Occupational Therapy Doctorate

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is a 27-month program (including two summer semesters) - one of the shortest programs in the region. All courses in the program are required and sequential. The program requires completion of 112 through courses offered in tradition, online and hybrid formats, as well as two 12-week fieldwork experiences.  

• 27-month, 112 credit hour program completed in seven semesters
• Cohorts begin each Spring semester 
• Mix of online, traditional and hybrid courses 

Applying to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Searching for the right occupational therapy program in Illinois? We are looking for students for our occupational therapy degree program who possess academic, leadership and ethical qualities necessary to become registered occupational therapists. We use a rolling admission process where completed applications are reviewed throughout the admission cycle, so we advise you to complete your application as early as possible. 

Important Dates

• July 19, 2024: OTCAS available for Spring/Jan 2025 & Spring/Jan 2026 candidates
• December 1, 2024: Verified OTCAS deadline for Spring/January 2025 candidates
• December 31, 2024: Verified OTCAS priority application deadline for Spring/January 2026 candidates
• June 6, 2025: Verified OTCAS standard application deadline for Spring/January 2026 candidates

Prerequisite Courses 

Prerequisite coursework must be completed within 5 years of matriculation to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and have a grade of C or above. Prerequisites may be in progress when you apply but must be completed prior to the start of the degree program if you are accepted. All in-progress and future prerequisite coursework must be documented in the OTCAS application.  Each course may only satisfy one prerequisite. 

• 8 credit hours - Human Anatomy and Physiology* 
• 3 credit hours - Sociology or Anthropology 
• 3 credit hours - Developmental Psychology 
• 3 credit hours - Abnormal Psychology 
• 3 credit hours - Statistics 

*Can be satisfied by either Human Anatomy with a lab and Human Physiology with a lab or Human Anatomy and Physiology I with a lab and Human Anatomy and Physiology II with a lab 

We do not accept transfer credits toward the fulfillment of graduate-level coursework. Academic credit is not provided for applicants' work, experiential, or volunteer experience. 

Application Process

1. Begin Your OTCAS Application

All applicants must apply online via the online application service OTCAS. Review all OTCAS and North Central College-specific instructions prior to completing the application process.

Submit the following documents to OTCAS:

• Official transcripts showing an earned, four-year, bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation. Evidence of earning a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Three letters of reference:
  • One letter from an occupational therapist
  • Second letter from a professor who has taught the applicant or an academic advisor
  • Third letter from either a supervisor or someone who can speak to the applicant’s work ethic
• Personal statement as prompted in the OTCAS application.
• Supplemental essay that answers the following: What experiences have you pursued in order to prepare for providing culturally competent and equitable care for people experiencing health disparities because of minoritized identities, disabilities and/or class?
• Minimum 30 hours of documented observational/volunteer experience:
  • Twenty (20) hours must be in an occupational therapy setting
  • Ten (10) hours must be in a community service setting

GRE test scores are not required.

2. Application Review

Completed applications are reviewed throughout the admission cycle. Applicants who submit a complete and verified OTCAS application by the priority deadline date will be considered for early admission. Admission decisions are made within two weeks of application review and until the class is filled. Applicants must meet all the admission requirements listed to be considered for admission.

3. Program Engagement

We want to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us! Applicants will be required to demonstrate engagement with the program via one of the following options after acceptance and deposit:

• Attend a virtual event/webinar
• Attend an onsite event/open house
• Schedule and attend a virtual meeting with a faculty member
• Schedule and attend an in-person meeting with a faculty member
• Tell us your story - We know things that are on the application do not always fully show your experiences. What makes you want to be an OT? All stories are valuable. Use any of the following to tell us your story:
  • PowerPoint
  • Written Narrative
  • Video
    • Email final submission to msheperd@noctrl.edu.

International Applicants

Applicants who are not United States citizens and/or who graduated from a college or university in a country other than the United States also must submit the following to be considered for admission:

• Official course-by-course evaluation of foreign transcripts by WES (World Education Service) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Occupational therapy students may be required to submit additional academic documentation/information.
• Official results of the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum TOEFL score is 80 or IELTS band score of 6.5 or higher. 

Applicant Resources 

Have questions about applying to OTCAS? Check out our recorded information session to learn more about the OTCAS process and get answers to common application questions. 

Watch Recording

Cost of Attendance

When considering the financial cost of attending graduate school, one number does not tell the whole story. Cost of Attendance provides a more complete picture of all costs, direct and indirect, for one academic year at North Central College.  Numbers are subject to change on an annual basis.

2025-2027 Cohort Cost of Attendance

Direct Costs

 Direct costs are expenses that will be included on your semester bill, such as tuition and fees.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are expenses that will not appear on your semester bill but should be considered. Examples of indirect costs include housing, supplies, and personal expenses. Indirect costs vary by student lifestyle, living arrangements, and educational choices. Below are estimated indirect costs for students enrolled in graduate programs at North Central College. It is encouraged that students consider opportunities to minimize other costs and borrowing.

Total Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance will be used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine the maximum amount of financial aid you can receive within the specified year. Note: If your actual cost differs from what is listed under indirect cost that is okay. We encourage you to explore budgeting tools that will help you manage your expenses.

Please visit Financial Aid to learn more about the financial aid process and resources available.

The Office of Financial Aid can be reached at 630-637-5600 or by emailing finaid@noctrl.edu.

