Edgewood College’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is an accelerated, fully hybrid OTD program with no residency requirement. This means that you don’t have to move away to receive a high-quality education in occupational therapy. Our hybrid program has a multitude of benefits for today’s learners, including an evidence-based curriculum delivered through an advanced, responsive and experiential virtual environment.
You’ll get hands-on practice and build your community in person at lab immersions held twice each term in Madison, WI. And, as an Edgewood College OTD student, you’ll have access to a vast network of fieldwork and capstone partnerships. Through a tradition of excellence in teaching and learning, our doctorate education prepares you for unlimited opportunities as a leader in the occupational therapy profession.
We offer rolling admissions and encourage you to apply early to secure a seat in the class of 2027!
Register for our next informational webinar
Scholarships Available
Edgewood College is proud to offer new scholarship opportunities for students entering the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program in Fall 2025. These scholarships are designed to make advanced education more accessible and affordable for aspiring occupational therapy professionals.
Eligible students may receive awards of $10,000 or $15,000 based on academic performance. There is no separate application required—every applicant is automatically considered for a scholarship at the time of admission review. Our goal is to reduce the financial barrier for future OT leaders who are committed to making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Available awards include:
- $15,000 for students with a GPA of 3.25 and above
- $10,000 for all other charter students with a GPA of 3.0 and above
All admitted students with qualifying academic records will be reviewed for eligibility and notified upon admission. These scholarships are available only for Fall 2025 entrants. Prospective students are encouraged to connect with our admissions advisor, Kristen, for details on their individual eligibility and to discuss the next steps. Whether you’re just starting your application or are already admitted, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of this new financial support.
Scholarship Highlights
- Available for Fall 2025 cohort only
- Awards of $10,000 or $15,000
- Based on cumulative GPA as officially calculated by Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
- No additional scholarship application required
- Automatically considered upon applying to the program
- Connect with Kristen (Advisor) to confirm eligibility and next steps
Deadline
Date
Webinar
- An engaging virtual environment where you’ll participate in synchronous and asynchronous activities.
- In-person lab immersions held each term on Edgewood College’s campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
- Labs are where knowledge and skill come together. It’s also where you’ll build and thrive within a vibrant community of learners.
- Experiential learning including fieldwork and doctoral capstone experiences provide the hands-on clinical practice to prepare you to make a difference in your future clients’ lives.
Admission Requirements
Baccalaureate Degree
Completion of a baccalaureate degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants are required to achieve a minimum of a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale. Individuals with an undergraduate (UG) GPA lower than a minimum of a 3.00 will be considered if they achieve a 3.2 GPA or above in the last 60 hours of their UG degree.
Prerequisite Courses
Completion of all prerequisite courses taken at a regionally accredited institution. All prerequisites must be completed before the student begins the program. Applicants must achieve the minimum of a 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale, and all prerequisite course grades must be a “C” or higher.
Observation Hours
Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of observation of occupational therapy exploration activities (in-person, virtual, or by alternative means to be determined by the program). Applicants must provide evidence of the completion of activities.
Application Procedures
All applications are processed through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS). Applicants are to complete an essay by following instructions within the system. They are also required to provide three (3) professional references. One should be an academic recommendation. The other two professional references can be from a volunteer or professional supervisor/manager, an occupational therapy practitioner, or an academic reference. The applicant will request references through OTCAS, and all references are to be submitted through OTCAS.
Admission Interview
Completion of an admission interview. Qualified students will be invited to interview after holistic review of their application materials. Admission to the program is on a rolling basis.
All other requirements and procedures can be found on the program page.
Program Accreditation
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy 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 c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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.