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Admissions

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, you must have a baccalaureate degree in any discipline from an accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. 

The program requires a number of prerequisite courses, including the following.

  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Anatomy and Physiology (can be satisfied by completing a two-course sequence of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, or an anatomy course with lab and a physiology course)
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology 
  • Statistics
Application

Students must apply using the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy (OTCAS). All required documents mentioned below will be submitted through OTCAS.

Transcripts

Submit official transcripts from all the undergraduate and graduate institutions you’ve attended. Please mail all of your official transcripts to the following address.

OTCAS
P.O. Box 9120
Watertown, MA 02471

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to the Occupational Therapy OTD program should include three letters of recommendation. These can be written by professors, academic advisors, teaching assistants, lab instructors, mentors, work supervisors, team coaches and those in similar positions. Letters from family members will not be accepted. Letters from a licensed occupational therapist are welcome but NOT required. Be thoughtful in asking individuals that can include the following.

  • A person who has taught or mentored you in a collegiate academic course and can attest to your academic abilities and readiness for doctoral-level work
  • A person who can speak to your performance in a work, internship or research setting
  • A person who can attest to your commitment to service
Statement of Goals

OTCAS requires the submission of a personal statement, which should address why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational and professional background will help you achieve your goals. This essay is an important part of your application and allows you to clearly and effectively express yourself. Do not personalize this essay for a particular program, as it is shared with all programs to which you apply.

As you complete the application, you will also be asked to provide a supplemental short answer addressing the mission of the Occupational Therapy OTD program to ensure access, opportunity and participation for persons, populations and organizations through education, practice, service and research. Our goal, through our community-based curriculum, is to develop practitioners who serve and advocate for access, diversity, inclusion, equity and occupational justice for all. Reflect on what this statement means to you based on your experiences with diverse communities and how you will embody our mission.

Résumé

Please provide a current professional résumé.

Observation Hours

Applicants should demonstrate 12 hours of observation and/or occupational therapy-related coursework or work experience. TU OT highly recommends that applicants understand the breadth and depth of occupational therapy prior to entering into the field. Although a variety of practice areas is preferred for students to assist in understanding the scope of occupational therapy, only one is required.

  • This can also include Temple OT educational and service related events.
  • For Temple University undergraduate students, successful completion HRPR 1222 will fulfill this requirement.
Interview

Once all required application materials are received, students may be invited to participate in an interview with Occupational Therapy faculty.

Clearances

To start your required clinical/fieldwork placement, you’ll need to pass clearances including criminal background checks, drug screenings and DHS fingerprinting. You’ll also need proof of personal health insurance.

Additional Requirements for International Students

  • TOEFL: For applicants whose native language is not English, the TOEFL is required with a minimum score of 79 on the iBT. These scores should be sent officially to Temple University using the code 2906. 

  • A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their degree outside of the United States. This can be requested and submitted through OTCAS.

Admissions Deadlines

Summer II term (June start): May 15

Program Prerequisite Information

  • Temple University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program requires that applicants have a verified grade of a "B-" or higher in each of their prerequisite courses in order to be considered for admission. At the time of application submission, prerequisites may be in progress or pending, but must be completed prior to our deadline, April 1. Applications with prerequisites that do not have a “B-” or higher will not be considered.
  • Lab courses must have been completed within five years. All other courses must be completed within 10 years. 
  • In the event that Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology/Cultural Anthropology were completed more than 10 years ago, one may take a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam or retake the course to complete this prerequisite. This is the only time a CLEP course may be accepted.
  • Courses may be taken at any accredited institution, including your local community college.
  • All prerequisite courses, with the exception of lab courses, can be taken online.
  • The only AP course we accept is AP Psychology. This must be listed on your OTCAS and official transcript to be considered. 
  • We do not accept CLEP or AP courses (with the exception as noted above) for prerequisites.
  • We do not accept credit for experiential and/or work experience.
  • If you have any questions regarding prerequisites, please contact . If you aren’t sure whether a course meets the requirement, please send the official link to the course description and a course syllabus for each course you want reviewed.

Laptop Requirement

Laptops are integrated into the curriculum at the College of Public Health to improve opportunities for active learning and provide greater access to specialized software and required tools in and out of the classroom. Incoming students are required to have a laptop that meets certain minimum hardware specifications. Review full laptop requirements.