Entry-level OTOccupational therapy doctorate (OTD)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Samuel Merritt University · Oakland, California
- Pathway
- Entry-level occupational therapist education
- Coursework
- On campusCampus attendance required
- Duration
- 3 Years (8 Semesters)Full time
- Tuition
- Not published
Entry-level occupational therapist education
About this program
Entry-level doctorate on the Oakland campus lasting three years, with didactic semesters, Level II fieldwork and a doctoral capstone.
- School and department
- Samuel Merritt University
Award and pathway
- Exact official award
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Browsing category
- Occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) · OTD
- Professional pathway
- Entry-level occupational therapist education
- Award status
- Credit-bearing academic awardAwarded by a degree-granting institution.
- Awarding institution
- Samuel Merritt University
Accreditation
As recorded by the accreditor, with the exact program and locations covered. A degree alone does not grant a license, and admission does not guarantee certification eligibility.
ACOTEAccreditationAccreditationVerified in official record
Scope: OT Doctorate, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, CA
Published term: Next on-site: 2028/2029
Checked 3 November 2026
Institutional accreditation
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)AccreditationWSCUC (regional)Stated by the school
Scope: Institutional accreditor as listed on the MOT program page
Checked 3 November 2026
Accreditation, NBCOT certification and state licensure explained
Delivery, attendance and in-person requirements
Online coursework does not mean no in-person activity. Coursework delivery, campus attendance and practical requirements are separate facts.
- Coursework delivery
- On campusCoursework is taught at the listed campus.
- Campus attendance
- Campus attendance required
- Study intensity
- Full time
In-person requirements
- Fieldwork · requiredTwo 12-week Level II fieldwork semesters plus a 15-week capstone semester.
- Capstone · required15-week capstone semester.
- Level II fieldwork
- Two 12-week semesters of Level II fieldwork
- Capstone experience
- 15 weeks
- Placement arrangement
- Placement arrangement not confirmed
- Fieldwork locations
- Not confirmed. We do not assume local placements.
Where: four different places
- Institution headquarters
- Oakland, California
- Teaching campus
- Samuel Merritt University, Oakland525 12th Street
- Fieldwork location
- Not confirmed
Duration and credits
- Duration
- 3 Years (8 Semesters)
Admissions
- Prior study
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with prerequisites completed
- Prior professional credential
- Not stated
- Minimum GPA
- 3Minimum recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 semester units; recommended science GPA 3.0.
- Observation hours
- 4040 to 70 (minimum) observation hours recorded in OTCAS
- Admission tests
- Not published
- Application route
- OTCAS (as stated by the program)
- International applicants
- Not confirmed
Costs
US dollars as the school publishes them. Each fee keeps its basis (per credit, per term, per year, whole program), academic year and student category, and is never converted or added up for you.
Tuition is not published on the pages we checked. That does not mean the program is free: ask the school for current tuition, fees and other mandatory costs.
Sources and verification
Not published on the program’s source pages: tuition, application deadline.
Sources and how this was checked
Last checked 3 November 2026. Each fact carries a verbatim quote that is re-checked against the live page. Research methodology.
Sources (checked 3 November 2026)