Coming Fall 2025

The University of Montana is excited about the launch of an entry-level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.  It is the first Occupational Therapy program of any kind to be offered at a public institution in Montana.

We are thrilled to announce that we have received approval of our accreditation candidacy from ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education).  Please refer to this Statement on Candidacy Status for more information.  This means applications for our first cohort will open on June 24, 2024 on the OTCAS platform.  We anticipate the application deadline will be no later than November 1, 2024.  

If you are interested in applying for the program, there are a few things you need to know and can start working on now.  A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution must be completed prior to starting the entry-level OTD program.   The following prerequisite courses are required for admission and may be taken at any accredited institution.  They must be completed within 7 years of matriculation into the entry-level OTD program.  The prerequisites can be in progress when you apply, but must be competed before you begin the OTD program.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (may be taken as separate courses or as a combined course; 6-8 semester hours total)
• Introductory Course in Sociology or Anthropology (3 semester hours)
• Abnormal Psychology (3 semester hours)
• Human Development Through the Life Span or Developmental Psychology (3 semester hours)
• Introduction to Statistics (3 semester hours)
• Medical Terminology (1-2 semester credits or a certificate)

We anticipate that our program will be very competitive.   Therefore, the following will also be required:

• Students must demonstrate a minimum 3.0 GPA for both cumulative and prerequisite GPAs.
• A minimum of 20 hours of volunteer or paid experience in at least two practice environments under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist is required before submitting your application.
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one must be from a licensed Occupational Therapist).

GRE scores are not required to apply to the program.

More information about UM OTD program:

• UM OTD Instagram
• Click on the image below to learn more about our curricular threads and learning outcomes:
• OTD Graduation Requirements, Tuition and Fees
• Entry-level OTD Program Curriculum

  • Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program (typical program completion is in 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program). The doctoral capstone experience must be started after successful completion of all coursework, Level II fieldwork experiences and doctoral capstone preparatory activities defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

If you are interested in a post-professional OTD program, we offer an online program through Rehab Essentials.

If you have any other questions about the program or would like a tour of the University of Montana campus to learn more about our program, please contact: