Online Program Overview
Our online Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD) is the right program for registered occupational therapists interested in expanding their practice.
Using reflective practice analysis combined with advanced knowledge in research, global health, entrepreneurship, and innovation, you can reach the pinnacle of your career in 15 months. In our online post-professional OTD program, students participate in an engaging and highly supportive online learning environment throughout successive ten-week academic terms, with the ability to study at their convenience.
Graduates of our PP-OTD program can work in traditional medical, research, and academic environments to develop and recommend intervention methods for the recovery and rehabilitation of their patient’s physical, mental, and psychosocial problem areas.
Read More You will participate in an incredibly engaging and supportive online learning environment throughout successive ten-week academic terms, with the ability to study at your convenience. Our online PP-OTD program also grants you the freedom to study part-time and earn your degree over a period of two years. This program is forward-thinking and focused on completing an individualized doctoral project on a very specific area of practice that you choose to explore. Your doctoral project is at the core of this post-professional program. The project will allow you to utilize your unique background and knowledge and pair it with the expertise of a chosen mentor, our accomplished faculty, and the collective experience of fellow students. You will gain knowledge in assessing program development, meeting the needs and wants of your clients using successful contemporary tactics, and receive extensive support in developing and defining your mode of inquiry. This includes advanced knowledge of post-graduate research, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as the ability to apply a range of research tools to plan and organize your research. You will learn to incorporate evidence-based practice for the management of clients in all areas of occupational therapy with a broadened perspective on wellness and health promotion, population health, and global initiatives. Our students study advanced practices in occupational therapy interventions that include helping children with disabilities, assisting in recovery and rehabilitation from injuries, and creating support plans to assist older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. We have designed a curriculum that emphasizes the theories and research to promote and preserve wellness lifestyles in client populations using epidemiological principles, disease risk appraisal and reduction, and other tools. The curriculum also identifies and explores the roles in advanced occupational therapy practice that relate to the health of diverse populations. Our online occupational therapy doctoral program welcomes practicing therapists worldwide who seek to investigate and broaden their knowledge in a focused study area. International students must have completed a WFOT-certified program at the bachelor’s degree level with an earned master’s degree in any related field.Full Description
Potential Career Opportunities
After completing your PP-OTD, you can secure responsible leadership roles such as a program director, professor, and others. Additionally, you can become a faculty advisor with a bachelor’s or master’s in occupational therapy degree and pursue this position after becoming a Doctor of Occupational Therapy.
As a PP-OTD, you can specialize among nine different healthcare specialties, such as:
Gerontology
Mental Health
Pediatrics
Physical Rehabilitation
Driving and Community Mobility
Environmental Modification
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
Low Vision
School Systems
FAQ
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What is a Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy?
A post-professional occupational therapy (PP-OTD) doctorate program provides advanced skills and knowledge to help professionals enhance their current practice. Students will have the opportunity to further develop their clinical and research skills throughout the course of study. This enables them to pursue administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development.
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Is an OTD a doctor?
An OTD is not a medical doctor and therefore cannot prescribe medications to patients. Occupational therapists are clinicians with a doctoral, bachelor’s, or master’s level education.
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How long are online Post-Professional Doctorates in Occupational Therapy Programs?
You can complete NEIT’s PP-OTD program in as few as 15 months, through successive ten-week academic terms. Students can also study part-time and complete their degree program over a period of two years.
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How is OTR different from OTD?
An OTR/L credential signifies that an occupational therapy professional has passed their registration (R) by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), while the “L” shows that they have obtained their licensure to practice in a particular state. In comparison, professionals who complete their doctorate in occupational therapy earn the designation of an OTD.