The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is 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 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.
Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
The College of Saint Mary (CSM) Occupational Therapy Program has two admissions pathways. Depending on an applicant’s academic background, an applicant selects either Graduate Admissions Pathway (GAP) or Accelerated Admissions Pathway (AEP).
Regardless of a student’s selected pathway, a student may earn the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) only after a period of study such that the total time to degree--including both pre- professional and professional preparation at least the equivalent of six (6) full-time academic years.
Graduate Admissions Pathway
A GAP applicant will have a baccalaureate degree or be close to completion of that degree and will meet the entry requirements outlined in the Admissions section of this document. The GAP utilizes the OTCAS system for admissions. While CSM is a women’s college at the undergraduate level, men are welcome to apply for the GAP.
Accelerated Entry Pathway
The OT-AEP is available for an academically qualified candidate to complete her undergraduate studies at CSM while having a distinctive link to the OTD program. The AEP will challenge the qualified student to meet progression benchmarks after each year to prepare for the OTD program while working toward any baccalaureate degree at CSM. CSM will provide an OT faculty academic advisor to guide each student to meet progression benchmarks in addition to the student's academic advisor from their chosen field of study. OT-AEP students could be qualified to join the OTD after successful completion of at least 72 collegiate credit hours but can choose to finish their baccalaureate degree prior to starting the OTD program. While the OT-AEP guarantees neither entrance nor completion of the OTD, students who utilize this pathway will find the mentoring and advising beneficial in preparing for the graduate-level OTD program.