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Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Accredited by ACOTE

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  1. Whitworth University
  2. Academics
  3. Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Whitworth University's full-time Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OT) Program in Spokane, Wash., provides innovative, creative, holistic and interprofessional mind-and-heart education to develop and empower ethically competent and transformational leaders in occupational therapy and healthcare. 

We are guided by the university mission and our program mission.

Students gain real-world preparation through fieldwork experiences and a doctoral capstone project that connects academic learning with clinical and community practice.

Our ACOTE-accredited OT program prepares practice scholars who use the best scientific evidence to be catalysts for change, advocates for occupational justice and servants of humanity.

Applications for 2026-27 are currently open.  

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Benefits of the Whitworth Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Our entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program prepares compassionate health science professionals in an innovative building that has flexible simulation class space and labs resembling clinical environments.

Hands-on occupational therapy courses are integrated with other health and human service graduate classes to facilitate the development of professional behaviors.

Because we are an on-campus program, you will also enjoy the many services and amenities offered at Whitworth University, including:

Why Get a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy?

Experienced OT Program Faculty

Our caring, dedicated faculty are passionate about the profession and our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. They come from a variety of clinical backgrounds and experiences.

Not only does our residential program help you to become a better clinician, but it also enables you to cultivate close relationships with our faculty members. They will support your academic and professional growth and help you to select fieldwork placements. 

State-of-the-Art OT Program Facilities

You will take your occupational therapy courses in a new 38,000-square-foot health sciences building that houses the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs and the master's in athletic training program. These specialties are housed together to intentionally support and encourage vital interprofessional collaboration.

This new space includes:

  • An activities-of-daily-living lab
  • A motion analysis research lab
  • Exercise physiology labs
  • Anatomy labs
  • Simulation labs
  • Dedicated classroom and functional lab spaces
  • A practice clinic
  • A Bioness system

Clinical Placements

Your clinical experience begins early in our OT program. Because we have an excellent local reputation, you can choose from a diverse selection of clinical placements where professionals want to be a part of your student experience. 

You can find clinical placements in:

  • Traditional hospitals where you will work under the guidance of a licensed OT professional
  • School systems
  • Community centers where you may work with behavioral health issues
  • Skilled nursing centers to assist older adults

"The professors [at Whitworth] are so intentional and kind, and the new health sciences building is advanced. I think the mission statement of Whitworth represents the holistic nature of occupational therapy." 

- Alexa Best, Class of 2026

Headshot of Alexa Best

Career Options in Occupational Therapy

You will leave prepared to engage in interprofessional health science education, research and service, particularly to the underserved populations of our region.

As an occupational therapist, you will play a significant role in treating people with various illnesses and disabilities and helping to decrease the length of hospitalization.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an occupational therapist earns an average of $93,180 annually, and this career is expected to grow much faster than average.

There are a number of OT vacancies in the Spokane area, and the annual salary in Washington state averages $87,680.

Explore Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Courses

Through our occupational therapy courses, you will develop a well-rounded skill set that will prepare you to thrive in the future of the field.

Your occupational therapy courses include a capstone project that allows you to delve deeper into a topic of interest or to expand into developing advanced clinical skills.

This capstone project will advance the profession through the dissemination of research and evidence-based practice in one or more of the following areas:

  • Clinical practice skills
  • Research skills
  • Administration
  • Leadership
  • Program and policy development
  • Advocacy
  • Education
  • Theory development

Accreditation Status for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

The Whitworth University 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

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.  

The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework, Level II fieldwork and preparatory activities defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and all doctoral capstone requirements, including the individual 14-week capstone experience within 27 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program; while not exceeding a maximum of 48 months total time for program completion.

OT Program Outcomes
View our National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) program data results.

Admission Requirements for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

We review applications to our OT program holistically. View our admission requirements for more information and OT program costs.

For general questions about the OT program, please call us at 509.777.4442 or email us.

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Get Started on Your Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree

Join a program that embodies servant leadership, global citizenship, and the integration of faith and learning. You will automatically be considered for scholarships when you apply.

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