University of Western States (UWS) announced today that its new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This designation marks an important milestone in the accreditation process and affirms the program’s readiness to admit and educate students beginning in January 2026.