Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD)

The Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program prepares experienced occupational therapists for important leadership roles in health care, academia and advocacy for professional and community organizations. This is the only program of its kind in Alabama.

We offer three separate tracks: a Low Vision Rehabilitation track, where you will learn from the leaders in the field; a Healthcare Quality and Safety track, where you will learn principles of clinical quality improvement and management; as well as a general track, applicable across occupational therapy practice settings. Learn more about the Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

An Advanced Degree for Experienced OTs

The Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy degree is for occupational therapists that have at least one year or more of clinical experience. Students applying to the program must have a current master’s or a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program.

Offered Completely Online

This program is offered completely online. No on-campus coursework is required.

Prerequisites for Admission and Program Curriculum

A complete list of prerequisites and courses are available in the UAB Graduate Catalog.

Admissions Requirements

• Current master’s or bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program (this will include applicants who have an OTA degree and a BS degree in a related field)
• Current employment as an occupational therapist or as an OTA with at least one year of clinical experience
• The ability to complete essential tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation, associated with performing as an occupational therapy student. See the list of essential tasks and reasonable accommodations (PDF).
• Resume or CV
• GPA of 3.0 in their most recent degree
• A letter of intent (minimum of two double‐spaced pages and maximum of four pages in length to be submitted before interview) providing a description of how the program aligns with the applicant’s intended career goals
• Three letters of reference
• Interview (online or in-person)
• Computer skills
• No GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required

International Students
International applicants must have graduated from a World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) approved school. International applicants from non-English-speaking countries only must have official copies of the applicant's scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer version, or 80 on the internet based test of the TOEFL or a minimum score of 6.0-6.5 on the IELTS test is recommended. The UAB Graduate School may require confirmation of degree equivalency. A transcript evaluation from World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators may be required.

Entry-level OT Students

• Entry-level UAB OT students may apply in their first year to start in the fall of their second year
• GPA of 3.5 (cumulative BS degree 3.0)
• No documented academic or non-academic issues
• A letter of intent providing a description of how the program aligns with the applicant’s intended career goals. The letter of intent should be a minimum of two double‐spaced pages and maximum of four pages in length
• Interview (online or in-person)

All applicants must meet the general requirements of the UAB Graduate School.

Transfer of Credit Policy:

The Department adheres to the credit transfer policy established by the UAB Graduate School.

Application Process

Admission is for the fall semester only. Apply through the UAB Graduate School application or visit the UAB Graduate School website for more information about the application process. The general application deadline is August 1.

Students who wish to complete the Graduate Certificate in Low Vision as a specialty area in the OTD program must also apply to that program.

Career Paths and Job Opportunities

This program can help prepare students for careers as clinical specialists, clinical directors, instructors, and industry advocates.

Related Programs:

PhD in Rehabilitation Science

MS in Occupational Therapy

Low Vision Rehabilitation Graduate Certificate