Occupational Therapy Primer

What does an Occupational Therapist (OT)do?

 Designs customized treatment programs to improve patients’ ability to perform daily activities

 Evaluates home and job sites with adaptation recommendations

Assesses performance skills and devises treatments

 Recommends adaptive equipment and trains patients on usage

Provides guidance to family members and caregivers

From The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

What degree do I need to be an Occupational Therapist?

In order to become an OT, you must graduate from an accredited OT master’s or doctoral program, complete Level I and Level II fieldwork requirements, pass the NBCOT Certification Examination, and apply for a license. Both degree programs prepare students to become entry-level practitioners, but doctoral students take additional coursework and complete a 16-week experiential component and culminating project. There are only 15 doctoral programs and 161 master’s programs in the country. Graduates of these programs practice as generalists. OTs who wish to specialize may enroll in post-professional programs.

What classes do I need to take to get into an Occupational Therapyprogram?

Prerequisite coursework varies significantly across Occupational Therapy programs and matriculants have majored in a wide of fields, including biology, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.It is important that you contact the educational programs to which you are interested in applying and make sure you have taken the necessary prerequisites for admission into their programs. Some examples of prerequisites may include:

  • General Biology (8 hours)
  • Anatomy & Physiology (8 hours)
  • Statistics (3 hours)
  • Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
  • Medical Terminology (3 hours)
  • Bioethics (3 hours)
  • Sociology (3 hours)
  • Sociocultural Anthropology (3 hours)

Remember, this is not a standardized or exhaustive list. You must refer to individual schools to ensure that you have satisfied their prerequisites.

What test do I need to take for admission?

Most schools require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The exam is offered year round at computer-based testing sites across the country. You can learn more on the ETS website:

What does a competitive applicant look like?

Competitive applicants to Occupational Therapy programs typically have at least a 3.2 overall undergraduate GPA. In addition, some programs require that students have observation or volunteer experience prior to applying. Even if schools do not require clinical experience, having exposure to the field will make you a more competitive candidate.

How do I apply?

TheOccupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) allows occupational therapy applicants to use a single web-based application and one set of transcripts to apply to multiple schools.You can find a list of participating programs here. If a program is not listed, you will need to visit the school’s website to find its unique application and instructions.

When do I apply?

APPLY EARLY!Deadlines vary across Occupational Therapy programs, ranging from October to March. Some schools expect your transcripts to be verified prior to the deadline and this process can take up to a month to complete after you have submitted your application to OTCAS. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, so early applicants have a significant advantage.

What sites do I need to check out?

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA):

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT):

Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS):