Evidence In Motion Announces a Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Check out the blog post (originally published on the EIM Blog) to learn more about EIM’s new Post Professional OTD program. Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact EIM at [email protected].
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects occupational therapy (OT) employment growth at 29 percent between 2012 and 2022, adding 32,800 more professionals to the 105,540 existing jobs in this field. Similar to PT, all states require prospective OTs to graduate from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), pass the NBCOT exam, and be licensed in their state. Similar to PT’s history over the last 10-15 years, OT is undergoing a migration to the doctorate level as the entry-level degree, hence increasing interest among existing OTs to transition to the doctoral degree as well. Much like the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, ACOTE, the accrediting body for OT education, accredits only programs that provide entry to the profession and qualify an individual to sit for the licensure examination. ACOTE does not currently accredit post professional programs. Rather, post professional programs fall under the purview of the institutional accrediting body.
To this end, EIM is excited to announce that we’re offering a Post Professional OTD with a core curriculum that focuses on growing personally and within the profession by developing those who can teach, those who can do research, those who can manage, and those who can lead the profession more at the state and national levels. On a similar timeline with the evolution of the OTD, our mission and vision at EIM, ISPI, and NeuroRTI has evolved to accommodate OTs in our courses and Certification programs. EIM’s Postprofessional OTD students have the opportunity to transfer credits from any of these Certification programs as electives towards their OTD program. For example, we offer the following Certification programs designed to help OT’s meet their professional goals, to which the OTD can be added as an option:
- Advanced Practice in Hand Therapy
- Concussion Management
- Executive Program in Private Practice Management
- Geriatric
- Industrial Health
- Specialty Certification in Stroke Recovery *
- Therapeutic Pain Specialist **
*in partnership with NeuroRTI
**in partnership with ISPI
How is our program different from existing programs? Our OTD is offered in a fully online or blended learning format that integrates hands on courses with the online component. The core curriculum is designed to bridge the gap towards the doctorate level and OTs can choose elective content that match with their professional AND clinical goals. We have found that many existing Post Professional OTD programs live within the “brick and mortar” walls of academic institutions. This is not inherently bad if your primary interest is transitioning into a faculty position. Our program is uniquely suited for busy clinicians wanting to elevate and enhance their clinical learning while at the same time earning their degree. Our OTD Program also offers a Neurologic track unlike other programs. Finally, our program will be shorter in length (most programs average 2 years) and significantly less expensive than the average program tuition of $20,000 or more.
We’re excited about this new opportunity to partner with our OT colleagues. The specific “ask” here is that our PT audience kindly pass around this information to their OT colleagues via email or social media. Come check out more information here, and certainly reach out any time with questions to [email protected] or add your comments to the blog. OTs, welcome to EIM, ISPI, and NeuroRTI!
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