Occupational Therapy, Post-professional, O.T.D.

The post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is designed for occupational therapy clinicians who want to enhance their careers and serve as leaders in their profession. Students learn to apply evidence-based literature and add to the evidence, practicing at a heightened level of professional accountability. Students will directly relate current job experience to gain additional theoretical knowledge and clinical competence. With individual attention from highly experienced clinicians, students will achieve a higher level of confidence and skill in their practice area.

Program Requirements

Students entering with a master’s degree in OT in the post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program will complete 36 credits. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree in OT will complete 39 credits. All courses must be completed with a B- or higher. All courses in the curriculum must be completed with a cumulative average of B or higher.

Personal health insurance is not required to attend classes at USM, however it’s strongly recommended that OT students have health insurance prior to participating in fieldwork experiences. Students who choose to not have health insurance will need to sign a declination indicating their understanding that the university is not responsible for their health care while on fieldwork. In addition, students will be limited in their fieldwork site options.

Students are required to become members of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Required Courses

Additional Courses for Bachelor-Level Occupational Therapists

Program Policies

Time Limit:

The time limit for completion of the OTD program is dated from the date of first matriculation and ends at five years.

Grade Policy:

All courses in the occupational therapy curriculum must be completed with a minimum of B- (2.67) in order to carry graduate credit. If a student receives a grade below B-, the student must repeat the course in the next semester that it is offered. Because occupational therapy courses are not offered every semester, it may be necessary for the student to take a leave of absence from the program until the required course is offered again. A student is only permitted to repeat one course. If a student receives a grade below B- in a second course, he or she may be dismissed from the program.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in each semester in order to progress in the program. A student whose grade point average falls below a 3.0 in any semester will be placed on academic probation and will have one semester to bring the grade point average up to at least a 3.0. Students who fail to do this may be dismissed from the program. A student may not be placed on probation more than once.

Transfer Policy:

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program abides by the University of Southern Maine transfer policy as outlined in the graduate catalog. Students may transfer a maximum of 6 credits. All transfer courses must be evaluated by the OTD Program Director.