King's College is pleased to announce its first upcoming doctoral program, awarding students a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) with a Specialization in Leadership upon completion. The 3+3 BS/OTD program requires six years of academic studies, including six months of clinical fieldwork and a 14-week doctoral capstone experience. This accelerated degree program leads to an entry-level Clinical Doctorate after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a Minor in Neuroscience and Psychology from King’s College. The Post-Baccalaureate entry into the OTD program (OTD only) requires three years of academic studies, including 6 months of clinical fieldwork and a 14-week doctoral capstone leading to a Clinical Doctorate with a Specialization in Leadership.

Tuition and fee information for the OTD program is available here.

Careers in Occupational Therapy

"Occupational Therapy helps people across the lifespan engage in healthy practices and participate in the things they want and need to do in everyday life despite injury, illness, or disability."

- American Occupational Therapy Association

17%

Job Growth
2020-2030

$86,280

National Average
Salary

- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mission

Aligned with the mission of King’s College, the Occupational Therapy Department aspires to develop highly competent, innovative, reflective, and ethical practitioners who effectively and efficiently translate knowledge to practice utilizing evidence, critical inquiry, clinical reasoning, and leadership in everyday OT practice to serve the occupational needs of a diverse and dynamic world.

An occupational therapy assists an elderly woman who is ironing clothing.

Vision

The vision of the Occupational Therapy Department at King’s College is to engage meaningful interactions between students and faculty to facilitate an active community of learning that meets the dynamic and diverse nature of people, groups, and populations to promote health, well-being, and quality of life through participation in meaningful occupations. We meet this vision by:

  • Developing and maintaining a comprehensive, diverse, responsive, and integrative didactic and clinical curriculum that develops depth and breadth of knowledge that prepares students to successfully pass the NBCOT exam and become competent health care providers and leaders within the profession.
  • Emphasizing experiential learning, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, critical inquiry, interprofessional collaboration, and reflective practice to develop practitioners who promote health, well-being, and quality of life through participation in meaningful occupations.
  • Cultivating professional integrity by emphasizing legal, moral, ethical, and professional principles and behaviors to develop practitioners who respect all clients diverse socio-cultural, ethnic, and religious differences.
An occupational therapy student assists a middle-aged woman.

Why Choose a King’s OTD

  • A dynamic, innovative hands-on interactive teaching philosophy built on transformational learning.
  • Emphasis on Neuroscience and Human Cadaver Anatomy that provides a solid foundation for clinical excellence
  • A leadership and mentoring program that brings together top clinicians, leaders, and businesses in the field to mentor our students throughout the OTD program
  • Fieldwork and Capstone placements that allow students to create, implement and reflect on skills and interventions needed to provide OT services in traditional and non-traditional placements
  • Faculty who are experts in their field but also relatable, personable, and value guiding students through the evolution into the best practitioner and global citizen they can be
  • Our core values (Themes) of Responsive Occupation-Based Interventions, Excellence through Innovation, Clinical Curiosity and Reasoning, and finally, Leadership, Advocacy, and Scholarship in Everyday Practice
  • The curricular focus (Threads) on Social Justice, Interprofessional and Community Collaboration, Reflective Practice, and the Dynamic and Diverse Nature of Occupations Across the Lifespan
  • Additional specializations in Social Justice, Innovation, Neurodiversity, or Trauma Informed Care that can be attained through graduate electives
Occupational therapy students engage in an exercise with marbles.

Planned Curriculum

The planned curriculum for the OTD program is available here as a PDF download.

You may also schedule a personal call or personal visit with a Graduate Admission Counselor.

Accreditation

King’s College has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) for an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates are 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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3. Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.