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Department of Occupational Therapy School of Health Professions

Welcome to the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy

The nationally ranked UAB Department of Occupational Therapy offers innovative graduate programs for students interested in becoming occupational therapists or those seeking to advance existing occupational therapy careers.

The UAB Department of Occupational Therapy is proud to share the doctoral capstone projects of its entry-level clinical doctorate in occupational therapy degree (OTD) program students. The program’s inaugural cohort graduated in December 2023.

The doctoral capstone is the culminating experience of the OTD program. It allows students to demonstrate their ability to relate theory to practice and to synthesize in-depth knowledge in a practice or service area in which they have identified an unmet need.

These projects are an opportunity for each student to choose a topic they are passionate about and to manage and deliver a complex scholarly work within a mentored setting. These projects underscore our students’ commitment to scholarly excellence and innovation, as well as their ability to enhance community well-being through their expertise and service.

Class of 2023

Students in the School of Health Professions enjoy benefits of a world-class university and training in some one-of-a-kind and award winning programs.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education requires that programs display the cost of attendance for OT programs, which includes current tuition and fees, as well as the total cost of attending and completing the occupational therapy program (ACOTE Standard A.4.4).

Our tuition and fee information is subject to change and the following information is only a guideline for estimating costs.

Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (Entry-Level)

The UAB Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) consists of 107 credit hours (which includes two 12-week fieldwork experiences and a 14-week capstone experience) and is normally completed in eight semesters (approx. 28 months).

For 2023-2024, the tuition and fees are projected to be:

  Resident Non-Resident
First-Year Students  $31,416  $68,654
Second-Year Students  $28,237  $62,877
Third-Year Students  $16,986  $37,770

The total cost for the OTD program is estimated to be $76,639 for Alabama residents and $169,301 for non-residents.

In addition to tuition and fees, the total cost of attendance above includes additional costs that students must also be prepared to pay. This includes, but is not limited to books and supplies, parking, laboratory fees, CPR training, background checks and drug screening, uniforms, professional association membership, and hospitalization insurance.

The links below will provide you with university information about financial resources that may assist you.

Other Financial Resources

There are plenty of financial resources for UAB SHP students. The following links are just some financial resources to consider.

Scholarships

The School of Health Professions offers scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. Current School of Health Professions students will need to submit an application through B-SMART to be considered for any scholarships - including university-wide scholarships.

Two OT students practice with a 3D printer

Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation.

Occupational therapy provides practical support to empower people to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers that are preventing them from doing the activities (or occupations) that matter to them. In achieving this, occupational therapy supports an increase in people’s independence and satisfaction in all aspects of their life, as well as supporting their health and well-being.

Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement

For Occupational therapists rehabilitation (regaining skills lost) and habilitation (learning new skills) are the core of their practice as they address the needs of people with injuries, illness, disability or deficits in occupational participation as a result of other causes. Regardless of the condition or setting, the return to participation in the activities a person or community needs or wants to do is the goal.

Occupational therapists work with all age groups and in a wide range of physical and psychosocial areas. The areas of practice for occupational therapists include children and youth; health & wellness; mental illness, productive aging; rehabilitation and disability; and work and industry. Places of employment may include hospitals, clinics, day and rehabilitation centers, home care programs, schools, industry and private enterprise. Many occupational therapists also work in private practice and as educators and consultants.

The demand for occupational therapists is rising, with job growth expected to increase 27% from 2014 through 2024 (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics). The aging population is definitely driving those numbers, but it's not the only cause. For example, more than half of occupational therapists work in hospitals and occupational therapy offices, where they provide rehabilitation services to the elderly suffering from stroke, arthritis, Alzheimer's and other long-term disabilities. However practitioners don't just offer rehabilitation services; they also support children's academic achievements overall and promote positive behaviors in class. Occupational therapists are reporting that their roles have expanded to help children experiencing challenges with executive functioning, time management and organizational skills within school.

While most people perceive occupational therapy as a rehabilitation profession, really occupational therapy is truly a health and wellness profession.

A Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree or a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy is required for occupational therapists entering into the profession, and all states require occupational therapists to be licensed.

For additional information regarding occupational therapy careers, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Current Accreditation Status: Accredited

The UAB Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) 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-AOTA 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 in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that 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 as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 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 defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

The following provides an overview of the eight semesters of study for the entry-level Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD). OTD courses are on-campus, sequential, interlinked, and offered only once a year. In addition, students also have off-campus fieldwork and capstone experiences.

