Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) couldn’t have asked for a better inaugural cohort for its entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.
After earning doctoral degrees from one of the first hybrid programs of its kind and being honored at RMU’s convocation ceremony in April, the first graduating class has since achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Board for Certification in Occupational (NBCOT) examination.
In addition to graduating from an accredited program and doing requisite fieldwork, occupational therapists must pass this national certification exam to become licensed and earn the requisite “Occupational Therapist, Registered” credential to practice their healthcare profession.
“I am beyond thrilled,” said Dr. Bryan Gee, chair of RMU’s Department of Occupational Therapy and director of the OTD program. “These amazing students have navigated our new program with passion for the occupational therapy profession. Their success on the NBCOT exam is a testament to their grit and perseverance in managing personal barriers and the growing pains of a newly accredited and innovative hybrid OTD program.”
According to NBCOT data, the average first-time pass rate was 68% in 2024-25 while the overall new graduate pass rate (within one year of graduating) was about 92%, making the RMU alumnae’s achievement even more impressive.
Dr. Gee complimented the six students for being “pioneers” at RMU. He appreciated that they asked hard questions and were cooperative as the University began this new program, which will help fill a need for an ongoing demand for qualified occupational therapists in Utah and nationally.
“These students have been our colleagues as well,” Dr. Gee said of the first cohort at the April 2026 convocation ceremony. “There has always been a level of mutual respect. I want to congratulate these six and say, ‘Thank you.’”
The six RMU graduates—Danielle Archer, Lauren Colley, Christen Ellis, Danae Smith, Katelyn Spiker, and Cynthia Uriarte—began their studies at the University in Fall 2023.
“Because we were the first cohort, we got the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to figure out what the program was going to look like and what the overall culture of the OTD program at RMU would be,” Ellis, a graduate speaker, said in a Provo Daily Herald article. “We got to play a big role in that, which I feel is a unique opportunity.”
In addition to the students’ hard work, Dr. Gee credited their success to the dedication of RMU’s OTD staff, faculty members, fieldwork educators, capstone mentors, and advisers.
“They selflessly shepherded them along the way,” Dr. Gee said. “We could not celebrate this milestone without acknowledging the support of the RMU administration, including Dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Jeff Lau, Provost Malissa Martin, President Cameron K. Martin, and others who enabled our program to have innovative and supportive learning spaces and resources on and off campus.”
Provost Martin, who is also RMU’s executive vice president of academic affairs, also lauded the team effort that helped this cohort graduate and pass the exam that will help them enter the workforce prepared to help improve lives.
“We celebrate this outstanding accomplishment of our OTD students and of our faculty, program leadership, and support staff who help so much with our students’ success,” said RMU Provost Malissa Martin. “Knowing we are one of the first hybrid models for OTD education in the United States, these scores are even more exciting and support the continued growth of hybrid professional healthcare programs.”
It’s a promising start for the only OTD program of its kind in Utah and the region, which continues to grow. RMU’s second class grew from six to 22, the third cohort expanded to 36, and the recently started Cohort 4 includes 38 students. RMU’s OTD students come from Utah and the Intermountain West, across the nation, and even internationally, (notably Canada).
The timing for this program coincides with a surging demand for occupational therapists, which is expected to grow by 14% through 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further, occupational therapy has also been ranked as the fifth-most AI-proof profession by the U.S. Career Institute.
“I look forward to the continued success of our amazing OTD students and alumni,” Dr. Gee said.
