STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University’s occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program was recently granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
No other occupational therapy programs exist within a 60-mile radius of Stephenville, positioning the new academic offering well to address the needs of the region.
With the decision, Tarleton State’s program will be included on ACOTE’s list of programs holding candidacy status that are eligible to admit students starting June 2025.
“This is such an exciting time for Tarleton State University and the College of Health Sciences,” said Dr. Ramona Parker, Associate Vice President and Executive Dean for the College of Health Sciences. “I am very pleased with Dr. Shannon Levandowski and her team’s outstanding work in helping us reach this significant milestone.”
Tarleton State’s occupational therapy program now moves to the preaccreditation review step of the accreditation process.
“We are thrilled to announce that Tarleton State University’s OTD program has been granted candidacy status by the ACOTE,” said Dr. Levandowski, Occupational Therapy Program Director. “This milestone marks a significant step forward as we eagerly anticipate welcoming our first cohort of OTD students in summer 2025 and continue to advance our program’s development to deliver exceptional educational experiences in occupational therapy in rural Texas.”
Some of the strengths identified included a state and institutional commitment to rural medical programs and communities, a structural design that supports innovative and new programing, and a shared institutional focus on the success of programs and students.
An $80 million Health Professions Building is currently under construction and will add 92,000 square feet to meet classroom and laboratory space requirements. The new facility is scheduled to open summer 2025.
Moving forward, the program will also hire clerical and support staff to meet programmatic, administrative, fieldwork and doctoral capstone requirements, including for any portion offered by distance education.
Students graduating from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.