Course Sequence

The typical sequence for the curriculum (107 Total Program Credit Hours) looks like this for the OTD:

*Courses are subject to change.

  • Summer Semester I
    • OT701 Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice (3 credit hours)
    • OT704 Research Design for Occupational Therapy Practice (3 credit hours)
    • OT715 Introduction to the OT Process, Analysis and Adaptation of Occupation (3 credit hours)
    • OT716 Social, Economic and Political Factors that influence Occupational Participation (2 credit hours)
    • OT717 Creative Occupations (2 credit hours)
    • OT730 Performance Skills for Occupation: Introduction (2 credit hours)
  • Fall Semester II
    • OT720 Contexts of Professional Practice: Infancy to Early Childhood (6 credit hours)
    • OT726 Low Vision and Participation (3 credit hours)
    • OT731 Performance Skills for Occupation: Infancy to Adolescence (2 credit hours)
    • OT764 Fieldwork Experience (1 credit hour)
    • OT776 Capstone Project (1 credit hour)
  • Spring Semester III
    • OT705 Evidenced-based Occupational Therapy Practice Design and Application (3 credit hours)
    • OT721 Contexts of Professional Practice: Childhood to Adolescence (6 credit hours)
    • OT732 Performance Skills for Occupation: Adulthood (2 credit hours)
    • OT750 Scholarly Inquiry I (2 credit hours)
    • OT764 Fieldwork Experience (1 credit hour)
    • OT776 Capstone Project (1 credit hour)
  • Summer Semester IV
    • OT703 Advocacy and Healthcare Policy in Population Health (3 credit hours)
    • OT706 Management for Occupational Therapy Practice (3 credit hours)
    • OT722 Contexts of Professional Practice: Early Adulthood to Middle Adulthood (6 credit hours)
    • OT751 Scholarly Inquiry II (2 credit hours)
    • OT764 Fieldwork Experience (1 credit hour)
    • OT776 Capstone Project (1 credit hour)
  • Fall Semester V
    • OT634 Seminar in Professional Readiness (2 credit hours)
    • OT723 Contexts of Professional Practice: Later Adulthood (6 credit hours)
    • OT727 Health and Wellness Promotion (3 credit hours)
    • OT774 Contemporary and Emerging Issues in Occupational Therapy (2 credit hours)
    • OT776 Capstone Project (1 credit hour)
  • Spring Semester VI
    • OT765 Advanced Fieldwork Experience I (10 credit hours)
  • Summer Semester VII
    • OT766 Advanced Fieldwork Experience II (10 credit hours)
  • Fall Semester VIII
    • OT777 Capstone Experience: Emerging as an Occupational Therapist (14 credit hours)

Requirements for Admission

Acceptance is based on the students’ academic ability, aptitude for a career as an occupational therapist, interview and personal statement.

Potential students will:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than occupational therapy from an accredited college or university, or receive a baccalaureate degree prior to the admission year.
  • Have an overall minimum GPA 3.0 as calculated by OTCAS or a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework.
  • Have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or better for all prerequisite courses.
  • Complete all prerequisite coursework prior to the admission year.
  • Complete at least 20 hours of observation of occupational therapy. Various settings are recommended.
  • If invited, complete an interview with faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be completed in the last 8 years with a grade of "B" or better, or must be scheduled for completion by a date of the admission year agreed upon in writing by the program director.

(Transfer equivalents for UAB can be found by clicking here.)

Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours

Arts and Humanities

  • Intermediate Writing – UAB Equivalent EH302 (3 credit hours)

Social and Behavioural Sciences

  • Abnormal Psychology – UAB Equivalent is PY 218 (3 credit hours)
  • Developmental Psychology – UAB Equivalent is PY 212 (3 credit hours)*

*Course must cover Human Development from prenatal period to old age.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

  • Statistics (must be taken in Math, Psychology or Sociology) – UAB Equivalent MA 180, PY216 or SOC 410 (3-4 credit hours)
  • Biology with Lab – UAB Equivalent BY123/L (4 credit hours)
  • Human Anatomy with Lab – UAB equivalent BY115/L (4 credit hours)
  • Human Physiology with Lab – UAB equivalent BY116/L (4 credit hours)
  • Kinesiology – UAB Equivalent is KIN307 (4 credit hours)
  • Introductory Sociology – UAB Equivalent SOC 100 (3 credit hours) or Cultural anthropology – UAB Equivalent ANTH 101 (3 credit hours)

It is strongly recommended that applicants also take the following course: Medical Terminology – UAB Equivalent AHS 350 – may be taken online.