Matriculation Process

The matriculation process for occupational therapy schools in Illinois begins after a student receives the notification of acceptance. If a student either fails to satisfy the below matriculation requirements or omits/falsifies information required on official admission documents, the student automatically forfeits his/her seat in North Central College’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

Required Documentation

To complete the matriculation process for the doctoral program, the student must return the signed matriculation agreement and submit the following:

• Nonrefundable deposit fees of $500. The entire deposit is applied toward the student’s tuition if the student enrolls.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Signed technical standards form.
• Complete medical file that includes proof of immunization/immunity will need to be submitted within one month of starting the program. You will receive further information on the process as you get closer to the start of the program.
  • Physical – complete within 2 months of starting the program
  • Vaccines needed:
    • Hepatitis B
    • Varicella
    • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
    • Tdap
    • Meningococcal
    • Covid 19
    • Influenza
    • TB Test – two-step
• Proof of medical and disability insurance coverage.
• Access to computer and acknowledgement of technology requirements.
• Students requesting a F1 visa must submit a Declaration of Financial support, a bank letter certifying the amount of funding for the first year of studies, a photocopy of passport identification page, visa pages and I20 form, if applicable.
• Authorize and pass the criminal background check, international police clearance, drug screening and/or fingerprinting background check.
• Any additional documents requested by the School of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Background Checks

Health care facilities require North Central College students to provide background checks, drug testing, fingerprinting and other information in order to participate in clinical rotations at their sites. Successful completion of fieldwork experience is required for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree at North Central College and is a prerequisite for being able to sit for the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy exam to practice as an OT professional. Students who refuse to consent to background checks and/or drug testing will be dismissed from the degree program.

Felony Convictions

Applicants should be aware that a felony conviction might affect their ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure. For more information about how to become a certified occupational therapy professional, contact the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and the state licensure board in the state you wish to practice. For entering students with a concern, NBCOT can be contacted directly for information related to the Early Determination Review process.

Technology Requirements

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate curriculum is delivered both in person and online. Applicants who receive and accept an offer of admission are expected to be proficient at using a personal computer.

Browser Requirements:

Online courses will be available in Canvas. If your computer does not have the proper hardware, Canvas may run slowly or may not run at all. Prior to using Canvas on your computer, compare your current system configuration with the software and hardware recommended specifications.

Canvas Support recommends the following hardware and software requirements in order to access courses on Canvas.

Connection Speed

Once you have ensured that your computer has the proper operating system and hardware to run Canvas, you should verify that your internet connection is fast enough to support Canvas. A connection speed test is available. If your internet connection is slower than the recommended speed, you may encounter difficulties when loading pages, especially during peak usage times.

• Additional recommended hardware and software can be found on North Central’s ITS website.

Graduation Requirements for the OTD Program

1.    Satisfactory completion of all courses in the curriculum as defined in the academic catalog.
2.    Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3.    Completion of Level II Fieldwork with a passing grade.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 30 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities. 

No grade of a "C-" or below may be applied to the degree program. Only one "C-" or below is allowed per student prior to dis­missal from the program.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

The OTD degree must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Academic Regulations

Leave of Absence 

On a very rare occasion in the OTD program, it may be necessary for a student to interrupt his or her studies to accommodate external demands. Under such circumstances, a student may apply for a Leave of Absence. Leave of Absence time period is one calendar year. An approved Leave of Absence is not included in the five year completion timeline.

Application is made through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. A student on Leave of Absence must notify the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and the OTD Program Director if their intention is to resume graduate study.

The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student who is approved for a Leave of Absence must meet with the OTD Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of "B" or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous
material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student's official grade.

The School of Graduate and Professional Studies will approve only one Leave of Absence.

Readmission

The OTD Program requires continuous enrollment.
Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment must reapply through OTCAS and meet all current admission criteria, unless prior approval is granted. Upon acceptance, the student is bound by the terms for completion of the degree as outlined by the requirements as outlined by the academic catalog.

Registration

Registration for OTD courses will be completed during orientation and at subsequent points in the academic year. After a term begins, all enrollments and withdrawals from courses are governed by published college wide deadline dates. A student who wants to withdraw must contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Repeating Courses

If a student earns a grade of a "C-" or lower, they must repeat the course the next time the course is offered. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continue in the curriculum until the course is offered again. OTD courses are not offered as directed studies.

Auditing Courses

Previously completed courses may be audited only with permission of the OTD program director if space is available.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

Satisfactory progress shall be defined as maintaining a GPA of 3.0 and a grade of "C" or better in all OTD courses. Only one "C or below is allowed per student prior to dismissal from the program. A grade of "C-" or below requires the student to repeat the course. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continuing in the curriculum until the course is offered again. Courses may only be repeated once.

The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student must meet with the OTD Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of "B" or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student's official grade.

If a student receives a "C+" or "C" in a given semester, the student will receive an Academic Warning Letter and will be required to meet with the program director to develop a study plan and identify appropriate resources. If a student's cumulative GPA drops below 3.0, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

An Occupational Therapy Doctorate student has one semester to raise their GPA to a 3.0 or above. Once the GPA has reached a 3.0 or above, the student will be removed from Academic Probation. If the student's GPA remains below 3.0 upon completion of the subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.

A student who is academically dismissed must reapply directly through the OTD Program Education Committee. The student must provide the committee with compelling evidence as to how they have addressed the issues that had prohibited them from performing to the level of expectation of the OTD program, which resulted in their dismissal. If they do not show compelling evidence of how they addressed the issues and problems, the student will not be reinstated.