Accelerated OTD (Doctor of Occupational Therapy)

Dominican University of California's Occupational Therapy Department values a holistic admissions process. When reviewing your application we consider the extent and quality of your occupational therapy and related experiences, participation in academic or non-academic areas, your understanding of occupational therapy, evidence of interpersonal and communication skills, and other holistic aspects of your application including additional skills, strength, and life experiences.

Undergraduate students apply to the accelerated OTD program in the spring semester of their junior year and start OT courses in their senior year.

1. 3.0 GPA 
   An overall 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units of work is recommended. Students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 should include a statement describing their academic readiness in the optional response field at time of application.
2. Personal Statement
   Please provide a brief essay describing your professional and personal goals, as well as your reasons for pursuing an OT degree. 
3. Observation/Volunteer Experience
   Applicants to the Occupational Therapy Program are required to complete a minimum  of 40 hours of observation/volunteering in human services, and 20 of those hours must be with licensed occupational therapists. The remaining 20 hours can be fulfilled through observation/volunteering in non-OT human services settings or via Alternative OT learning experiences. 
   • Your supervisor(s) will fill out your volunteer experience form and return it to you to submit with your application. If you do not complete all of your hours at one location, a separate form will be needed for each site. Timesheets or other facility forms will not be accepted.
   • Alternative OT learning experiences hours must be documented on the OT Alternative Experience Reflection Form. Alternative learning experiences are accepted to fulfill no more than 20 hours of documented experiences. 
4. Resume
   Submit a resume with your application. Your resume must include an "Other Relevant Work Experience" section to account for experience related to the OT profession. This should not include the volunteer experience that you submitted on the volunteer form. 
5. Two Letters of Recommendation
   We require a minimum of two letters of recommendation to be submitted through the application. The salutation for the letters should be: "Dear Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee." Please do not ask individuals to contact the committee directly on your behalf as these recommendations will not be considered. 
6. Official GRE Score (optional)
   Scores on the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) are not required, but will be considered in the evaluation of an applicant’s admissibility if submitted. If you do submit scores, please use the Dominican University of California OTCAS (code 4107) when indicating your program as a score recipient. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) will transmit official GRE scores electronically to OTCAS.
7. Prerequisite Courses
   Minimum 3.0 GPA on all prerequisite courses is recommended. Up to three incomplete prerequisites are allowed at the time of application submission. Students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 on prerequisite courses should include a statement describing their academic readiness in the optional response field at time of application.
    
   • Human Anatomy with lab (completed within the last 5 years)
   • Human Physiology with lab (completed within the last 5 years)
   • Lifespan Development (or Developmental Psychology).
   • Introduction to Psychology
   • Abnormal Psychology (Psychopathology)
   • Statistics (math or psychology only, not business)
   • Medical Terminology (1 unit or more)
      
8. Recommended Courses
   • Occupation and Others - 1 unit
   • Occupation and Community 1- unit
   • Occupation as Therapy - 1 unit
9. International Applicants
   International candidates must meet additional admissions requirements.

At Dominican University of California (DUOC), information regarding a student's criminal background and the results of criminal background checks are not considered during the admissions process for the Occupational Therapy program. However, it is important for applicants to understand that a criminal background could affect their ability to take the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, which is overseen by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Additionally, a felony conviction might restrict access to necessary clinical fieldwork experiences, impact eligibility for the NBCOT certification exam, and influence the ability to obtain state licensure. Applicants with concerns about how a criminal background might affect their program participation are encouraged to consult with an OT Academic Advisor at DUOC. They can provide guidance on the requirements for completing the degree and obtaining licensure or certification.

Undergraduate Tuition

Learn about tuition per unit, additional fees and total undergraduate tuition.

We'll also show you how a Dominican education is more affordable than you might think with support from financial aid, scholarships and loans.

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION AND AID

OTD Graduate Tuition

Dominican University of California's 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-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

The program must have a pre accreditation 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 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. 
 

The national certification examination for eligible candidates is administered by The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). 

One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 990-7979

Review our NBCOT report card.

The following policies have been available to all prospects. 

• University Withdrawal Policy
• Tuition, Financial Aid Refunds and Advances
• Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Funds
• University Technology Requirements