Incoming Occupational Therapy students posing at the Wisconsin Capital

Program Distinctives

The Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) is a three-year, full time program. This 97 credits program includes 24 weeks of fieldwork and 14 weeks of a Capstone Experience. You will be part of an intimate cohort of students with individualized advising. You will learn the fundamentals of occupational therapy best practice with values emphasizing cultural responsiveness, ethics, collaboration, and social justice. Coursework is primarily in person, but incorporates both online and field experience.

Our courses are organized into four main threads:

  • Practice – Occupation-centered and evidence-based
  • Research – Critical application and participation in clinically relevant research
  • Leadership – Respectful advocacy, influence and transformation
  • Wellness – Promoting health in self and others

What Sets UW–Madison Apart?

You will learn alongside experts in their field and receive mentorship from distinguished research faculty. Fieldwork experiences include working with diverse patient populations and community-based active learning. UW–Madison also provides you a strong foundation in state-of-the-art intervention theories and the critical use of evidence to support practice decisions.

Focusing on the Well-Being of Our Students

Student well-being is one of our top priorities. We help you apply the Occupational Therapy concepts of health and wellness to your own lives. This equips you to authentically practice the values of the profession. You will be able to maintain a healthy routine even while supporting clients, peers, and coworkers.

Please explore our website to learn more about our Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate. Feel free to contact our team at any time to learn more about the application process.

Try our FREE online Occupational Therapy observational experience course

Learn More

Start your Application

Deadline to apply for Summer 2026 cohort is November 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. CST

**The Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program begins every year in Summer**

ACOTE logo

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone: 301-652-AOTA, Email: accred@aota.org

Program Overview

Format

Full-time, primarily in-person

Program Type

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Commitment

3 years

Credits

97

Prerequisite Courses

Lifespan Development (6 credits)
Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
Statistics (3 credits)
Human Physiology with LAB (3-5 credits)
Human Anatomy with LAB (3-5 credits)

Tuition

Tuition, Scholarship, and Financial Aid information

Application Deadline

November 15, 2025

Outcomes

Student Handbook

Offered By

School of Education

Degree Conferred

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Homecoming celebration

See why UW-Madison OTD Program is Awesome!

Student Opportunities

Check out the recorded 2024 Virtual Webinar to hear about our program!

Questions?

Email our program staff

Alexia Rebne, Admissions Coordinator

Sharon Gartland, Program Director

Rebecca Gray, Program Admin

Or  check out our FAQ page

Meet Me on Mondays

Learn more about the OTD program and get your questions answered by our Admissions Coordinator, Alexia Rebne!

Every Monday 12:00-1:00 pm CST

June – October

Join on Zoom

Request more information and signup for our newsletter.

**The Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program begins every year in Summer**

ACCREDITATION DISCLOSURE

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 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. 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.