Each occupational therapy program has different requirements for prerequisite courses. Research schools early for specific information about requirements. Another important note is that there are both Masters and Doctoral programs in occupational therapy, and you should review each type carefully to decide which best suits your goals. 

Though requirements for individual schools vary, here are some recommended courses that would apply to most schools:

• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• General Biology
• Statistics
• Psychology (including Developmental Psychology)
• Medical Terminology

Utilize the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) tool for program and prerequisite information.

Occupational therapy (OT) programs generally admit students once a year. Please check with each of the schools you plan to apply to for specific dates.

Applications are submitted about 12-13 months before your desired enrollment date. However, the timing depends on when you will complete your degree, the necessary coursework, and successfully take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Research schools early for specific information about requirements.

The Occupational Therapy School Application process includes five main components:

1. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) - (Most Schools)
2. Primary Application
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Secondary Applications - (Most Schools)
5. Interviews

Spring

• Draft your personal statement. 
• Request letters of evaluation/reference.
• Complete shadowing hours with an OT in various settings. Applicants to OT programs are required to have a minimum number of direct observation hours.
• Take the GRE, if you have not already done so.

Summer

• The Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) portal opens in mid-July. You can create an account and enter coursework. Begin to fill out primary applications as soon as possible. 
• Order official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities you have attended to be sent to OTCAS.

Fall

• Complete supplemental applications as they come in.
• Prepare for and attend interviews. 

Letters of Recommendation/Support:

Requirements for letters vary between schools, though most schools require three. Begin early to establish a network of professors, supervisors (for volunteer or paid work), and healthcare providers who are familiar with your work. It is important to choose recommenders who know you well.

Personal Statements:

The personal statement is about you and your motivation for pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist. Describe your current passion for the field with specific stories from lived experiences. Try to choose a theme rather than random thoughts. The primary application activities section provides a list of accomplishments. Your personal essay is an opportunity to provide additional, more in-depth information, and is not a place to repeat your previously mentioned accomplishments. It can be helpful to remember why you are interested in becoming an occupational therapist.

Most occupational therapy programs require the GRE. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is administered throughout the year. It may be repeated, but the best strategy is to prepare thoroughly and take it once. Taking the exam by spring the year before you wish to enter Occupational Therapy school will enable you to apply earlier. For more information visit the GRE website.    

Applicants to the OT program at Eastern Kentucky University are required to take the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT). This is non-content based test that measures critical thinking and quantitative reasoning and is administered through the individual school you're applying to. 

Most occupational therapy programs hold 'interview days' where they bring in a group of applicants that may consist of some or all of the following: Interviews, written essays, school tours, and opportunities to meet students and faculty.

Interviews can take many forms, so it is important to research your schools and be prepared for each kind. The Stuckert Career Center can help you with preparation tips and practicing your interviewing skills.

The most common types of interviews are:

• One-on-one: Usually, one or two interviews ranging 30-45 minutes.
• Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): 7-10 rooms with a different prompt or scenario posted on the door. You are typically given 2 minutes to prepare before entering the room. Once you enter, you are given 5-8 minutes to respond to the prompt or play out the scenario with a trained actor and ask follow-up questions.
• Group: May be either one applicant interviewed by several interviewers or a group of applicants interviewed by one or more interviewer.

The experiences section is a core component of the application where you list academic enrichment, OT experience, OT shadowing, employment, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. It provides admissions committees with a structured look at how you spend your time outside the classroom. To find UK student organizations related to medical school, search BBNVolved. 

Shadowing/Observation

Applicants should shadow/observe licensed Occupational Therapists in action, working in a variety of settings and across age groups. Shadowing is not only required for entrance to many programs but also enables you to begin growing your professional network. This is important, as many programs require at least one recommendation letter from an Occupational Therapist. 

Volunteering

As a caring attitude is central to the practice of Occupational Therapy, applicants should demonstrate a commitment to service, more specifically direct service. 

Occupational Therapy Schools in Kentucky

• Eastern Kentucky University
• Murray State University
• Northern Kentucky University
• Spalding University
• University of the Cumberlands

Find an Occupational Therapy School at American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

 Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)