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Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy

We’re seeking occupational therapy students committed to advancing their careers and the profession with an advanced practice degree. The MGH Institute offers two fully-online options for the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program - for BS and MS prepared practitioners. If you want to immediately apply skills to your current practice setting and implement innovative solutions to pressing health care problems, this MGH Institute program is right for you.

Designed for the Working Professional

 

-- Three points of entry (fall, spring, summer)

-- Perfect blend of live and self-directed learning

-- Multiple teaching modalities for all learners

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Fully Online

5 semesters for Master's prepared OTs
7 semesters for Bachelor's prepared OTs

6 week courses

32 credits for Master's prepared OTs
44 credits for Bachelor's prepared OTs

The only

Post-professional OTD program to integrate interprofessional focus throughout coursework

 

The IHP Advantage for PP-OTD

Interprofessional focus

An Interprofessional emphasis is woven into the entire curriculum.  

Integrated semester themes

Learning outcomes are guided by defined semester themes.

Innovative mentorship model

Mentorship is individualized and includes an interprofessional team of faculty, students, and scholars. 

 

Meet our Program Director: Sarah McKinnon

 

"As a former online post-professional student, I know firsthand the importance of linking new learning to clinical practice. The Post-Professional OTD program at the IHP integrates all coursework into practice with interprofessional threads designed to prepare graduates to be exceptional interprofessional leaders."

-Sarah McKinnon, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, MPA

 

 

Program director Sarah McKinnon in front of laptop

Meet other Department of Occupational Therapy faculty 

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PP-OTD Curriculum

We offer two curriculum plans for BS and MS prepared practitioners. The MS to OTD curriculum consists of nine 3-credit core courses and four 1-credit Innovation Project courses. The core courses are six weeks long and are taken one at a time.  The Innovation Project courses span the entire 14-week semester and run concurrent with core classes.  The Innovation Project sequence provides an opportunity to individualize the student’s learning experience by allowing the student to target a specific skill set to immediately apply to practice. The BS to OTD program requires 4 additional 3-credit courses.

Course content is delivered via our online learning platform and available in written, video, and auditory modes to meet all learning styles.  In addition to self-directed learning, a weekly live session occurs to collaborate with peers and further expand opportunities to apply new knowledge.

 

 

 

 

An integrative, interprofessional approach: Apply new skills immediately to practice

This graphic shows the classes within the PP-OTD curriculum

 

NOTE: Applicants without a master's degree are required to complete 4 additional courses prior to progressing through the course sequence above.

 

 

 

Costs and Funding

Occupational Therapist ranked 19th in U.S. News and World Report's list of the 100 Best Jobs.  Did you know there has been a 297% increase in employer demand for doctoral-level OT professionals since 2017 and a 400% growth of entry-level OTD programs this decade?  The Institute supports your path toward obtaining a post-professional degree to meet this employer demand. Tuition reduction is available to MGB employees and through vouchers, details below.

 
 
 

PP-OTD Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the IHP PP-OTD different from other online programs?

Our value proposition is simple: We’re an innovative, integrative and interprofessional post-professional online program. The curriculum is designed to elevate practitioners to a new level of practice while providing modalities that meet the needs of busy adult learners. The interprofessional focus throughout the curriculum is an innovative piece not seen in other post-professional programs.

I'm a staff OT, or, I'm already in a management position. How can this program help me?

The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD) is an advanced degree for practicing occupational therapists seeking to gain advanced knowledge and skills to inform their careers and implement clinical change as practice scholars, leaders, health care administrators, and educators. Graduates will develop skills and immediately apply them to influence their practice setting. Graduates will experience a clinical process of defining, building, and solving problems through a scholarly Innovation Project. Graduates from the MGH IHP PP-OTD program will be positioned to assume advanced professional roles including, but not limited to, advanced clinicians, occupational therapy department supervisors, health care administrators, and educators, or prepare themselves for roles as change agents in non-traditional settings​.

It’s been a while since I was a student. What supports will IHP provide me to be successful in the PP-OTD program?

In addition to our 1:1 mentorship and social supports from other mentors within the program, students have access to student services offered for our on-campus programs. These include but are not limited to, Student Assistance Programs (SAP), writing tutors and tutorials, access to library databases and literature search tutorials with 1:1 librarian support, and IT help desk assistance. Additionally, the personalized feel of the online program also allows for close access to faculty throughout coursework.

What are vouchers and how many vouchers can I use?

Education vouchers are provided to professional practice settings that provide education opportunities to support our clinical programs. Use of vouchers is an excellent way to keep costs down. Information on our voucher policy can be found here. In addition to using vouchers, we are mindful to control costs - our cost per credit is one of the lowest in the country among private institutions.

Are the two on-campus visits required and when do they occur?

Students are required to attend two on-site visits, one at the beginning of the program for orientation and one at the end of the program to present scholarly work. An orientation date will be provided at the time of acceptance. The second visit date will be in May of your graduating year. Each visit will be one full day on campus, located in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. You will be responsible for your travel and lodging.

What technology is required?

All students will require access to a computer that has webcam capability. IT requirements can be found here. 

Is the program accredited?

The MGH Institute PP-OTD program is accredited by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Although the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) does not accredit any post-professional OTD programs, our entry-level OTD program was the first accredited Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program in New England.