DOCTOR OF
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Note: NSU’s O.T.D. program uses a rolling admissions model where applicants are reviewed in the order that their completed application packets and supporting documents are received. As a result, applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early in the application cycle as reasonable.

• OTCAS Application 
  • Nova Southeastern University participates in the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. OTCAS may take up to six weeks verifying supporting documents. Therefore, early application is highly recommended.
• Interview
  
  • Upon receipt of the verified application packet from OTCAS, the Committee on Admissions will review the applicant's file and select applicants for an interview. Those selected will be notified in writing with details regarding the interview process. An invitation to interview should not be construed by the applicant as evidence of acceptance. Notice of acceptance or other action by the Committee on Admissions will be on a "rolling" or periodic schedule. 
• Character Review/Early Determination
  • Graduates of the Nova Southeastern University entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program are eligible to apply to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Board Exam ® (NBCOT). Applicants should be aware that a character review is part of the certification process.  Prospective or enrolled students who have a disciplinary record with law enforcement are encouraged to utilize the Early Determination review to learn if they will be eligible to sit for the exam once they have completed all other eligibility requirements. Please go to NBCOT Early Determination Review for more information on how to request a review. A felony conviction/charge may affect a  graduate’s eligibility to sit for the NBCOT exam and/or apply for state licensure. 
    

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program selects students based on a number of admission requirements, as described below, as well as an interview for qualified candidates.

Please note that the GRE is not required.

All applicants must:

1. Complete an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for the last two years of study.
   1. Applicants must have a grade of 2.0 (C) or better in all prerequisite courses and a combined GPA of 3.0 or better in all pre-requisite coursework, including post-baccalaureate courses.
      

      COURSE PREREQUISITE NAME/SUBJECT	SEMESTER HOURS	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
      Human Anatomy and Physiology  or  Human Anatomy AND Human Physiology	4-8	Human Anatomy & Physiology now requires a lab for a total of 4 credits. If enrolled in separate anatomy and physiology courses, 8 semester hours will be required.
      Psychology	6
      Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology	3	Must be from birth through aging.
      Other Social Sciences	3
      English Composition	6	Writing courses or literature courses can fulfill this requirement
      Other Humanities	6
      Mathematics	3	Statistics or any other math course college algebra or higher.
      Medical Terminology	0-1	This course must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Please note that certificates or continuing medical education credits do not fulfill this requirement.

3. Observation Hours: Though we do not require observation hours, we encourage prospective applicants to have exposure to and familiarity with the profession of occupational therapy and the various populations with which OTs work, so that they are prepared to effectively articulate their interest in the field. This can be achieved by shadowing OTs, research and readings, prior occupational therapy college coursework, or personal experience.
4. Submit a personal statement in the OTCAS system.
5. Submit three letters of recommendation in OTCAS.
6. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores (If applicable)

Still have courses or requirements in progress? 

Prospective students who have not yet met all admissions requirements can apply and may be reviewed pending completion of some of these requirements. Individuals in this situation must have no more than two prerequisite courses in progress during the Spring semester and must be in compliance with all other admissions requirements at the time of application. Additionally, all outstanding coursework must be completed with acceptable academic standards prior to the start of the Summer semester.

Throughout the program, students must have access to and demonstrate proficiency in computer skills such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. It is recommended that students have coursework or self-study to meet these requirements.

Additional Information

If you have any questions about NSU's entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program or application process, please contact:

Jason Barshay at (813) 574-5286 or barshay@nova.edu 

The following course sequences weave into the curriculum for the entry level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program designed to meet current standards for doctoral occupational therapy education, and provide consistency throughout the curriculum. These curriculum sequences are:

• Basic Sciences
• Foundations in Occupation
• Occupation Science & Technology
• Occupational Interventions
• Evidence Base & Exploration
• Leadership & Globalization
• Clinical Competence
• Doctoral Transformation

The OTD curriculum model illustrates didactic-to-clinical experiences designed for the Nova Southeastern University Tampa doctoral student. Review our model here.

First Year Courses

Second Year Courses

Third Year Courses

Fourth Year Courses

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 16-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

• Visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.
• A Health Professions Division General Access Fee of $145 is required each year. An NSU student services fee of $1800 is also required annually.
• Acceptance Fee is $1000. This fee is required to reserve the accepted applicant's place in the entering first-year class. This advance payment will be deducted from the tuition payment due on registration day, but is not refundable in the event of a withdrawal. It is due within six (6) weeks of an applicant's acceptance or by April 30, whichever comes first.

The financial ability of applicants to complete their training at the university is important because of the limited number of positions available in each class. Applicants should have specific plan for financing three and a half years of professional education. This should include tuition, living expenses, book equipment, fieldwork, residency, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.

The first semester's tuition and fees, less the $1000 previously paid, are due on or before registration day. Tuition for each subsequent semester is due on or before the appropriate registration day. Students will not be admitted until their financial obligations have been met.

Undergraduate and graduate course work taken at a foreign institution must be evaluated for U.S. institution equivalency. Please refer to the OTCAS Foreign and French-Canadian Transcripts page for more information.

OTD Program Information

NSU's entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in Tampa Bay 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 c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.  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 complete academic fieldwork requirements as well as sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program performance on the NBCOT certification exam is provided by state and program, please visit https://www.nbcot.org/en/Educators/Home#SchoolPerformance to learn more about the excellent  pass rates for the Tampa Bay OTD program.

The total number of graduates from Nova Southeastern University's Tampa Bay Regional Campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program during the 3-year period of 2020 - 2022 was 94, with an overall graduate rate of 98%.

*Class of 2020 delayed graduating by one term due to Covid-19, May 2021.

NBCOT - Test Score Pass Rates Report

OTD NEWS:

• October 2022 Newsletter