Occupational Therapy

Program Overview

Empower lives. Advance your future. 

The University of Vermont’s OTD program prepares you to thrive in a fast-growing, people-centered profession. Ranked #133 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools, our program blends innovation, compassion, and real-world experience—offering a competitive advantage in a rapidly expanding field, both within Vermont and across the nation.

Apply to the program

Why Choose UVM?

Hands-On Learning:
Begin fieldwork on day one, working with clients and community partners. Watch fieldwork in action:

Cultural Immersion:
Gain global perspectives through experiences in Vermont and abroad in Belize and Morocco. Explore cultural immersion:

Smart Tech & Simulation Labs:
Practice in high-tech environments using smart home systems and the Vector system.
See smart tech in action: 

Inside our simulation labs:

UVM’s state-of-the-art laboratories include the pioneering Pediatric and Design Lab, which fosters children’s self-confidence and vital motor skills essential for daily activities and social engagement. The Smart Apartment Lab features adaptive technologies, smart home systems, and kitchen and bathroom modifications—offering students and community members innovative solutions for independent living.

Interprofessional Collaboration:
Learn alongside students in physical therapy and speech-language pathology. Our facilities promote interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance therapeutic outcomes, and prepare you for collaborative, patient-centered care.

Graduate Ready to Lead

A considerable part of your education occurs beyond the conventional classroom, with abundant opportunities for experiential learning in the community. Our ACOTE®-aligned curriculum prepares you for the NBCOT exam and a meaningful career in occupational therapy—empowering you to profoundly impact lives by helping individuals participate in the activities that matter most to them.

Accreditation

The University of Vermont’s 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 is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

Curriculum

In this 88 credit, three-year (eight-semester) program, you will gain a comprehensive and well-rounded education, enriched with hands-on experience, practical application, and leadership development opportunities in just over two years. The curriculum is designed to ensure your excellence in the field, providing a solid base in fundamental sciences, evidence-based practice, innovation, compassion, interprofessional competencies, and leadership abilities.

Fall 1

• OT 7100: Foundations for OT practice (2)
• OT 7110: Functional anatomy (4)
• OT 7120: Movement and occupational performance (3)
• OT 7140: Psychosocial and mental health influences on occupation (3)
• OT 7180: Activity analysis (3)

Spring 1

• NSCI 6020: Neuroscience (3)
• OT 7200: Therapeutic interventions (3)
• OT 7240: Visual and cognitive-perceptual influences on occupation (3)
• OT 7250: Older adults as occupational beings (6)

Summer 1

• OT 7350: Cultural immersion (2)
• OT 7370: Research I (2)
• OT 7600: Capstone I (2)
• OT 7700: Fieldwork – Level I Didactic (1)
• OT 7701: Fieldwork - Level 1 Experiential (1)

Fall 2

• OT 7400: Teaching and advocacy (2)
• OT 7450: Young adults as occupational beings (6)
• OT 7470: Research II (2)
• OT 7480: Designing creative therapeutic intervention (2)
• OT 7490: OT practice management (3)
• OT 7610: Capstone II (1)

Spring 2

• OT 7550: Children as occupational beings (6)
• OT 7560: Living life to the fullest (3)
• OT 7570: Research III (2)
• OT 7590: Becoming a life-long practitioner and learner (3)
• OT 7620: Capstone III (1)

Summer 2

• OT 7710: Fieldwork - Level II (6)

Fall 3

• OT 7720: Fieldwork - Level II (6)

Spring 3

• OT 7630: Capstone IV Didactic (2)
• OT 7631: Capstone IV Experience (5)

Total Credits for OTD = 88 

Further program requirements are outlined in the program handbooks:

• Occupational Therapy Program Manual (PDF)
• Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Student Fieldwork Manual (PDF)
• Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educator Manual (PDF)
• Occupational Therapy Capstone Handbook (PDF)

Deadlines

Fall Start Priority Deadline: November 1
Fall Start Final Deadline: April 15

Admissions

Our program requires all applicants to complete specific prerequisite courses from an accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and prerequisite GPA of 3.2 in the following courses. Applications with fewer than seven (7) prerequisites completed (not counting Medical Terminology) will not be reviewed.

• General Psychology (one semester/3 credits)
• Abnormal Psychology (one semester/3 credits)
• Human Development (one semester/3 credits)
• Statistics (one semester/3 credits)
• Biology (one semester/3 credits)
• Human Anatomy with lab (one semester/4 credits)
• Human Physiology with lab (one semester/4 credits)
• Social Sciences (Anthropology, Humanities, Philosophy, Sociology; 2 semesters/6 credits)
• Medical Terminology (If taken online, a certificate of completion must be sent to the UVM Graduate College Admissions office.)

Additional requirements:

• 3 letters of recommendation (1 academic letter and 2 professional letters, preferably one by an OT)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-US residents with an undergraduate degree that is not from an institution where English is the language of instruction
• Optional interview through Kira Talent for students who pass through the first stage of the admissions process

NOTES: GRE scores are not required for this program. No transfer credits will be accepted, and no credit will be given for work experience.

Early Admission for UVM Students

UVM students are eligible to apply for early admission to the Occupational Therapy program. 

Accelerated 3+3 Degree in Occupational Therapy 

Save on the time and cost of earning an advanced degree. View the Accelerated 3+3 Degree in Occupational Therapy curriculum (PDF)

Outcomes

NBCOT Passing Rate Information

Graduates of the program are 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. 

NBCOT Passing Rate

Current NBCOT exam pass rate information.

Note: The program’s passing percent data is calculated on the number of New Graduates who passed the NBCOT exam regardless of the number of attempts during the testing year to meet ACOTE’s reporting standard. Because we are a new program, we have not yet had anyone take this exam.

Retention and Graduation 

The following information has been reported to the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). 

Costs and Funding

Considering how to finance your education at UVM? Examine the tuition, fees, and financing opportunities for the Occupational Therapy program.

The Accelerated 3+3 Degree in Occupational Therapy is a great way to save time and money on your advanced degree.

More

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a time limit on the acceptability of prerequisites for my application?

Prerequisite courses should ideally be completed within ten years before applying to the program.

What is the average class size?

Each academic year, the program admits 24 students.

Are graduate assistantships offered?

Currently, there are no graduate assistantships available. However, we are in the process of creating these opportunities for the future.

Will I need a car?

Access to a car is generally necessary for clinical experience courses. Students must arrange their own transportation to and from our affiliated clinical sites. While Burlington's public transit system is comprehensive and free for UVM students, it does not serve all clinical locations off-campus.

Is an interview is a mandatory part of the admissions process?

Candidates who progress through the first stage of the admissions process may complete an optional interview, which can be conducted either through Zoom or in person.