You've been accepted to an occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program, and that's a big reason to celebrate! However, now you might be wondering how you're going to fund this next big step in your academic and professional journey.
There are many options to pay for school, and this article focuses on OTD scholarships and how to find scholarship opportunities that are a good fit for your occupational therapy academic and career goals.
What Is a Scholarship
A scholarship is a gift that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships are provided or endowed by entities such as employers, schools, and charitable organizations.
Scholarships may be small or large, one-time or ongoing, and may cover part or all of your tuition. They can be used to supplement other forms of financial aid or may reduce the burden of paying for school.
Types include merit-based awards or scholarships for specific groups, such as military families. To qualify for merit-based scholarships, you'll need to meet the academic, research, financial, or aspirational standards set by the scholarship provider.
Occupational therapy doctorate-specific scholarships are typically awarded based on your area of focus, planned capstone project or dissertation, and plan to apply your research and results towards furthering the understanding of a specific aspect of the occupational therapy profession.
Start the OT Scholarship Process Early
It pays to start researching OTD program scholarships as early as possible. Early research efforts will help you keep track of deadline dates, manage application requirements, and follow guidelines. Most scholarship applications will, at a minimum, require:
- Qualified references, such as from a faculty member
- A personal narrative that describes how your intended area of concentration, research, or intended capstone project is in alignment with the focus or initiative of the specific scholarship
You'll want to allow time to request references and to prepare a strong personal narrative. Working closely with your OTD program advisor can help you narrow down your capstone topic or dissertation as early as possible, which will help you focus on scholarships for which you may qualify and that are a good fit for you personally.
Universities and Occupational Therapy Doctorate Programs
It's essential to choose the right occupational therapy doctorate program that fits with your educational and career goals. You have a lot of options, from on-site, accelerated, and hybrid options for entry-level OTD programs and fully online options for post-professional OTD programs.
The standard prerequisite for applying for an occupational therapy scholarship is that you must be a student in an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) accredited occupational therapy program.
Connect with your OTD program advisor, the university or program admissions office, and the financial aid office to inquire about scholarships that may align with your goals and aspirations in the field of occupational therapy. The U.S. Department of Labor also offers a free research tool to help expand your search.
Occupational Therapy Organizations
It may help to start local, with your state's occupational therapy association, and then expand out to national OT organizations. There are many opportunities to apply for financial support at every level.
State Occupational Therapy Associations
State occupational therapy associations are separate organizations that are affiliated with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and serve to advance the profession at the state level to advance the profession through advocacy and professional development.
Many state occupational therapy associations offer scholarship opportunities, including scholarships for graduate students and those focusing on a specific area of study in their OTD program.
Additionally, state associations may endow scholarships for students in their state to be administered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), such as the Fred Sammons Endowed Scholarship for Virginia. You can research and apply for such scholarships in a single application on the AOTF website.
If your OTD program is located in a different state from the one in which you reside, you may benefit from researching opportunities in both states.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) provides board certification for occupational therapy practitioners. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy does not offer direct scholarships.
However, NBCOT does partner with other organizations, such as the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), to provide an endowed scholarship.
American Occupational Therapy Foundation
The AOTF is a charitable, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to supporting research in the field of occupational therapy.
AOTF offers opportunities and scholarships for OTD candidates. Full-time occupational therapy program students (enrolled in an accredited OT program) may apply to over 50 available scholarships ranging from $150 to $5000.
AOTF offers scholarship opportunities for occupational therapy doctorate students conducting research and capstone projects in specific areas of focus.
For example, the Dr. A. Jean Ayres Occupational Therapy Doctoral Candidate Research Scholarship will support an OTD student conducting research related to sensory integration.
AOTF works in coordination with state organizations and AOTA to allow students to apply for scholarships via a single online application.
American Occupational Therapy Association
The American Occupational Therapy Association is the national professional association that advances the occupational therapy profession through advocacy and education. AOTA offers various AOTA-specific scholarships for students pursuing a career in occupational therapy.
An example is the E.K. Wise Scholarship, which is awarded annually to students who demonstrate dedication to community service, leadership, and supporting a more inclusive workforce.
The AOTA website is also an excellent resource for finding information about state occupational therapy associations, including contact information and website addresses.
Occupational Therapy Scholarship Options
Acceptance to an occupational therapy doctorate program is a significant accomplishment. As with many important achievements, the celebration comes with a new set of factors to consider, including how to pay for OTD school. Scholarships offer a way to supplement other forms of financial support and to lessen the burden of paying for OTD school.
It takes a little research, but if you know where to start looking, you'll likely be surprised by how many scholarship opportunities are out there. It will be well worth the effort when you find a scholarship that is a perfect fit for your occupational therapy career goals.
