Trine event offers opportunity to learn about occupational therapy

FORT WAYNE — Trine University’s Brooks College of Health Professions will host a special event highlighting careers and education in occupational therapy from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.

“Occupational therapy is an incredibly rewarding profession,” said Jamesdean Visley, OTD, director of the occupational therapy program at Trine. “Practitioners work every day to help people of all ages develop the skills to live full, independent lives.”

“We’re excited to share our experiences and welcome those who would like to join us as colleagues in making a positive impact on people’s lives.”

In addition to providing information about Trine’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, the event will include the opportunity for prospective students to meet faculty and current students and learn more about careers in occupational therapy.

Participants also will be able to tour the state-of-the-art facility, located at 12817 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne, and learn about the application and admission process.

Trine’s OTD program

Launched in 2025, the OTD program offers students an opportunity to join an innovative doctoral program while preparing to enter a high-demand healthcare profession.

Designed with student experience and outcomes as the priority, Trine’s OTD curriculum includes five integrated clinical experiences, giving students extensive exposure to real-life occupational therapy practice before starting their 24-week full-time rotation.

The curriculum incorporates interdisciplinary learning experiences, instruction across disciplines, integrated lab experiences and interactive instruction, all designed to build confidence and competence in OTD students.

Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

The program is designed to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for an occupational therapy career. Any student with a bachelor's degree from an accredited school and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 can apply.

For more details, visit trine.edu/otd.

Preaccreditation Status

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status 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. The program must 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 to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete all Level II Fieldwork experiences and the Doctoral Capstone within the program’s established timeframe and within 150% of the published program length (12 semesters). The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.