Supporting independence and meaningful occupational participation through evidence informed clinical reasoning, adaptive design aligned to coursework, and doctoral level professional preparation for practice and inquiry.
Why Earn an OTD at New York Tech?
Grow into a skilled practitioner ready to apply the latest evidence-based methods to help clients restore lost functions, gain new ones, and maintain their health.
Two semesters of full-time clinical work under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist allow you to build your confidence and professionalism as you encounter a range of settings and care modalities. Throughout this experience, you’ll practice delivering various therapeutic interventions, from administering and interpreting evaluations to designing and fabricating prosthetic and orthotic devices, developing patient plans and creative adaptive environments for persons with disabilities.
Beyond applied theories, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program trains you to empower future clients through policy and program development. Through coursework, field experiences, and a 14-week capstone project, you’ll develop your abilities as a leader, researcher, and advocate, able to approach the practice with a broader understanding of the profession and the social context of care.
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After the successful completion of this exam, you’ll qualify for certification as a registered occupational therapist.
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What You’ll Learn
Grounded in evidence-based practices and core knowledge in anatomy, kinesiology, and development, you’ll grow your skills in research, leadership, and advocacy for community health. The OTD program combines hands-on instruction with 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork, concluding with a 14-week doctoral capstone project.
At the School of Health Professions, you’ll do more than sit in classrooms and attend lectures. You’ll learn in high-tech labs and gain experience working at world-class facilities, preparing you for a successful career in the health professions.
There is a total of 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork at selected sites. While doing fieldwork, students will work the same hours as staff at the site. The clinical experience offers additional time in the clinic and for independent learning.
Join in faculty research to enhance your learning and build valuable experience. Our OTD students aim to help individuals with Parkinson’s Disease sleep better, examine the effects of cold exposure on cognition, and explore the potential of virtual environments for learning and therapy.
Throughout our Occupational Therapy, M.S. program, you’ll be exposed to a range of new and emerging technologies to help you prepare for meaningful work in the increasingly digital-driven healthcare industry.
Learn about evidence-based exercises to improve fitness related outcomes, not just for athletes, but for the general public and those with chronic diseases.
Through a combination of classroom learning, international fieldwork, and research, you’ll grow your knowledge of population health and policy development, acquire key competencies as a practitioner, and prepare to serve as an informed leaders and agent change for your patients and your community.
Stats & Rankings
97%
NBCOT Licensure Pass Rate, 2024
#15
Regional Universities (North)
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Top 2%
Return on Investment (ROI) of U.S. Colleges for Low-Income Students
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
Career & Salary Outlook
As the U.S. population increases and ages, more professionals will be needed to help individuals recover from injuries and maintain their independence. Occupational therapists will be uniquely equipped to contribute to patient well-being in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and other settings.
Job Growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12 percent growth in jobs for occupational therapists through 2032.
Employers & Internships
Henry Street Settlement
Kessler Rehabilitation Institute
New York City Department of Education
Rusk Rehabilitation/NYU Langone Health
United Cerebral Palsy
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Career Options
Clinical Director
Health Specialities College Instructor
Occupational Therapist
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Rehabilitation Specialist/Manager
Salary Projections
Occupational Therapists earn a median U.S. annual salary of $93,180 per year (BLS).
Program Details
Learn more about applying to the OTD program, as well as ways to fund your education.
To be eligible to apply to the OTD program, you’ll need:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution
Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
Academic record that includes a balance of coursework in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and life sciences, as well as competence in written and spoken English
Basic computer skills
To have satisfactorily completed all prerequisite courses
Graduates of the entry-level doctoral occupational therapy program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion of the exam will result in certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
All states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note: a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For further information, contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877; phone: 301.990.7979. For additional information about state licensing and other restrictions, contact your local State Board of Occupational Therapy.
New York Tech’s entry-level OTD program in occupational therapy received an initial accreditation from ACOTE in 2022. The initial accreditation period is seven years.
This program is approved by the New York State Education Department.
New York Tech is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, most recently in 2019.
Graduation Year
Students Entering /Graduating
Graduation Rate
2023
27/27
100%
2024
31/30
97%
2025
20/19
95%
Grand Total
78/76
97%
NBCOT pass rates are reported in accordance with ACOTE standards and reflect the percentage of new graduates who passed the certification exam within 12 months of graduation, regardless of the number of attempts.
My favorite part of the OT degree program has been the experiential knowledge that I receive from my professors in and out of the classroom. They show, using real-life examples, how they have incorporated their knowledge into their own practice, which has been very motivating.
