Occupational Therapy - Starting May 2025

Occupational therapy is where science and knowledge of the human body meets individuals where it means the most: everyday life.

As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) graduate from Trine University, you will be equipped to enable clients to develop, regain or adapt the skills to perform the activities needed to maximize functional independence. Occupational therapists work in clinics, acute care including intensive care unit (ICU) settings, post-acute rehabilitation, school-based settings, or even in technology fields.

Trine University offers a premier opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary environment that enhances students’ personal and professional journeys.

OT at Trine

As part of Trine’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, you’ll be immersed in our state-of-the-art Brooks College of Health Professions facility and master clinical skills and technology advances that reflect current and emerging practice. You will spend time growing in knowledge both inside and outside the classroom to develop professional skills in practical healthcare settings. Examples include the wet lab/cadaver lab, dry lab, hospital simulation center, virtual rehabilitation suite and specialized technology lab/makerspace.

Our curriculum includes five integrated clinical experiences, giving you extensive exposure to real-life occupational therapy practice before starting your 24-week full-time rotation. Our program is built for students and incorporates content at multiple intervals, increasing in complexity, to ensure graduates are prepared for the workforce.

Your occupational therapy career

Once you complete your OTD degree at Trine, you will be prepared to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

You will have the training and clinical exposure to complete occupational therapy evaluations and design and implement treatment interventions for patients of all ages.

Your diverse experiences and interactions with Trine students in other health professions programs will equip you to effectively communicate among interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and you will be prepared to advocate for persons, groups and populations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Services, occupational therapists make an average of $93,180 per year, with the number of jobs in the field expected to grow 12% over the next decade.

Accreditation

HLC
Trine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

ACOTE
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be 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 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. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience following the completion of the didactic portion of the program

Additional Information

Cost and Investment

For information, visit the Cost and Investment page.