Why Pursue a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a dynamic profession that plays a crucial role in helping individuals overcome physical, emotional, and cognitive barriers to daily living. By earning a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), you will position yourself at the forefront of a growing profession that helps people of all ages to thrive.

Why Choose Seton Hill’s OTD Program? (Coming Soon!)

At Seton Hill, you will:

• Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in a supportive, personalized, learning environment.
• Work closely with distinguished faculty. Participate in small classes, where you will be trained to address challenges in all of the area that can impact a person’s wellbeing - including physical, cognitive, emotional and environmental factors.
• Benefit from relevant fieldwork experiences with clinical and community partners.
• Become adept at delivering evidence-based care rooted in evaluation and intervention.
• Have access to a broad array of support services, from financial aid to academic services to career placement.

OTD Program Format and Details

Admission to the Seton Hill OTD program will be available on a full-time basis and will be delivered in an in-person format on Seton Hill's campus in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This 3-year, 90-credit program begins in August (fall term) of each year. Seton Hill’s inaugural OTD class is scheduled to begin classes in August 2026.

Accessibility of Learning Environments

Seton Hill University offers a variety of on-campus and online supports to engage students in the learning process, including:

• The Career and Professional Development Center
• The Center for Success
• Reeves Memorial Library and Learning Commons
• The Writing Center
• The Office of Disability Services

Becoming Licensed

To practice as an occupational therapist in the U.S., you must earn an entry-level occupational therapy degree from an accredited program and pass a national exam. An occupational therapy program must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) prior to students’ graduation in order for those graduates to be eligible to sit for the national certification examination offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®).

Graduates of the Seton Hill OTD 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®) pending accreditation with ACOTE. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate 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.

Seton Hill OTD Program Accreditation Status and Next Steps

The Seton Hill University Occupational Therapy Program is in Applicant Status 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, ℅ AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.ACOTEonline.org.

Seton Hill's program was granted Applicant Status with ACOTE as of October 2024. The accreditation process, which takes approximately two years, is designed to start before the first class of students enters the program and be completed before the first class graduates from the program.

Interested in earning the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Seton Hill?

Please provide us with your contact information.

We will be in touch as soon as we receive Candidacy Status and begin actively engaging with prospective students. Our current accreditation schedule has new students beginning classes in fall 2026.