Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who help individuals with illness, disabilities or injuries develop or regain skills that allow them to participate in everyday activities and reach independence.  An occupational therapist’s (OT) work can be diverse: an OT may help an elementary-aged student improve handwriting or help an elderly patient with self-care following a stroke.  OTs work in numerous settings including hospitals, schools, clinics, prisons, rehabilitation centers, assisted living centers, mental health clinics and senior centers.  OTs work with individuals from across the lifespan in diverse settings, and work with a variety of healthcare providers.

Occupational therapy programs vary in length depending on the type of program and degree earned.  Most students attend occupational therapy school after a baccalaureate program.  Post-baccalaureate programs include MOT (Master of Occupational Therapy), DOT (Doctor of Occupational Therapy), combined Masters and Doctorate OT degrees and OTA (Occupational Therapy Assistant) to OT degree programs. The University of Iowa does not offer an OT program.  There are five programs in Iowa, and several other programs in the Midwest. 

Sample Pre-Occupational Therapy Four-Year Academic Plan**

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

Year 4:

^**While this sample plan covers prerequisites for most OT schools, it is important to check prerequisites required for each program that you are considering. Your advisor can help you find the right UI course for any OT prerequisites not listed here.

Prerequisite Coursework

Occupational therapy programs vary considerably in their required prerequisite coursework.  Most require two semesters of anatomy and physiology, social science coursework, a statistics class and two to three psychology courses including abnormal psychology and developmental/lifespan psychology.  Some programs require one to two courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and computer science with lab components.  Students should begin researching OT programs early on to satisfy all prerequisite requirements for the programs they are considering.  Students can view prerequisites for OT programs by finding individual programs on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE) website under the schools tab.

Types and list of OT programs: https://acoteonline.org/schools/

Guidelines

Academic Guidelines

A minimum 2.60 is required for a few programs; many require a 2.75 to 3.00 minimum GPA and no grade lower than a C in any pre-requisite coursework.  Typically, OT programs admit students in the 3.30-4.00 cumulative and prerequisite GPA range.  Some schools will consider students under the academic guideline if the prerequisite GPA is higher or if a student has shown significant improvement in the last 60 hours of coursework. Admissions profiles which include average GPAs of admitted students and class size can be found on each individual OT school’s website.

Non-Academic Guidelines

Exposure to the work that OTs do in a variety of settings is important.  Many OT programs will require documentation of observation hours with a registered OT.  A minimum of 50 hours in at least two different OT settings is strongly recommended with more hours and settings encouraged.  Some OT programs require Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification within three years of application.  Many schools require information about applicants’ extra-curricular activities, internships, volunteering, accomplishments, and awards. Your pre-OT advisor can help you with finding extracurricular activities. An emphasis on social and human services work is encouraged.

Application Process

Letters of Evaluation

OTCAS allows applicants to submit three to five letters of recommendation.  Applicants should seek letters of recommendation from a faculty member and from a volunteer coordinator, occupational therapist, or pre-occupational therapy advisor.  OTCAS will not accept committee or composite letters.  Some programs require a letter of recommendation from an occupational therapist and many programs highly recommend a letter from an occupational therapist that a student knows from work or shadowing.

Interviews

Not all OT programs require interviews.  OT programs will contact applicants who have been selected for an interview.  Interviews are an important part of the admissions process.  Students can arrange for a practice interview through the UI Career Center at C310 Pomerantz Center, but this must be done in advance.  Schedule online through Handshake: https://careers.uiowa.edu/mocks

Criminal Background Checks

On the OTCAS application, applicants will be required to disclose and explain any felony convictions and instances of academic fraud or dishonesty.  Criminal activity can have negative impacts on admissions and licensure for professional practice but is not necessarily an insurmountable barrier. Honest disclosure and lessons learned are important to include in an application.

Diversity in Occupational Therapy

AOTA actively seeks to increase participation and matriculation of minority applicants in OT programs.  In 2020 the American Occupational Therapy Association launched its AOTA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan to increase the diversity of the OT workforce: https://www.aota.org/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

Entrance Examination Requirements

Some OT programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.  Arrange to take the test at least two to three months before applying to ensure receipt of scores.  Students should allow three to four months to prepare for the GRE.  A few schools have minimum GRE score requirements.

Citizenship/International Students

Most OT programs will accept international students.  Many require the TOEFL test for admission.  Some programs require international students to demonstrate financial ability to pay tuition before matriculation.  Programs vary in what they will accept as prerequisite coursework outside the United States. 

Resources

Helpful Websites

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) www.aota.org

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education https://acoteonline.org/

National Board for Certification on Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) www.nbcot.org

Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) www.otcas.org

American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) www.aotf.org

Iowa Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) www.iowaot.org