HPU'S LAS VEGAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM IS GRANTED ACCREDITATION

HPU's Las Vegas Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program has been granted seven-year accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The multiphase process took three years to complete, ensuring that the program meets the rigorous administrative and educational standards set by ACOTE and has the capacity to sustain a successful graduate program. With this decision, HPU’s Las Vegas OTD becomes just the third accredited OTD program in Nevada, helping meet the state’s growing need for skilled occupational therapy practitioners. The OTD program includes 65 students and eight full-time faculty and staff. 

HPU’s Las Vegas OTD program earned praise for how intentionally it brings Hawaiian culture and values into both the curriculum and the everyday life of the program. The ACOTE accreditation council noted that the students and faculty receive ongoing guidance from the program’s kumu on Hawaiian language, cultural values, and how those lessons can be carried into academic work and professional practice. Hawaiian vocabulary is used naturally throughout the program, and faculty regularly consult the Kumu to ensure cultural authenticity and avoid misappropriation. Students of Hawaiian heritage have shared that the program feels genuine and familiar, an approach that strengthens cultural humility and cultural justice and helps prepare graduates for practice in diverse communities.

“Achieving accreditation through ACOTE is a significant achievement for HPU and Nevada. It represents HPU and the department’s ability to meet the expectations of providing high-quality graduate education using the hybrid model of delivery, while condensing a doctorate program into two years,” said HPU OTD Program Director and Professor Robyn Otty, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, FAOTA. “By providing a comprehensive program that allows students to remain residents of their community, they will also meet the needs of the Las Vegas community through their on-site immersive experiences in this innovative hybrid program.”

Accreditation is a critical step for students because it is required for graduates to be eligible to sit for the national board exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), the certification needed to practice as a licensed occupational therapist.

Occupational therapy (OT) professionals are experts in identifying and adapting environments and tasks to help people overcome physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. They may design a sensory-friendly classroom so a child can thrive, collaborate with families to build independence at home, or advocate for workplace accommodations that ensure all voices are heard. These examples are a small fraction of the work OT practitioners accomplish with the goal of restoring agency, participation, and dignity in daily life.

HPU’s Las Vegas OTD program is housed in a brand-new, ADA-compliant teaching space in the southwest Las Vegas Valley. All lab immersion courses are conducted in person in this facility, which features an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) suite with a fully functional kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom designed for hands-on learning. The space is shared with HPU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Las Vegas, promoting interprofessional education and collaboration across disciplines.

Las Vegas’ dynamic, multicultural community, proximity to major health care systems, and strong ties with Hawai‘i make it an ideal location for the hybrid program. The design allows students to remain in their home communities, including rural areas that previously may not have had access to a professional OT program, while traveling to Las Vegas for scheduled in-person immersions. 

HPU’s Las Vegas OTD program welcomed its first cohort of students in August 2025 and continues to accept applications. To learn more about HPU’s Las Vegas OTD program, click here. 

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o ACOTE is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony confection may affect a graduates’ ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.