Occupational Therapy

Touro University Nevada Begins Teachout for Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Touro University Nevada’s Occupational Therapy program will graduate its final class of occupational therapists in June of 2027. Established in 2006 as the first program of its kind in Nevada to address the community's growing need for occupational therapists, the program has played a crucial role in meeting healthcare demands.

However, following a thorough review of the OTD program’s viability, the University concluded that the Occupational Therapy training needs of the community are being met by other educational providers and therefore will not be admitting a new class of OTD students.

Current students that are enrolled in the three-year doctoral degree program at TUN will continue their classes and clinical rotations to complete their degrees at Touro University Nevada by June of 2027. Ample faculty, services, and support will remain in place until the final existing cohort completes their program.

For questions, please contact the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, Dr. Robert Askey at: raskey@touro.edu

OT Program Features

Curriculum

Your classroom setting will be defined by engaging and challenging hands-on learning. You will grow personally and professionally in a group setting at Touro Nevada.

OT Program Accreditation

In April 2018,  the School of Occupational Therapy achieved a seven-year full accreditation for the entry-level doctorate degree 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.

You can view school performance data at National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) School Performance.

OTD Tuition and Fees Information (This includes fees associated with distance education.)

Doctoral Capstone Experiential Component

You will extend and refine your knowledge in a specific area of study during the 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experiential Component. You will enhance your professional development through community interaction and faculty-led mentoring.

Program Facts

100%
Pass rate on the National Board Exam for 2023
100%
Employment rate of graduates within 6 months of graduation/passing NBCOT
$96,370
2023 Median Salary for Occupational Therapists (bls.gov)

Admission Requirements

Touro Nevada was established to help address critical needs in healthcare and education, and as a resource for community service in the state of Nevada. Come be a part of our family.

Requirements Overview

  • Baccalaureate degree or higher
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Prerequisites of human development, abnormal psychology, psychology, anatomy w/lab, physiology w/lab, statistics, humanities, natural science, and writing/composition
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Shadowing or volunteer experience (recommended)
  • GRE is not required

Primary Application

Your primary application must be submitted through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).

 

Application & Requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals participate in meaningful occupations so they can live their lives with the highest possible functional performance.

Occupational therapists provide highly skilled, individualized evaluations of clients and provide holistic care to help improve their daily function so they can live life to the fullest. Occupational therapists work with clients to understand what is most important to them, to prioritize intervention, and promote health and wellness physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Occupational therapy works on functional deficits and uses daily activities as therapy. Functional deficits include experiencing difficulties doing the things you want to do. The cause of the deficit could be emotional, behavioral, environmental, etc.

Occupational therapists can work in several specialties, including pediatrics, geriatrics, behavioral health, community-based, and more. Occupational therapists can also receive certifications in stroke, behavioral rehab, driving rehab, hand therapy, animal therapy, and more.

Occupational therapists can work in hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, outpatient, community-based nonprofits, behavioral health settings, in the client’s home, and in schools.

It depends on the region and area of practice, but the general range for an occupational therapist’s salary is between $70,000-$105,000. Salaries are closer to $70,000 after graduation but will increase with more experience in the field.

Occupational therapists in Nevada make the highest hourly and annual mean wages of any state in the country, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Complete your undergraduate prerequisites concurrent with observing different occupational therapy settings which will help you get accepted into an accredited Occupational Therapy program. For additional information on Touro University Nevada’s OTD program, please contact the Office of Admissions.

In the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), students have the chance to learn several advanced skills, including program development, fiscal management, leadership, and research. These skills are more advanced with an OTD than through the Master’s program. Practitioners with an OTD have more opportunities to take on leadership roles, pursue academia, and research opportunities.

The OTD also offers more opportunities for faster upward mobility in the profession.

Touro University Nevada’s School of Occupational Therapy uses a holistic admissions process that looks at students’ undergraduate degrees, community engagement, and varied life experiences. For specifics on the OT program's application and admission requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Touro Nevada is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University System (WSCUS) and Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

The Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is 36 months.

Meet Our Director

Dr. Shannon Martin

Thank you for your interest in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program (OTD) at Touro University Nevada.

As a future occupational therapist, you have shown the commitment to providing quality care to your clients. At Touro Nevada, our graduates are prepared with the skills in client care, entrepreneurship, leadership, and confidence to make a difference in the lives of everyone they work with.

We know you want to make a difference in the field as an occupational therapist. At Touro Nevada, we will work with you every step of the way to help you achieve your goals.

We have revised our curriculum to allow our students more balance to enhance their academic goals and participate in personal occupational opportunities outside the classroom. The emphasis we put on the capstone component of the OTD will help you strengthen your skills as a future occupational therapist.

At Touro Nevada, we pride ourselves on our open-door policy. Our renowned faculty are kind, sympathetic, and passionate about seeing our students succeed in the classroom and out in the community.

I encourage you to learn more about our OTD program here at Touro Nevada. I hope you will submit your application and take this exciting next step in pursuing a career as an occupational therapist.

All my best,
Shannon Martin, OTD, OTR/L, BCG 

Our Mission

The values of social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity of Touro Nevada provide the foundation for the School of Occupational Therapy. Our graduates are grounded in an occupation-based perspective of health, skilled in therapeutic techniques, and educated to be both consumers and contributors to evidence-based practice. The occupational therapy program emphasizes respect for values, a recognition of needs and challenges, and strong leadership skills.


We value the safety of all members of the Touro University Nevada (TUN) community. The TUN Annual Security Report provides crime statistics for the prior three years, policy statements regarding various safety and security measures, campus safety awareness and prevention program descriptions, and other important safety information. A paper copy of the document is available at the Dean of Student's Office or by calling the Office of Admissions at (702) 777-1750 or electronically. 

pdfDPT Program Facts_ADA

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