Occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who help individuals of all ages develop, improve or regain the skills they need for daily living and meaningful activities. This includes support in areas such as self-care, home and work tasks, school participation, play and leisure activities, social engagement and overall lifestyle redesign.
Applications for the new USI Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program are currently closed for the Fall 2025 start but will reopen on October 1, 2025, for a Fall 2026 start date. The next application cycle will remain open through February 15, 2026, and classes will begin in August 2026.
The OTD application will be available October 1- February 15 of year planning to be admitted to the fall class (students may apply during the last spring semester of their undergraduate degree). To apply, students must:
For the Fall 2026 start date, the OTD program will accept 30 students. Students who are not among the top 30 ranked students for Fall 2026 will be placed on an alternate list.
Learn more about OTD admission requirements.
Applications for the new USI Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program are currently closed for the Fall 2025 start but will reopen on October 1, 2025, for a Fall 2026 start date. The next application cycle will remain open through February 15, 2026, and classes will begin in August 2026.
Applicants must apply to Graduate Studies. See the Admission section of the bulletin for information about the Graduate Studies admission criteria and the online application process.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 9,600 openings for occupational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
*income information provided by O*NET Online. Occupation opportunities vary by region and experience.
The University of Southern Indiana is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is acoteonline.org.
The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Requirements for licensure and certification vary by profession and by state. USI has reviewed the educational requirements for each state and licensing agency to determine if the academic program here at USI meets the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure/certification in each state or not. Please note that some states may have additional requirements for licensure, such as residency requirements, additional non-academic certifications, etc. that USI cannot determine. We encourage you to check with your state's licensing agency for all requirements needed to obtain licensure.
