Program Requirements
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at Pitt is an entry-level educational program that offers an innovative, hands-on curriculum that prepares students to lead in occupational therapy with cutting-edge research, clinical experiences and community impact. The OTD program is a 32 month (8 terms, including 2 summer terms) professional course of study requiring 99 credits, including fieldwork education and a doctoral capstone. Students in the OTD program must successfully complete all didactic coursework, Level II fieldwork, and a comprehensive exam prior to the commencement of the doctoral capstone. Level II fieldwork and the doctoral capstone must be completed within 24 months following completion of the didactic portions of the program. Admission to the OTD program is only available on a full-time basis and begins at the end of August (fall term).
The OTD program is accredited 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 is 301-652-6611and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the OTD program 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: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Additionally, certification and licensure requirements include inquiries as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor, a felony, or a felonious or illegal act, including those associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse.
Contact Information
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
Bridgeside Point 1, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 350
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-383-6620
otpitt@shrs.pitt.edu
https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/academics/ot/otd/
Admissions
Prerequisites
A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale).
Completion of the following courses within the past 5 years with a minimum grade of B and a minimum GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale). Courses must be completed by June 1 prior to the start of the program.
- Human Anatomy and Physiology (with a laboratory component), 8 credits
- Separate Anatomy and Physiology courses are acceptable.
- The program does not recommend online coursework for this requirement.
- Lifespan Human Development, 3 credits
- Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology, 3 credits
- Statistics, 3 credits
NOTE: All prerequisites must be taken for a letter grade. AP courses do not satisfy the prerequisite requirements.
Transcripts
Applicants are required to provide transcripts from all U.S. universities, colleges or other higher education institutions attended. Admitted students will need to submit official transcripts to the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) Admissions Office prior to enrolling in classes.
Experience
Applicants must complete a minimum of 12 hours through volunteer, shadowing, observation, or paid work. These experiences can occur in one or more occupational therapy practice areas (e.g., children and youth/pediatrics, health and wellness, productive aging/geriatrics, rehabilitation, mental health, work/industry, home care).
Personal Statement
Applicants complete a personal statement via the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) that reflects graduate level writing skills and explains why they selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to their immediate and long-term professional goals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include how their lived experiences (e.g., personal, professional, etc.) have influenced their interest in pursuing occupational therapy and how their strengths and skills will contribute to their success in the OTD program.
Letters of Recommendation
Submission of three (3) letters of recommendation (evaluations) attesting to the applicant’s academic and professional abilities. Letters of recommendation are submitted through OTCAS and must include a letter from:
- A licensed occupational therapist involved in the applicant’s experience in occupational therapy hours.
- A college-level instructor who instructed the applicant in one or more courses.
- An individual who can attest to the skills, abilities and professionalism of the applicant.
NOTE: OTCAS does not accept paper recommendations. All recommendations must be submitted electronically via OTCAS.
Technical Standards and Skills
Students admitted to the program must review the Technical Standards and Essential Skills and submit a signed form at the time of matriculation.
Application Review Process
- Applications must be e-submitted in OTCAS no later than June 12, 2026 to be considered for admission.
- Applications are reviewed when all materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, have been received and verified by OTCAS.
- OTCAS uses a verification process that can take several weeks.
- OTCAS will verify your documents before releasing them to the University of Pittsburgh.
- Applicants should confirm their status as verified with OTCAS.
- The Department of Occupational Therapy begins reviewing complete and verified applications and offering admission in November for the program starting the following August.
- While cumulative and prerequisite GPAs are important, the applicant’s response to essay questions and letters of recommendation are equally important.
- Interviews are not part of the application process.
For questions about the receipt, processing, and verification of applications, please contact OTCAS Customer Service at 617-612-2860, otcasinfo@otcas.org.
International Student Information
The following requirements are necessary for applicants from outside of the U.S.
For questions about the international student requirements, please reach out to the SHRS Admissions Office.
Academic Credential Evaluations
Students who have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree or higher at an institution outside of the United States are required to provide an academic credential evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or World Education Services (WES), Inc. with their application.
- A course-by-course evaluation with GPA conversion is required.
- Evaluations are not required for degrees earned in the United States. If you have attended an English Canadian institution, please contact the SHRS Admissions Office.
- Individual SHRS programs may have their own specific Academic Credential Evaluation requirements.
Verification of English Language Proficiency
The University of Pittsburgh accepts the official results of the Duolingo English Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a measure of English language proficiency.
Verification is required unless the following apply:
- The applicant is a citizen of a country whose official language is English.
- The applicant has completed a degree program at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.
- The applicant is not a citizen of a country whose official language is English but has completed a degree program at an institution outside of the U.S. where the language of instruction is English and where the official national language of the country in which the institution is located is English.
Request official English Language Proficiency test scores be sent to the University of Pittsburgh from one of the following options. Minimum scores accepted and instructions for sending official test scores follow:
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who already have a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy and are interested in obtaining a master’s degree should apply to the Master of Science (MS) program in Occupational Therapy. .
Fieldwork Education and Doctoral Capstone
Fieldwork education and the doctoral capstone are essential components of professional preparation for the doctoral-degree-level occupational therapy student and are integrated in the curriculum design. They are an extension of the OTD program within the clinical and community settings. Fieldwork education includes Level I and Level II experiences, which provide the OTD student with the opportunity to learn professional responsibilities by having them modeled by qualified and experienced personnel and to practice these responsibilities in a supervised setting. The doctoral capstone provides an in-depth capstone experience and includes the completion of a capstone project. The focus of the doctoral capstone is on the development of skills for increased autonomy as a contributor in advancing occupational therapy practice. Fieldwork education and the doctoral capstone are only conducted in sites that have a written agreement with SHRS. This agreement formally identifies the responsibilities of the University and the site.
PLEASE NOTE: The OTD program requires students to complete fieldwork education and a doctoral capstone experience at facilities external to the University of Pittsburgh. All OTD students are responsible for securing required resources and completing required documents to participate in fieldwork and the doctoral capstone including but not limited to transportation, health examinations and associated testing (i.e., drug screen, vaccinations), health insurance, background clearances, CPR/AED training, education modules, parking, housing, food, and clothing.
