Mission: To prepare competent, compassionate occupational therapists who integrate foundational knowledge, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and leadership with a commitment to whole-person health and advancing occupational therapy scholarship
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at University of Western States is an accelerated hybrid educational experience that allows aspiring occupational therapists to jump-start their careers without sacrificing the high-quality training they need to provide exceptional care.
Through rigorous coursework, clinical experience, evidence-informed practice, and interprofessional collaboration, students learn to help individuals, groups, and communities develop and maintain the ability to perform everyday activities central to health, identity, and well-being.
We’ve meticulously designed our curriculum and fieldwork experience to maximize hands-on learning while minimizing the number of trips students need to make to campus. Our program requires only three on-campus residencies for in-person fieldwork. These are five to seven days in length and take place in the first year of study.
This six-semester occupational therapy program can be completed in two years.
Licensure
Graduates of University of Western States’ OTD 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.
More information can be found on the UWS Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at University of Western States has applied for accreditation and is considered an applicant program according to the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
The program must be granted Candidacy Status, 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 ®).
More information about ACOTE accreditation is available at www.acoteonline.org. You may contact the Accreditation Council via the following:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-652-AOTA ext. 2915
Address: 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814 .
Program Data
Program Data |
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| 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | 3-year total | |
| Program Graduates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Graduate Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NBCOT Pass Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For further information on National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) program data results, see https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Admissions Information
University of Western States takes a holistic approach to admitting students. To view admissions criteria for this program, please visit our admissions page.
Our Campus
University of Western States has a rich history in the Pacific Northwest and has ensured the longevity, sustainability and growth of health care education in the region. Our current campus is an impressive facility, located at 8000 NE Tillamook Street in Portland, Oregon, offering modern amenities to support our highly esteemed educational programs. Take a video tour of the campus!
