Preparing for occupational therapy programs
College of Health
Oregon State is a great place to start on your path to OT school
What you need to know about occupational therapist programs
OT programs are offered at both the master's and doctoral level and require a bachelor's degree for admission. Master's programs typically take two to three years; doctoral programs approximately three.
All programs include at least six months of supervised fieldwork, and graduates must pass a national board exam to become licensed.
What are the prerequisite courses for OT programs?
Programs share many prerequisites in common, though requirements vary slightly by school. In general, plan on completing coursework in:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Physics
- General, developmental and abnormal psychology
- Statistics
- Medical terminology
- Humanities
Psychology, sociology and liberal arts backgrounds are also common among OT applicants. For a full list, see the Pre-OT prerequisites guide.
College of Health undergraduate majors incorporate many pre-OT prerequisites.
Do I need field experience before applying?
Yes, and this is important. OT programs expect applicants to have observed OT practice in multiple settings across a range of ages and patient populations.
Minimum hour requirements vary by program, so check each school's requirements carefully. The earlier you start building observation hours, the stronger your application will be.
How competitive is it to get into OT programs?
OT admissions are competitive. Strong applicants typically have:
- A strong cumulative GPA and science/math GPA
- Significant observation hours across a variety of OT settings and age groups
- Well-rounded work, volunteer and extracurricular experience
Do I need to take the GRE?
It depends on the program. Some OT programs require the GRE; others don't. Check the requirements for each school you're considering.