15 Best Occupational Therapy Doctoral Programs Online

The University of Utah is a well-known school offering plenty of stellar programs. The online doctorate program in occupational therapy is a standout, and it’s the best offered by any college in the U.S. 

UU requires applicants to have at least two years of prior experience as a licensed occupational therapist. However, this can potentially be waived if the student is a recent graduate and has demonstrated exceptional academic performance in their years earning previous degrees.

UU’s online curriculum is a great choice for professionals seeking a high-quality education without having to attend a physical school. Taking online courses is well-suited to working occupational therapists who have already begun a career.

Certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy is required to be considered for acceptance into UU’s top-notch doctorate program. Application deadlines are in April, November, and March, for the fall, spring, and summer terms.

The University of Kansas offers one of the best online occupational therapy doctoral programs in the United States. This online program is designed for working professionals already working in the occupational therapy field who want to give their credentials and knowledge a significant boost. 

Prior work experience is not required for admission to the program, but KU does require proof of current occupational therapy licensure. A background check, as well as the ability to satisfy KU’s high technical standards, is also required for admission.

Thirty six credit hours are required to complete the degree program. All of these hours are readily available from KU online. This occupational therapy doctoral program is an all-encompassing online degree that will help current occupational therapists gain an increased understanding of the field.

The University of Wisconsin’s post-professional doctorate degree program aims to help working occupational therapists become visionary leaders and experts in their field. The occupational therapy program is designed to help currently practicing therapists gain the leadership skills and practical training they need to transform the practice of occupational therapy around the globe.

UW graduates have the option to enter a number of exciting and groundbreaking careers, such as becoming a health service manager, one of the fastest-growing careers in the field. According to UW, occupational therapy needs more forward-thinking, entrepreneurial types, which is what the program prepares students to be. 

UW provides one of the best online educational experiences in the country. Students who attend UW’s part-time online doctoral degree program will have the chance to work with knowledgeable faculty. As a part-time program, the UW experience is perfectly suited to occupational therapists who are already working and need a flexible education. 

A historic school founded in 1866, Towson University spares no expense when it comes to its online doctorate in occupational therapy. In line with most other schools, TU’s program caters to current professionals looking for a rewarding and convenient online program to boost their skills.

The admission requirements are fairly rigorous. Applicants must hold a master’s degree from an accredited university and an overall GPA of at least 3.25 in their graduate coursework. A certificate and license to practice occupational therapy are also required.

Online courses are offered year-round, making this degree perfect for professionals with tight schedules. Course content at TU aligns with Board Certification requirements, so students know they are receiving an extremely high-quality education with this online occupational therapy program.

A mid-sized, now-coed university in Texas known for its excellent online programs, Texas Woman’s University offers one of the best post-professional educational experiences a graduate can have: a doctorate in occupational therapy. 

A total of 33 credit hours are required for completion of this degree program. The core courses focus mainly on: 

• Occupational therapy
• Research-based practices
• Mentored professional development

For priority consideration, students should apply before April 15, if they are interested in taking classes during the summer or fall terms. Similar to the requirements of many other colleges offering this degree, TWU requires applicants to be working as a licensed occupational therapist and hold a master’s degree from an accredited university.

Indiana University is a school well-known for many of its excellent programs and successful alumni. It should be no surprise, then, that IU’s online doctorate in occupational therapy degree program is one of the best in the nation.

Students complete 30 credits as part of the program. A master’s degree, though not necessarily in occupational therapy, is required for admission. IU also requires that applicants be licensed occupational therapists prior to consideration for enrollment.

For current occupational therapists aiming to expand their knowledge and range of skills, IU’s research-focused occupational therapy doctorate program is an excellent choice. IU suggests that careers such as OT faculty and translational research are just a few of the many exciting options graduates have to explore. 

Eastern Kentucky University offers many successful and thorough online programs. Its online doctorate in occupational therapy is just one of them. A total of 40 credit hours are required for the completion of this program, at a price of $682 per credit hour.

Clinical occupational therapists and occupational therapy researchers are just two of the various careers that EKU graduates are ready to pursue. Certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy is required for consideration for this online doctorate program. This means that occupational therapy assistants are not eligible for admission.

Graduate students may choose from a range of times to begin their studies, based on their personal schedules, and courses are offered three times annually. No campus visits are required, and EKU estimates that it should take students approximately two years to complete this occupational therapy doctorate online.

The doctorate in occupational therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham allows students to take part-time courses that suit their careers. The occupational therapy program is one of the best online doctorate degrees available.

The SR Education Group ranked UAB’s online occupational therapy doctorate program as No. 1 among the best online colleges. UAB boasts that its program is much more affordable than its competitors, yet it still provides students with a well-developed and strong academic curriculum.

Three separate tracks are offered for this degree: 

• A general track
• A healthcare quality and safety track
• A low-vision rehabilitation track

Each of these special focuses provides graduates with an education custom-tailored to their needs and goals in a post-professional environment. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in occupational therapy. They must also either be employed as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapist assistant with at least one year of clinical experience.