Transfer of Credit Policy

The Department adheres to the credit transfer policy established by the UAB Graduate School.

You will also find specific policy wording in the current Occupational Therapy Student Handbook (click here for the 2023-24 version).

In keeping with this University policy, requests for transfer of graduate credit from another entry-level occupational therapy program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), will be considered on an individual case basis and will require approval from the program director and the department chair before it is submitted for approval to the Graduate School Dean. Each course submitted for review will be evaluated for equivalency to the required department course by the faculty member currently teaching the course, and the program director. Course syllabi must be provided for equivalence review, and a competency test may be administered at the program director's discretion.

Application Process

Step 1 – Application to the Department of Occupational Therapy

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Occupational Therapy Program participates in the centralized application service for occupational therapy programs (OTCAS).

  • Complete the OTCAS application which can be found by clicking here.
  • We recommend that you complete your OTCAS application by November 10 to ensure that OTCAS has sufficient time to verify your application status by our November 15 deadline.

Application Fee

OTCAS charges an application fee based on a graduated scale that varies according to the number of institutions you designate to receive your OTCAS application. OTCAS charges a fee for the first program you apply to and then an additional fee for each subsequent program you apply to.

Learn more by visiting the OTCAS FAQ webpage.

This fee is payable to OTCAS at the time of application. OTCAS application fees are non-refundable. This fee is paid to OTCAS - UAB does not receive any of these monies.

Step 2 - Application Review Process

Upon receipt of your application in OTCAS:

  • UAB Occupational Therapy Admission Faculty will complete the initial review of all applications shortly after the stated deadline
  • All applicants will be ranked based on a number of criteria, including GPA and the OTCAS essay question (personal statement)
  • Selected applicants will participate in an interview with the faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Interviews are typically held in December
  • Offer letters for admission will be emailed to applicants as soon as decisions are made. If you are offered a place in the occupational therapy department, you will be required to pay an admissions fee of $300 to secure your place in the summer class. This money will be applied to your first semester tuition. In the event that you decide to withdraw your acceptance of the offer, it will not be reimbursed to you.

Step 3 - Transcript Submission

By April 1, the UAB Graduate School must receive an official transcript stating that you have received a grade of at least a "B" in any completed prerequisites. For any coursework completed after your application was submitted in OTCAS, transcripts must be sent directly to the UAB Graduate School

Official transcripts from each institution where college credit was received can be submitted electronically by choosing University of Alabama – Graduate Admissions using the email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mailed to:

UAB Graduate School
LHL G03, 1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham AL 35294-0013

Step 4 - Application to UAB Graduate School

If a potential student is offered and accepts a place in the occupational therapy program at UAB they are required to then complete an application to the UAB Graduate School.

Application Fee

The application fee to the UAB Graduate School for domestic applicants and green card holders is $50 and application fee for international applicants is $60.

Instructions for completing an application to UAB Graduate School

  • Complete an application to the UAB Graduate School.
  • Once you have established an account you will respond to the questions asked
    • For which of the following are you applying? I already completed an application through a Centralized Application System and now need to apply to UAB
    • Intended program of study: Occupational Therapy (OTD) – applied through OTCAS
    • Concentration: Not Applicable – the selected program does not offer concentration options
    • Term: Summer XXXX

Additional Information

For information regarding admissions to the Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program in the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy, please contact Kerry McAlpine at (205) 934-5420 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

clinical student working online

Please note the Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), a post-professional program, is NOT an entry-level program. This program is for experienced occupational therapy professionals.

Upon conclusion of the post-professional OTD program, graduates are expected to be able to:

  • Provide advanced occupational therapy services to consumers.
  • Demonstrate professional leadership skills that positively influence occupational therapy practice and policy.
  • Advance the field of occupational therapy by contributing to the research underlying the body of knowledge and evidence-based practice.
  • Pursue careers as educators in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs.
  • Serve as consultants for program evaluation and enhancement of existing and new occupational therapy education and intervention programs.

Advanced Degree for Experienced OTs

This degree is designed to prepare experienced occupational therapists for important leadership roles in health care, academia, and advocacy for professional and community organizations. Currently this is the only post-professional occupational therapy doctoral-level program in Alabama.

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