Become a Leader in the Field of Occupational Therapy by Earning your OTD
Help clients function in their daily environments and become active participants in their lives by earning your Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) from East Tennessee State University.
Through this program, you will be prepared to impact well-being, health, and quality of life.>
In the classroom, you will focus on disease, body functions, and structure while integrating activity limitations, participation restrictions, and contextual factors. You will then have the opportunity to practice that knowledge in hands-on clinical courses and fieldwork opportunities.
You’ll develop appropriate skills and expertise in diverse practice settings that will set you apart as a leader in occupational therapy.

30 Students Admitted Yearly
No GRE Required for Admission
3-Year Full-Time Program
Early Application Deadline: October 1
Final Application Deadline: December 15
Careers in Occupational Therapy
As a graduate of the OTD program, you will be prepared to work as a leader in a variety of occupational therapy settings, such as:
- Pediatrics
- Mental Health
- Neurological Disorders
- Orthopedics
- Geriatrics
- Palliative and Hospice Care
- Community Health
- Rehabilitation Technology & Environmental Modifications
- Home Health
- Skilled Nursing
- Assisted Living
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 12% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
ETSU Health: Improving Health in Northeast Tennessee and Beyond
The College of Health Sciences is part of the university’s Academic Health Sciences Center (AHSC), which offers a robust combination of health sciences programs and patient-care facilities.
Currently, ETSU is one of fewer than 125 institutions worldwide that are members of the Association of Academic Health Centers.
Our AHSC, known as ETSU Health, prepares the future health care workforce and is a major provider of primary, specialty, and tertiary care throughout the region with 30 clinical sites and more than 250 health care providers.
Take Your Next Step
Learn More about OTD at ETSU
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Program Cost
Current program cost (in-state and border county tuition cost)
Year 1
Summer 2025
(9 credits)
Tuition - $4,635
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $450
Total - $6,133Fall 2025
(14 credits)
Tuition - $5,562
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $700
Total - $7,310Spring 2026
(17 credits)
Tuition - $5,871
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $850
Total - $7,769Year 1 Total: $21,212
Year 2
no summer classes
Fall 2026
(15 credits)
Tuition - $5,665
Program Service Fees - $1, 048 Academic Health Fees - $750
Total - $7,463Spring 2027
(18 credits)
Tuition - $5,974
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $900
Total - $7,922Year 2 Total - $15,385
Year 3
Summer 2027
(10 credits)
Tuition - $5,150
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $500
Total - $6,698Fall 2027
(11 credits)
Tuition - $5,253
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $550
Total - $6,851Spring 2028
(13 credits)
Tuition - $5,459
Prorgam Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $650
Total - $7,157Year 3 Total - $20,706
Total Cost of Program
(2025-2028)$57,303
Current program cost (out-of-state tuition cost)
Year 1
Summer 2025
(9 credits)
Tuition - $4,635
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $450
Out of State Tuition - $7,569
Total - $13,702Fall 2025
(14 credits)
Tuition - $5,562
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $700
Out of State Tution - $7,560
Total - $14,870Spring 2026
(17 credits)
Tuition - $5,871
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $850
Out of State Tuition - $7, 560
Total - $15,329Year 1 Total: $43,901
Year 2
no summer classes
Fall 2026
(15 credits)
Tuition - $5,665
Program Service Fees - $1, 048 Academic Health Fees - $750
Out of State Tuition - $7,560
Total - $15,023Spring 2027
(18 credits)
Tuition - $5,974
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $900
Out of State Tuition - $7,560
Total - $15,482Year 2 Total: $30,505
Year 3
Summer 2027
(10 credits)
Tuition - $5,150
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $500
Out of State Tuition - $8,410
Total - $15,108Fall 2027
(11 credits)
Tuition - $5,253
Program Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $550
Out of State Tuition - $7,560
Total - $14,411Spring 2028
(13 credits)
Tuition - $5,459
Prorgam Service Fees - $1,048 Academic Health Fees - $650
Out of State Tuition - $7,560
Total - $14,717Year 3 Total - $44,236
Total Cost of Program
(2025-2028)$118,642
The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.
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Program Outcomes
Year Students Entering Students Graduating Graduation Rate 2022 (first cohort) 19 2023 27 2024 24 Total 70 Program performance data on the NBCOT certification examination is available for public viewing by state and program level by clicking on this link: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance. The ESTU OTD program will not graduate its first class until May 2025.
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Admissions Information
HOW TO APPLY:
1. Apply through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS) OTCAS login page2. Students must also apply for graduate admission to ETSU through the ETSU Graduate School application
WHEN TO APPLY:
Applications open on July 19, 2024 for the Summer/Fall 2025 application cycle.
Early Admission Deadline: Applications for the Summer/Fall 2025 cohort will be due by October 1, 2024 for early admission consideration. Applications must be submitted and completed by October 1st to be considered for the early deadline.
Final Admission Deadline: Applications for the Summer/Fall 2025 cohort will close on December 15, 2024. -
Accreditation
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) 652-6611 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 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 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework, Level II fieldwork, and preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
If you have any questions about the OTD program, we’re here to help! Please reach out to our graduate counselor for more information.

Graduate Admissions Counselor
College of Health Sciences
falkenberg@etsu.edu
423-439-7112
Lamb Hall, Room 430