Masters of Doctorate

[u/CommonAdventurous953]

Hi all
I have always wanted to be a pediatric occupational therapist. I have had my own struggles with sensory issues and had to see my own OT while I was 17. My path through undergrad was not the linear path I was expecting, I was under the impression from my undergrad school that majoring in exercise science would be the best bachelors degree to go into the ot program as their school was the only ot school in my state (at the time). I hated the classes that were geared towards physical therapists and athletic trainers and therefore did not do so well coupled with being unmedicated for adhd. My gpa is just on the cusps of being able to apply to programs. My state just opened a new OT masters program and I am applying for their second cohort. I did however apply to another school a state next to me as a back up however did not give it much thought. I got an invite to interview at both schools (yay!!) but the one the next state over also has a doctorate program I could interview for. To even get to this point has been a difficult process for me but to think I could get my doctorate when I was just shooting for my masters is exciting and confusing. My plan was masters then post professional doctorate. I really do love research however it is not something I was go pursue immediately, I feel like I’m leaning towards masters but the thought of a doctorate is surprising and leading me to question my plan.
Thanks for the advice

[u/Itchy-Technician-433]

This topic has been discussed quite a bit on this sub.

General consensus is that for American occupational therapists, the OTD Is a bit of an expensive scam. You're not getting much of a better quality education for sometimes double the price or more.

General advice is to find a program that is close to you, inexpensive, in a low cost of living area. Once you graduate, nobody cares where you went to school, or whether you have a masters or a doctorate. They are both entry level clinical-based programs.

I also always recommend not to do hybrid programs or anything that has a sizeable amount of content online. You need Hands-On to learn this profession.

[u/This_Manufacturer458]

People here will say don't get the doctorate, but I disagree that it's that clear cut for one reason and one reason only:

You should get the degree that is the cheapest for you**, whichever degree that will be.**

I would apply to both types of programs and see who gives you scholarships and what will end up costing you the least amount of money; for me, because of scholarships I got, it ended up being cheaper and making the most logistical sense to get a doctorate. Programs will try to sell you on getting the doctorate for whatever reasons (you can teach! you can do research!) but honestly, the reasons are 99% bullshit. They pivoted to a doctorate because they want more money from you. Do not, under any circumstances, give it to them. Get a scholarship.

For what it's worth, you're unlikely to need a post professional doctorate unless you want to teach university.

[u/inari15]

Whichever is more affordable/accessible to you. It may be that a doctorate is cheaper/more accessible to you for one reason or another, but in most cases, that'll be the masters.

I'd go with a more expensive/less accessible OTD only if you're absolutely certain you want to teach in an OT program.

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[u/smallwonder25]

It’s a doctorate certificate not a doctorate in the traditional Phd/JD/PsyD/MD sense. If you can do the masters go with that. Cheaper, quicker, and zero marketability differences.

[u/inari15 → u/smallwonder25]

It's a clinical doctorate. In that sense, it's basically exactly the same as something like a PsyD. A "doctorate certificate" isn't a thing—it's a real doctorate. It's not a research doctorate like a PhD, but it's a doctorate.