As part of the requirements for OT 750: Scholarly Inquiry I and OT 751: Scholarly Inquiry II, our entry-level OTD students must design and complete a scholarly study to demonstrate their mastery of key elements of quantitative and qualitative research design relevant to occupational therapy practice.

We invite you to explore the range of topic areas presented by our OTD students in these posters.

2022: OTD 1

Our master of science in occupational therapy program has admitted its last class, and we are no longer accepting applications for this program.

We now offer the Entry-Level Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, which is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than occupational therapy. Learn more about and apply to our entry-level OTD program.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree program is designed to lead to a professional licensure in Occupational Therapy. While there is a national professional exam, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination, associated with the occupational therapy licensure, specific licensure requirements still vary from state to state. UAB is working to develop an online, publicly-accessible database to assist in providing this state-by-state information. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning about potential professional licensure requirements in your state for a specific degree program, please contact UAB State Authorization at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 205-934-7217.

The UAB Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

The 2025 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings place our new entry-level OTD program among the top 12 public university programs nationally.

The Department of Occupational Therapy’s first OTD students began coursework in May 2021 and graduated in December 2023 along with UAB’s last class of MSOT students.

Watch: The Transition from MSOT to OTD

ACOTE

The UAB Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE® is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE® is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

Click here to read the full accreditation statement.

ACOTE Accreditation Status: Accredited

The UAB Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE® is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

Click here to read the full accreditation statement.

Graduation Data

The inaugural cohort of students in UAB’s Entry-Level Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program graduated in December 2023.

Graduation Rate

*ACOTE Graduation Rate Definition: The number of students who graduate on time (G1) divided by the number of students admitted in the original cohort (G2) minus the number of students who withdrew due to military, health, family issues, death and other reasons not related to academic and clinical performance (G3). Calculation per calendar year is = G1 / (G2 – G3).

Note: Non-completion of the program is due to one of the following reasons:

• Withdrawing due to medical or family issues
• Graduation delayed
• Not meeting academic standards

Certification

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.

To learn more, visit the NBCOT website.

NBCOT

Our passing percent data is calculated on the number of New Graduates who passed the NBCOT exam regardless of the number of attempts during the testing year to meet ACOTE’s reporting standard.

Click here to see our NBCOT pass rates.

NBCOT Success Rate

The first class to graduate from UAB’s entry-level OTD program began sitting for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination in January 2024.

This is the data for OTD graduates on the NBCOT examination within the stipulated reporting window of one year from graduation. Our passing percent data is calculated based on the number of new graduates who passed the NBCOT exam regardless of the number of attempts during the testing year to meet ACOTE’s reporting standard.

For official NBCOT data results, visit the NBCOT website.

International Students

One of the best things about UAB is its amazing variety of its scholars — we are home to more than 2,000 international students, scholars and visitors annually. We want you to have every opportunity to succeed in your course work and college life. Here are some easy tips for you to follow:

• Visit the UAB International Student and Scholar Services website. They have all sorts of forms, guides, and helpful links to make your life easier.
• Don’t be shy. Let your instructors know that English is your second language.
• Take advantage of class study groups. They let you go over material at your pace.
• Record lectures (with your instructors’ permission). Transcribe your recording to notes.
• Meet regularly with your advisor. They are experts and can help!
• Visit the UAB English Language Institute. They will give you assistance with both oral and written English.
• Visit the UAB Writing Center. They have tutors and instructional workshops.
• Frustrated and out of options? UAB counselors are there for you.

We invite you to explore all of the programs and services offered to international students. International Student and Scholar Services will be able to advise you about how to apply and who to contact for information. Please visit their website, or send general questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

And remember — you are not alone! There are other international students/non-native English speakers in just about every class you take! Share your stories and help each other!

Advising

No matter how good a student you are, having good advice is essential to your academic success. Students are assigned College of Arts and Sciences advisors based on their status as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

The College of Arts and Sciences' Academic Advising website has everything you need — advice, contact information, and all kinds of helpful links.

Visit CAS Advising

Incoming and Transfer Students

If you are a new student, meet with your advisor before signing up for classes. The hardest part of your first year should be your classes, not deciding what they should be. Take the easy way out: Make an appointment to talk or meet with your academic advisor before you attend New Student Orientation.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office at (205) 934-6135 for help with registering but also with making the most of your choice to attend UAB!

Current Students

You can rely on your academic advisor for information, assistance, and encouragement throughout your time at UAB. In general, advisors will:

• help you identify your goals and develop educational plans to reach them
• help you understand degree requirements, course selection, and schedule planning
• refer you to resources across campus that can boost your academic performance
• help you understand academic policies and procedures
• provide information about potential areas of study

Visit the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to find contact information for the Physics advisor.

Our entry-level Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program prepares students who have earned an undergraduate degree to become an occupational therapist or to pursue a career in a related field.

Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy