Practitioners' perceptions of the occupational therapy clinical doctorate

Six hundred occupational therapy practitioners from seven states responded to questions inquiring about the perceptions of the occupational therapy clinical doctorate degree, both at the entry-level and post-professional positions. The majority of respondents does not approve of moving to the doctorate for entry-level practice, and are not interested in pursuing the degree personally. The most common reasons for the low interest are the respondents' belief that the degree will not further their careers, that practitioners cannot afford to stop working to pursue another degree, and that they cannot balance work, family, and education. The small number of respondents who are interested in the clinical doctorate degree want it for personal development and are interested in clinical practice specialization.