What to Expect

Our entry-level occupational therapy doctorate is a full-time (8 continuous semesters, 110 credits total), 2 year and 9-month program consisting of in-person classes, community-based and clinical fieldwork, and a capstone project and experience.  No electives are required.

Accreditation

UIC’s entry-level OTD degree program has been granted Candidacy Status for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Consistent with ACOTE policy, the program must have a preaccreditation 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).

ACOTE is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. Its telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-2682 and its web site is www.acoteonline.org.

Certification

Following graduation and successful completion of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam, each graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order 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.

Here’s where it all starts.

Check out our full list of course descriptions here.

Check out our detailed curriculum roadmap with contact hours here.

• Fieldwork details
• Graduation and credentialing

UIC’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) ensures the rights of college students with disabilities to have full and equal access to their college experience. DRC staff members do so by working one-on-one with students to identify barriers in the campus environment and to create a plan of reasonable accommodations that removes those barriers. Any student with a documented disability can register with the DRC. DRC services are completely free and do not require U.S. citizenship or a Social Security Number.

All prospective students are asked to review the Technical Standards provided via the link below. The Technical Standards describe the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the E-OTD curriculum and provide effective and safe health care. Students matriculating into the E-OTD program and seeking reasonable accommodations due to a disability or wanting to explore the accommodation options at UIC are asked to contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in advance of the Fall 1 semester. To set up or explore accommodations, complete the  steps described on the DRC website: https://drc.uic.edu/students-2/new-to-drc/. The steps involve completing the online Student Registration Form and calling the DRC at (312) 413-2183 to schedule an intake appointment.

• Technical Standards

Each course utilizes the Blackboard Learning Management System to support course delivery.  Please refer to the Before You Apply page under the “Required Technological Competencies” section to learn more about the required competencies for the distance education components of the entry-level OTD program.

• UIC’s Entry-level OTD Curriculum

Our curriculum includes 28 courses, 12 of which are taught in a block format. The block courses offered in a given semester are delivered sequentially, meaning that students take one block course at a time.  Block courses typically meet for 12 hours per week for two to eight weeks.