About the Profession
Occupational therapists collaborate with their clients to determine the daily tasks and activities that are meaningful and necessary to empower the client to maximize their independence, increase their occupational participation, and boost their occupational engagement. OTs meet the unique and distinct needs of people, populations, and communities, and are strong advocates for the profession and their clients.
A 2022 US News Report ranked Occupational Therapy as the 11th best health care career in the USA and 31st in overall best careers. Occupational therapists report high levels of job satisfaction and find numerous, yet diverse employment opportunities as a positive quality of the profession that allows them to identify and grow their professional niche. Occupational therapists earn an average of $86,280 annually, while 20% of occupational therapists earn an annual salary of $103, 000 (US News Report, 2020).
Occupational therapists are health care professionals who collaborate with their clients to maximize independence, occupational participation, and occupational engagement in tasks and activities that are meaningful and needed. The diversity of occupational therapy allows the occupational therapist to develop leadership skills while meeting the unique and distinct needs of people, populations, and communities. Occupational therapists are strong advocates for the profession and their clients, and value life-long learning experiences.
Where will I stay when participating in lab immersions?
Students often rent Airbnb properties during lab immersions. There are also hotels and other rental properties available for students to explore as they prepare for Lab Immersions. Students are encouraged to coordinate with peers to minimize costs and increase opportunities for collaboration.
Does tuition cover the cost of travel and housing to campus for lab immersions?
Tuition does not cover the costs associated with travel or housing when participating in campus lab immersions. Students are encouraged to coordinate with peers for transportation, car rentals, and housing opportunities to reduce the costs and to create a stronger OT Community.
Where can I complete my Level II fieldwork experiences and capstone projects?
The Director of Fieldwork Education has identified a wide variety of Level II fieldwork placements throughout the country; however, the Director of Fieldwork Education is excited to explore additional placements within your communities. Students are encouraged to explore and discuss potential fieldwork placements with the Director of Fieldwork Education.
How do I become a member of the Hanover College Community if I am a distant education learner?
Both educational and social activities will be incorporated into the lab immersions. The OTD Faculty will plan to have various events and activities while students are participating in lab immersion sessions to create a connection with the Hanover campus community. OTD students will be encouraged to attend social events on the Hanover campus while attending lab immersion sessions and this might include a sporting event or theater production. Lunch and Learn events will be hosted on Hanover’s Campus to provide students with knowledge of the many resources available, as well as how best to access all available resources. OTD students will also be active participants in the spring graduation celebration along with the DPT and undergraduate students.
What is the deadline for the OTCAS application?
The OTCAS application deadline is November 30, 2023.
What are the fees for the application?
The fee for the OTCAS Application depends on the number of schools you apply to as well as your application submission date.
Where should I send my original transcripts?
All original transcripts should be sent to OTCAS.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
The Hanover College OTD Program requires students to submit two (2) letters of recommendation. One letter of recommendation must be from an occupational therapy practitioner.
Is an interview required?
An interview is a great way for Hanover faculty to learn about you, but also for you to learn more about the program. Applicants will be invited to complete a virtual interview following a review of your application.
If I am accepted into the Hanover OTD program, is a deposit required?
Yes, all applicants accepted to the program who intend to attend the OTD Program at Hanover College will be required to make a $500 Deposit to hold their place in the cohort. The Letter of Admission will be provided to applicants with detailed information about the next steps to take.
What type of OT degree is offered at Hanover College?
Students who successfully complete the OTD Program at Hanover College will be awarded a Doctoral in Occupational Therapy degree. This is an entry-level doctorate degree that allows graduates to sit for the NBCOT Examination and to apply for state licensure.
How can I reach the OT Admission Office?
Prospective students can email the Hanover College OTD program admission adviser at otd.admissions@hanover.edu. You can also schedule a call with the admission adviser at 812-909-9599.
Is the Hanover’s OTD Program accredited?
Hanover College will submit their candidacy application to ACOTE in March of 2023. ACOTE will provide a written response in August of 2023 to provide the steps for the program to move forward. Every new OTD program goes through the multi-step accreditation process. Hanover College will have their onsite ACOTE accreditation visit in the Spring of 2025.
Hanover College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
What sets Hanover’s OTD program apart from other programs?
Hanover’s OTD program provides an innovative curriculum using a hybrid format. The program allows students that may not be able to complete a traditional program to be successful. Coursework meshes the full spectrum of occupational therapy to produce well rounded entry-level occupational therapists. The hybrid, accelerated model of the program allows students to remain in their communities while completing their OTD in two years.
How much of the program is completed in distance learning versus onsite?
During the first year of the program, students will spend 20% of their time on campus engaged in lab immersion sessions and Level I fieldwork. The remainder of time will be composed of distant learning activities which include asynchronous and synchronous class experiences, assignments, readings, online lectures, learning activities and discussion. The second year of the OTD Program is composed primarily of experiential learning opportunities (Level II Fieldwork and Capstone experiences). Students will also participate in several distant learning courses during the second year and will be required to attend a final lab immersion session.
What can I expect from online classes?
Course faculty use the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to create and deliver a wide variety of online teaching and learning activities. Each course includes both asynchronous and synchronous learning activities. Asynchronous activities such as recorded lectures, readings, and assignments, provide students with considerable flexibility in creating and managing their weekly schedule. Synchronous live classes are held each week and serve as an online virtual classroom. Faculty use a variety of synchronous learning activities during these class periods such as live discussions, faculty demonstrations, case studies, and group projects, to deepen student understanding and develop clinical reasoning skills.
What is the minimum GPA for successful completion of the OTD program?
Students are required to maintain an overall 3.00 GPA to successfully complete the program.
What types of settings will I be exposed to during my fieldwork education experiences?
Students receive exposure to a variety of practice settings that demonstrate the breadth, depth, and continuum of occupational therapy practice across the lifespan. During the Level I fieldwork experience, students gain experience in traditional and emerging practice areas. Students participate in simulated and faculty-led sessions, intended to develop clinical reasoning and promote the advancement of knowledge, therapeutic process, safety awareness, and ethical OT practice. Students work with the Director of Fieldwork Education (AFWC) to determine their placements for the two, Level II Fieldwork sessions.
Can I work while in the program?
No. We recognize that some students may desire to maintain some level of employment while enrolled in an OTD program with a flexible blended-learning format. However, our students are full-time students in every sense of the term with course loads ranging from 16-24 credits per academic semester. The academic demands of this accelerated curriculum and the travel requirements for onsite lab immersions and fieldwork education will make employment virtually impossible for the majority of students. In fact, working more than a few hours per week would almost surely negatively affect your academic performance and is strongly discouraged.
Are there scholarships available for this program?
There are no scholarships available for the OTD program; however, our Financial Aid department will help each student find the student loans that they need. Additional information related to Student Financial Service can be found by accessing the following link.