Pre-Occupational Therapy Preparation

Although you can select any undergraduate major, most OT schools expect you to take pre-requisite courses before you apply. These required courses can be different depending on the school you wish to apply to. You must research specific admissions requirements for each school you apply to. Occupational Therapy students must check with the individual schools for course requirements. Search for OT schools.

This is a guide of recommended courses students could take at Michigan Tech to prepare for OT school. This is not an exhaustive list. You are responsible to check with the schools you wish to apply to for specific requirements. Students should also check with the individual schools if they intend to use AP or community college credits to see if those are accepted.

Most OT schools require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as the entrance exam. Competitive GRE scores average 300-310 or higher. Students should aim for above the 50th percentile.

The GRE is offered as a computer-based test year-round. Register for the GRE.  On average, students should spend 50 to 200 hours preparing for the GRE. This largely depends on how efficiently you study. The more time you spend the more confident you will be.

 

• Official ETS GRE Resources
• Top 8 Tips for the GRE
• GRE FAQ’s
• GRE Vocabulary Flash Cards
• Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep Discounts

A competitive GPA is crucial for acceptance into OT schools. Most programs have minimum GPA requirements in order to apply that include both cumulative GPA and pre-requisite GPA. It is common for occupational therapy schools to require at least a 3.0; average accepted students have a GPA of 3.5 or more.

Apart from your prerequisites and entrance exam score, most OT schools require one to four letters of recommendation, a written personal statement, and if selected, an in-person interview. Many also require applicants to have a minimum number of volunteer and or paid hours working with patients. You may be required to have a licensed therapist verify your hours. Many schools place major emphasis on your experience when making admissions decisions.

Get more information on OT admissions criteria.

The Professional Association for Occupational Therapy Schools is the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Most Occupational Therapy schools go through a centralized application called the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). The application opens in July and deadlines vary.