MBU OT program also provides membership to the Virginia OT Association and American OT Association for the three years you’re in the program. We also provide two practice tests and a year-long subscription to prepare for the NBCOT certification exam.
Additional information about program accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) is available on their website.
Next steps
I couldn’t imagine a better OT fieldwork experience than the one I had in the NICU through MBU. I gained so much confidence from being able to do this program successfully and to have those interactions with health practitioners, parents, and nonprofits. Now when I have an idea in the future, I know I can take it to the end and make it happen.
Sarah Johnson, OTD ’19
Courses & Curriculum
Our curriculum is grounded in evidence-based practice. Your learning experiences at Mary Baldwin build competence, professionalism, ethical behaviors, values, and engagement in professional responsibilities.
Your coursework will include foundational science classes, hands-on lab work, and seminars dedicated to contemporary issues in occupational therapy and the greater healthcare landscape.
The course includes the study of functional neuroanatomy and neuroscience to understand the basic structures and function of the nervous system with special emphasis on topics of greatest relevance to occupational therapy practice.
In this course students examine theory and reasoning that undergird the occupational therapy (OT) domain and process. Students broaden their understanding of the profession’s scope by exploring and applying the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (Framework; AOTA, 2014). Emphasis is placed on development of critical reasoning and application of best practice (including use of reasoning, theory, and research) throughout the OT process.
This course will introduce the students to various psychosocial considerations important to working with patients and clients successfully.
Our Faculty
Our school’s faculty is made up of skilled professionals with extensive real-world experience in their practice areas. They are committed to seeing you succeed, offering one-on-one mentorship and real-world experience.
Murphy Deming Student Services
Our team is dedicated to ensuring Murphy Deming students receive a high-quality student experience and support for their well-being, development, engagement, and success.
Meaningful Careers
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings to support the occupational performance of individuals, groups, and populations. Common places of employment include:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Long-term care or skilled nursing facilities
- Outpatient clinics
- Early intervention programs
- Home health agencies
- Community health organizations
Questions? Email aellington@marybaldwin.edu
Next steps
Cost & Financial Aid
A great education is worth it. Here’s how Mary Baldwin helps you pay for it: generous financial aid packages, a broad range of scholarships, transferring maximum credit hours from previous coursework or relevant work and life experiences — the list goes on. Our goal is to help you bring your OT aspirations to life.
Additional Program Information
Requirements to Practice
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, all 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.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.
Mary Baldwin University only accepts students from areas where it meets the
educational requirements for licensure. If you’re interested in admission but not currently located in one of these areas, please reach out to admissions or the program director to have a conversation about your individual situation. We’re happy to help you think through the requirements.
For information on which states and territories our program meets the educational
requirements for licensure by location, visit the MBU Catalog.
NOTE: Completion of an authorized educational program does not guarantee licensure or certification. States and territories may have additional requirements such as a background check, jurisprudence examination, other specific training requirements, recommendations, etc.
Mary Baldwin University recommends that students consult the appropriate licensing
agency or board in the respective state or territory they intend to practice before
beginning any academic program or coursework. Links to state license information can be found at https://catalog.marybaldwin.edu/institutional-professional-licensurerequirements. If students experience difficulty finding the license requirements for a specific state or territory, please contact the program director or admissions.
Student Consumer Information
MBU provides postsecondary education and employment data to help students make
informed consumer decisions. Current and prospective MBU students may find
information and resources useful in planning for college and careers through the MBU
profile published by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
Technical Standards
View the Minimum Technical Standards for Admissions, Continuation, and Graduation for the OTD program here.