The Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (ELOTD) is for students entering with a degree in a field other than OT. As a student, you will experience an exciting program combining a diverse curriculum, research, service learning, and fieldwork.

Program Outcomes

Tufts Department of Occupational Therapy (also known as the historic Boston School of Occupational Therapy‚ founded in 1918) has one of the country's top-ranked programs. Through education, research, and practice, we promote participation in meaningful activity of individuals, communities and populations with diverse needs and experiences.

As a student in the ELOTD program, you'll develop into an occupational therapist with a passion for civic engagement who is able to address the current and future occupational needs of individuals, populations, communities and health care systems.

As a graduate of the ELOTD program, you are eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam.

Application Requirements

ELOTD applicants use the OT Common Application (OTCAS) to apply
Application Fee
Resume/CV
Personal Statement: Please use the OTCAS prompt
Kira Assessment: Starting in 2023, all applicants will complete virtual asynchronous interviews using the Kira Assessment platform. This will be linked directly from your application.
GRE General Test scores are not required for applicants who have a degree from an accredited U.S. institution by time of enrollment. GRE scores are required for applicants who received a degree from an institution outside of the U.S.
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
Transcripts
Three Letters of Recommendation. Preference is to include at least one academic reference. Note: Only 2 letters of reference are required for current Tufts University undergraduate and certificate students.
Certificate of Hepatitis B Vaccination will be required upon acceptance/enrollment

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be passed with a grade of B- or better and taken at an accredited college. We do not accept online or hybrid credit for any of our prerequisite course work unless a course was moved to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

One course in abnormal psychology or psychopathology
One course in human/lifespan development (will accept a course in the area of child development or developmental psych)
One general course in the area of psychology, sociology, anthropology
One course in human cell based biology or human anatomy. At least one of your science prerequisites must contain a lab
One course in human physiology. When anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, (A&P I and II) you must be take both courses to fulfill our physiology prerequisites.
One course in introductory statistics

Note: Entry-level OTD applicants apply through OTCAS.

Please contact Jill Rocca, Occupational Therapy Admissions Coordinator, if you have any questions about the application process.

Tuition & Fees

GSAS bills tuition using a per-credit billing model, meaning you are billed for the number of credits you take each semester. This billing model is used to provide students better flexibility so they may "pay-as-they-go".

Tuition*	$1,299 per credit
Total Credits Required	106

Estimating Tuition Costs for this Program

This example pathway outlines estimated tuition costs per semester using a typical full-time course load. This is one possible pathway to completion; actual credits, costs, and degree completion time may vary based on a student’s course load.

Full-Time Pathway	Summer	Fall	Spring	Total
Year 1	11 credits	15 credits	14 credits	40 credits
Year 1	$14,289	$19,485	$18,186	$51,960
Year 2	9 credits	19 credits	17 credits	45 credits
Year 2	$11,691	$24,681	$22,083	$58,455
Year 3	7 credits	6 credits	8 credits	21 credits
Year 3	$9,093	$7,794	$10,392	$27,279
Estimated Total Tuition Before Aid*				$137,694*

Note: this example does not account for any scholarships that may be awarded at the time of admission. GSAS offers generous merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for qualified applicants. A list of funding opportunities is provided below.

*Estimated based on 2026-2027 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including health insurance, fees, and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), visit Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities

At Tufts University, we believe that every qualified applicant should have the opportunity to pursue graduate study, regardless of financial circumstances. We are committed to helping you navigate the financial aspects of your education and strive to make graduate school accessible through a variety of support options.

Scholarships and Awards Available for this Program

Merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for master’s programs: To be considered, be sure to indicate your interest within the Financial Aid section of your application.
The Future Leaders Fellowship is a full-tuition scholarship for outstanding full-time master’s students and entry-level OTD students. Future Leaders Fellows are selected by the GSAS Dean following their admittance to Tufts.
The Bekenstein Family Endowment Scholarship Award is given to occupational therapy students who have demonstrated a trajectory for leadership in the profession of occupational therapy, strong academic standing, and financial need.
City Year Corps members, alumni, and staff are eligible to receive a minimum scholarship award of 25% off tuition.

Work Opportunities and Awards

There are various graduate assistantships and work opportunities available for Graduate students across Tufts.
The Graduate Student Open Access Publishing Fund provides financial support to students who want to publish their work open access.
The Graduate Student Research Competition provides funding for expenses including equipment, materials, and supplies; research participant compensation; and expenses of travel to conduct research.
The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is available for students to travel to present or attend at a conference or professional meeting.

Visit our Graduate Financial Aid page for information on loans and financing options.

Student Spotlights

Helping People to Live Their Lives to the Fullest

TJ Pinto, OTD '24, discusses his first year in the Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral program and his career hopes for the future.

Combining Creativity and Care

Published author and student in the Entry-Level Occupational Therapy program Justine Ramos has found community and inspiration at Tufts.

Tufts really supported me in undertaking projects that aligned with my interests and goals. I’m a pretty confident person, but when you’re entering a new profession it’s easy to get intimidated. Having the opportunity to engage in a doctoral experiential component, fieldwork placements, and present at conferences gave me the confidence and knowledge base to start my career off strong and provide the highest level of care I can to children and their families.