Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Reach the highest level of your field with a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from Lincoln Memorial University! During your time in the OTD program, you'll receive the skills necessary to excel in your field, including critical reasoning, client-centered care, evidence-based practice, and collaborative care.

At LMU, we're committed to providing you with the best graduate experience we can. We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• skilled faculty comprised of renowned academics and occupational therapists, recognized across the country and internationally for their work as professors, clinicians, and leaders.
• state-of-the-art facilities.
• classroom and laboratory spaces designed to bridge education and practice and to ensure that you are better prepared for your career as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy.

Our OTD program is conveniently located in West Knoxville, Tennessee, alongside other longstanding health care programs like the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and the Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA). The program also shares classroom and lab spaces with the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. By being positioned within a healthcare campus, you'll receive a variety of interprofessional educational opportunities to ensure you develop a better understanding of occupational therapy's distinct value as part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as number 11 in "Best Health Care Jobs" in 2022, there really is no better time to be a Doctor of Occupational Therapy.

There are three types of students/applicants that may be admitted into the OTD program at LMU:

• Direct entry- Students who possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• Entry with 90+ hours (3+3)- Students who have performed exceptionally well during their first 90 undergraduate hours are able to enter the program without a bachelor's degree.  
• Guaranteed professional admittance (GPA)- LMU students only can earn a B.S. in General Exercise Science and an OTD. (Internal to LMU undergraduate students only via the GPA Pathway)

Ready to apply for admission into the OTD degree program at Lincoln Memorial University? Visit our Doctor of Occupational Therapy page to learn more! 

If you are an incoming student, your application materials should be uploaded and submitted to the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS), with application submissions for the LMU OTD program opening in mid-July each year. Our admissions committee will base admissions decisions on components of your application package, including:

• cumulative GPAs
• personal interview
• professional references (Graduate Record Examination scores are NOT required for application)

Not only is Occupational Therapy ranked #7 in the Best Health Care Jobs of 2024, but following graduation from the LMU-OTP program, you'll have access to a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and a median annual salary of $97,720 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)! These opportunities could include:

• Director of Rehabilitation Services
• Occupational Therapy Researcher
• Occupational Therapy Consultant
• Professor in Occupational Therapy
• Ergonomics Specialist
• Home Health Occupational Therapist
• Occupational Therapy Specialist in Pediatrics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a projected 17% increase in employment for occupational therapists between 2020 and 2030, so you can be sure there will be a wide range of positions available for you to pursue and ultimately excel in.

Want to learn more about the OTD degree at Lincoln Memorial University? Reach out to us at any time and we will help you however we can!

Doctor of Occupational Therapy
9731 Cogdill Road, Building 2
Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: 865.338.5700
Email: OTDAdmissions@LMUnet.edu