Shenandoah University’s Occupational Therapy graduate programs prepare you professionally for diverse clinical positions.
Occupational therapists help people of all ages regain their quality of life through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, help individuals recovering from injury to regain skills, and provide support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Shenandoah’s graduate programs in occupational therapy prepare you to help clients reach their greatest level of quality of life and independence by serving as a caring and effective occupational therapist. The GRE is not required.
Virtual & Visit Options
Shenandoah University’s 107-credit Occupational Therapy Doctorate is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.
Our OTD program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.
Degree
Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers both an entry-level OTD program, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited 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.
Graduates of the program 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. Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.
We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House
Who Can Apply
Students who can apply to the OTD at the Winchester Campus:
- SU undergraduate juniors in the early assurance OTD program
- Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher
How to Apply
SUDOT requires potential students to go through OTCAS for the application process. This is an online centralized application service located at www.otcas.org which has a thorough and accurate list of all required documents and prerequisites for the program. For a list of the prerequisites, please go to Shenandoah University that can be found on the list of participating programs located on OTCAS. The application process is:
| PROGRAM | START TERM | APPLICATION OPENS | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| Occupational Therapy Doctorate | Summer 2023 |
July 2022
|
Priority: November 15, 2022 Applications will be accepted after |
Shenandoah University’s 75-credit Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.
Our program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.
Degree
Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and an entry-level doctorate program. The MSOT is in compliance with the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist from the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Our next on-site visit for accreditation review is 2023-2024 for our weekend model and 2025-2026 for MSOT at Scholar Plaza. Please note, a prior felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam or attain state licensure. Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.
We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House
Who Can Apply
Students who can apply to the MSOT at the Scholar Plaza Campus in Leesburg, VA or to the weekends-only program at the Winchester campus:
- SU undergraduate juniors in the early assurance MSOT program
- COTAs (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants) with Associate’s degree and 90 completed credits prior to matriculation
- Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher
Program Specific PDF – MSOT weekend
How to Apply
SUDOT requires potential students to go through OTCAS for the application process. This is an online centralized application service located at www.otcas.org which has a thorough and accurate list of all required documents and prerequisites for the program. For a list of the prerequisites, please go to Shenandoah University that can be found on the list of participating programs located on OTCAS. The application process is:
| PROGRAM | START TERM | APPLICATION OPENS | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| M.S. in Occupational Therapy | Fall 2023 |
July 2022
|
Priority: November 15, 2022 Applications will be accepted after |
Shenandoah’s MSOT Program is accredited through AOTA
ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-2682 or 301-652-AOTA
http://www.acoteonline.org/
Nat’l Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
12 S. Summit Ave., Suite 100
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
Phone (301)990-7979 Fax (301)869-8492
Apply
Degree
Who Can Apply
How to Apply
Post-Professional OTD applicants must have a completed application, including all required documents, by the application deadlines listed below:
Deadline Dates
| PROGRAM | START TERM | APPLICATION OPENS | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| Post-Professional OTD | Summer 2023 (May) | Apply Now | May 15, 2023 |