Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD)

The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program includes 7 core courses for master’s-entry students and 12 core courses for bachelor’s-entry students. You will complete the remainder of your coursework with elective courses and seminars. Our exceptionally flexible Post-Professional Doctor of OT program allows you to start with the introductory courses, end with the capstone, and in the meantime take any core or elective course in any order. Your course load during your post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy may be as small as one course per term or as large as you feel comfortable taking on-provided you continuously enroll.

We offer two optional specializations in:

• Executive Leadership
• Teaching and Learning

You may choose to complete one of these specializations or to concentrate your electives in another topic area (e.g., pediatrics or orthopedics). Or you may take a variety of electives from our wide selection of Post-Professional OTD courses.

We also offer this optional certification track toward a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree:

• The ImPACT® Trained Occupational Therapist (ITOT) certification is available for students who first complete the Evidence-Based Concussion Management course as an elective.

Required Coursework

The courses required to complete the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree are listed below for students who enter the program with either a master’s or bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.

Students with Master’s

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors. Please note the master’s-level entry program typically takes two years and four months to complete based off the most recent two-year graduate data (2021–2022 and 2022–2023).

**USAHS MOT alumni may replace IPE 7050 with transfer credits, if criteria are met.

Students with Bachelor’s

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors. Please note the master’s-level entry program typically takes two years and four months to complete based off the most recent two-year graduate data (2021–2022 and 2022–2023).

Elective Coursework

Below is a sampling of electives you may take to complete the remaining credits you need for a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree. They are clustered according to topic. Again, you may choose to focus in a particular area of practice or select any combination of courses that interest you.

• USAHS Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) alumni must choose 14 elective credits. They may transfer in 3 credits toward IPE 7050 and 3 credits toward a 3-credit elective, if they meet certain criteria.
• Students with MOT or other master’s degrees must choose 14 elective credits.
• Students with BS-OT degrees must choose 17 elective credits.

Teaching & Learning Specialization Elective Courses

Executive Leadership Specialization (ELS) Elective Courses

Orthopedic Elective Courses

Pediatric Elective Courses

General Rehabilitation Elective Courses

General Elective Courses

ImPACT® Trained Occupational Therapist (ITOT) certification

The Capstone Project

The capstone project is the final step in your PPOTD program. You will be assigned a faculty advisor who will guide you through systematic development, completion, and documentation of a culminating scholarly project.

*Please note the bachelor’s-level entry Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program typically takes four years to complete, while the master’s-level entry typically takes two years and four months to complete, based off the most recent 2-year graduate data (2021-2022 and 2022-2023); however, individual experiences will vary based on factors including, but not limited to: individual progression, part-time vs. full-time enrollment, credits transferred, changing specializations, unsuccessful course completion, leaves of absence or other personal circumstances.

The program has rolling admissions and students can apply at any time. To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following*:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution in occupational therapy.
• Official transcripts from each degree conferring institution are required and must be submitted to the University directly from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two recommendations from professional colleagues

Applicants should be licensed occupational therapists or be eligible for licensing and should be employed as occupational therapists or have a minimum of one year’s experience as an occupational therapist. USAHS MOT graduates who enter the program within six months of their MOT graduation may enter without a license but must be licensed and employed as an OT by the beginning of the second term of the program.

*USAHS MOT graduates who graduated within six months of starting the PPOTD program only need to submit an online application.

Transfer of Credit

USAHS will consider accepting graduate credits from other accredited institutions (up to 25% of academic credits may be transferred) provided they are consistent with your area of interest and meet USAHS standards. Please contact your enrollment advisor for further details. USAHS MOT graduates may receive 6 (six) credits toward their PPOTD.

International Students Applying for Admission

Foreign-educated candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/or degrees can be considered for admission. To enter the program the following will apply:

• The candidate must submit transcripts (original and a translated version, if applicable) and a credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that provide evidence of training at a level equivalent to that of a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy in the United States
• Be a graduate of a program in a country that is a member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is flexible and is designed to meet your individual needs. Students with a Bachelor’s degree can complete the program in 3-4 years and students with Masters degrees can complete in as little as 1-2 years, if enrolled full-time*. The tuition and fees are as follows for the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.

Bachelor’s Level Student

All tuition and fees in our Post-Professional OTD program are estimates and subject to change.

Master’s Level Student

All tuition and fees toward a Post-Professional OTD are estimates and subject to change.

Financial Aid

Student loans may be available to assist with funding your post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy. USAHS has financial aid counselors who are available to explain your options.

Financial aid counselors can be reached by email, phone, or on campus. Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday in each time zone. If you are unable to meet during regular office hours, after-hours appointments are available by request.

Please visit our Financial Aid Contact page for more information.

*Please note the bachelor’s-level entry Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program typically takes four years to complete, while the master’s-level entry typically takes two years and four months to complete, based off the most recent 2-year graduate data (2021-2022 and 2022-2023); however, individual experiences will vary based on factors including, but not limited to: individual progression, part-time vs. full-time enrollment, credits transferred, changing specializations, unsuccessful course completion, leaves of absence or other personal circumstances.

Upon completion of the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) program, graduates will be able to:

• Integrate evidence-informed decision making into occupational therapy roles and responsibilities.
• Integrate ethical and professional standards in occupational therapy.
• Demonstrate effective communication to promote participation in occupation within the profession and relevant populations.
• Promote interprofessional relationships through collaboration and communication with members of various professions and relevant populations.
• Create a plan for professional growth that contributes to the advancement of the profession, as well as the communities in which occupational therapists serve.

Institutional Accreditation

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.

For more information, visit our Accreditation page.

State Approvals

Post-Professional OTD

USAHS currently is accepting applications for enrollment in the program for residents of the following states:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

USAHS is not accepting applications from states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states.  Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to conduct on-the-ground activities.

For states denoted with clinical field experience and other on-the-ground activity restrictions, USAHS does not have the necessary state authorization approvals to offer on-the-ground activities of this kind in those states at this time.

Post-Graduation Licensure

USAHS’ PPOTD program is not designed or intended to lead to professional licensure in any state.

Click the program below to see the program data:

Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) – 35 Credit Program

Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) – 60 Credit Program

A post-professional degree is an advanced credential for licensed professionals to enhance their expertise. In occupational therapy, the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) allows practitioners to deepen their knowledge in areas like clinical practice, research, and leadership. Post-professional OTD programs like the one at USAHS are designed for working professionals since they offer flexible formats and specialization options to advance careers and impact the field of occupational therapy.

A PPOTD is a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. It is an advanced doctoral program designed for licensed occupational therapists who want to expand their knowledge and skills. The post-professional doctorate program at USAHS allows OTs with bachelor’s or master’s degrees to study topics like clinical practice, research, leadership, and education to enhance their careers.

The length of our Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program varies based on your prior education:

For students with a master’s degree: 3-7 trimesters (1-2.3 years)*

For students with a bachelor’s degree: 6-12 trimesters (2-4 years)*

At USAHS, the post-professional doctorate occupational therapy program offers flexible options to potentially accelerate completion through transfer credits, prior learning assessments, and self-paced courses.

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors. Please note the bachelor’s-level entry program typically takes four years and the master’s-level entry program typically takes two years and four months to complete based off the most recent two-year graduate data (2021–2022 and 2022–2023).