Though most widely known for its School of Medicine and basketball team, Creighton offers some fantastic online programs as well. The doctorate in occupational therapy is one of the best in the country. This program also offers students a great deal when it comes to curriculum and affordable pricing.

Five members of Creighton’s faculty for this degree are fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Additionally, ten alumni are now chairs of the occupational therapy program at Creighton. These statistics alone are a testament to the quality and strength of Creighton’s program, and it is certainly one that future doctoral students should consider when looking at schools.

Admission requirements are fairly standard and are similar to many other colleges on this list. Forty-two semester hours are required for students who already hold a master’s degree. Those with only a bachelor’s degree will have to take a few extra classes since they will need 52 credit hours to graduate.

The University of South Dakota is a small school, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the best online doctoral programs in occupational therapy in the United States. As standard, a master’s degree in occupational therapy and a current license to practice occupational therapy are the two main criteria required of applicants.

The school is relatively affordable and a good choice for students who may not be interested in a larger online school or higher prices. To be considered for fall admission, prospective students must apply before June. This date may change annually, so students should confirm this dates.

Students interested in pursuing high-quality occupational therapy education in a smaller online setting should not hesitate to consider the University of South Dakota as one of their top options.

Created to help current working occupational therapy professionals enhance their careers, Temple University offers a thorough and well-respected clinical occupational therapy doctoral degree.

TU requires applicants to hold a master’s degree in occupational therapy, as well as a current occupational therapy license. Students with only bachelor’s degrees are not eligible for admission to TU’s clinical doctoral program. Those with only bachelor’s degrees in occupational therapy can enter the doctorate program through TU’s post-professional occupational therapy certificate program. 

Students in TU’s online clinical doctorate program can expect to be in good company, as TU has a renowned faculty, all of whom are experts in their fields. Students with varying aspirations and career goals are accepted and welcomed.

Temple’s program requires students to attend two or three on-site, annual meetings in Philadelphia. Potential students should evaluate whether this is realistic for them before deciding to apply to this rewarding program.

Named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson University offers an excellent post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy. The university notes that the occupational therapy degree aims to train innovative occupational therapists who are equipped to change and improve the industry.

The program’s length is variable and depends on a number of factors; however, fall, spring, and summer terms are all offered. The application deadlines for these are Aug. 1, Dec. 1, and April 1, respectively. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission, and applicants must be currently licensed, as the program is designed for those already working in the occupational therapy industry.

This occupational therapy degree equips students to pursue a variety of innovative careers. Thomas Jefferson University states that graduates of its doctorate program have strong leadership skills and entrepreneurial capacities.

Boston University is a well-known school with excellent online programs, and its doctorate in occupational therapy is just one. This post-professional doctorate degree requires between 33 and 36 credits or 10 courses in total. 

Students in BU’s degree program complete a doctoral project, which is one of the main focuses of the online degree. Through this project, students learn to evaluate current theories and approaches to occupational therapy using a critical lens, enabling them to gain the essential leadership and critical thinking skills required for innovation in the occupational therapy field. 

Two one-day, on-campus program meetings are required at the beginning and end of each student’s studies, but the courses themselves are delivered entirely online. Students are admitted into the program in December, May, and September. 

There are rigorous admission requirements as well, and the program, as can be expected, is designed for current professionals in the occupational therapy realm.

Nova Southeastern University is located in Broward County, FL, a place students will find themselves traveling to a few times during the course of their doctoral studies. Nova Southeastern University offers an online doctorate in occupational therapy that delivers when it comes to educational quality.

Students can expect in-depth discussions with the program director to discuss their personal goals for professional development. Current occupational therapy professionals looking for an in-depth way to advance their career and knowledge will find a solid and well-developed program in NSU Florida’s online curriculum.

Graduates of NSU Florida’s program are expertly equipped to approach the field of occupational therapy with a renewed sense of innovation and leadership, two things that NSU boasts its program prepares students exceptionally well for. 

This degree, as with any other doctoral program in occupational therapy, is well-suited to working professionals who have clear goals in mind for their future career advancement.

Loma Linda University is a Seventh-Day Adventist health sciences university. Though the university places a heavy focus on religion, it also offers a spectacular distance curriculum. The online doctoral program in occupational therapy is just one of its rigorous programs.

Applicants must hold either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in occupational therapy. Only a select assortment of states allows LLU to deliver its online curriculum to students, so it is important for students to verify that their state is among them before they apply for or consider a degree here.

The program’s length is roughly two years, but it can take students more time to complete, depending on a number of other factors.

Some of the careers that LLU suggests are suitable once students have earned a doctoral degree in occupational therapy are: 

• Teaching
• Administration
• Research
• Private practice

On the whole, LLU’s distance occupational therapy doctorate program is worth considering for current practicing professionals who are interested in the school and its values.