South College Knoxville earns candidacy approval status for Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and begins accepting students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2025

South College in Knoxville is now accepting students for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program after earning candidacy status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

The inaugural class of 100 maximum will begin classes in October 2025 for a program that can be completed in two years for full-time students and combines online courses with in-person labs, fieldwork and a doctoral capstone project and experience.

“The need for advanced medical care practitioners in multiple fields has accelerated,” said Stephen A. South, Chancellor of the South College. “The approved candidacy status for our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program allows us to continue to work toward meeting this need in the healthcare workforce. Our classroom instruction, well-qualified faculty members and hands-on learning with modern equipment in immersive on-campus laboratories will provide students with excellent professional opportunities in their futures.”

Candidacy status also allows the Knoxville campus to proceed to the pre-accreditation review step of the full accreditation process, which would be completed in 2026.

When making a decision to approve candidacy status, ACOTE reviews program leadership, institutional support, an already-established Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and a hybrid education model with both online and face-to-face learning, among other factors.

Doctoral students will undergo instruction for patient screening and evaluation of best practices; evidence-based care for patients across the lifespan; research methods, design and analysis; professional leadership and advocacy; and community-based practice and health promotion.

For additional information about the doctoral program, visit south.edu/program/doctor-of-occupational-therapy or call admissions at 865-214-6020.

South College offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Marietta, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE.

To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.

About South College

South College serves more than 14,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Marietta, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.

South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.

###