Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Designed to integrate University of the Pacific’s values and mission of ‘preparing individuals for lasting achievement and responsible leadership in their careers and communities,’ the curriculum prepares learners to be competent socially conscious practitioners who embody the professional identity of serving the occupational needs of their communities. Courses are built upon the biopsychosocial model and the following concepts are integrated throughout the curriculum:

• Student-centered scholarship of teaching and learning
• Advocacy/Occupational Justice
• Client-Centered Leadership
• Reflective Evidence-Based Practice
• Occupation-based Community practice

Through the eight-trimester sequence, students learn to become general practitioners. However, with the doctoral level program, students will have the opportunity to focus on specialty areas of practice such as clinical research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education and theory development.

Our Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at University of the Pacific is to prepare students to become competent, socially conscious practitioners in the use of occupation as a therapeutic measure for individuals and diverse communities. The student-centered curriculum aims to optimize student understanding of the value of occupation from various perspectives across the lifespan, including biological, psychological and social to promote a compassionate, client-centered, science-driven, and interdisciplinary team approach in the delivery of care.

Program Vision

To become one of the leading entry-level occupational therapy doctoral programs in Northern California that is focused on community integrated health and serving diverse communities. 

Department Vision

Develop and educate socially conscious global leaders that promote occupational justice in the field of occupational therapy. Cultivate an inclusive environment with team leadership that encompasses a diversity of perspectives. Promote and foster open dialogue that leads to a stronger community.

Values and Commitment

At the University of Pacific, it is our belief that diversity and inclusion are essential to the fulfillment of our institutional mission.
Our faculty is committed to promoting full engagement in occupations across the lifespan, and acknowledge that multiple systemic, environmental, and personal barriers limit successful engagement for some individuals, especially those who identify as members of  underrepresented racial and ethnic, disability, economically disadvantaged, and/or LGBTQIA+ communities. We are dedicated to preparing generalist clinicians that advocate for all individuals, are committed to social justice, and create inclusive strategies for those we serve.

The University of the Pacific Entry-Level OTD program is designed for full-time study. During the on-campus trimesters, students participate in an Interprofessional Learning Seminar that includes 9 School of Health Science programs. Our students participate in extracurricular activities, volunteer locally and abroad, and engage in leadership roles. The occupational therapy department offers peer and academic mentoring to guide students throughout the program.

All admitted students must:

• Maintain an overall course grade of 70% or higher in course work (students may not repeat more than two courses, and no course may be repeated more than once).
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00.
• Demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors as described in the Occupational Therapy Student Handbook.
• Maintain graduate school admissions requirements.

Students graduate after successful completion of:

• Coursework with minimum 3.00 GPA.
• 28 weeks of supervised Level II Fieldwork and 14-weeks of Doctoral Capstone within 24 months after finishing didactic coursework.
• 120-units in a minimum of 32 months. Must complete all requirements within five years of initial matriculation.
• Demonstrate competency of OT generalist practice skills including fundamentals of practice, basic tenets of OT, evaluation and screening, intervention, management of OT services, communication, and professional behavior.
• Students must complete Level II fieldwork and the experiential capstone requirements within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Once the entry-level OTD program receives accreditation status from ACOTE, graduates of the University of the Pacific will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Upon successfully completing the exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

NBCOT Eligibility

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) may disqualify students with felony convictions/charges from becoming certified. The Qualifications Review Committee (QRC) will review the qualifications of examination candidates who have been convicted of or charged with a felony to determine if the circumstances appear to relate directly to the safe, proficient, and/or competent practice of occupational therapy. For students entering an OT program, the QRC may give an early determination for approval to take the certification exam. For more information, please contact the NBCOT directly.
 

State Licensure Requirements

For more information regarding state requirements, please visit the AOTA State Licensure Requirements website.

Employment Resources and Opportunities

• Employment Resources - AOTA Job Link Resources
• OT Salary and Workforce Information - AOTA OT Salary & Workforce Survey
• OT Resume and CV Resources - AOTA Resume and CV Resources
• OT Careers in Traditional and Non-Traditional Settings - OT Areas of Special Interest