Doctor of Occupational Therapy Admissions

Admissions Status

Our program participates in the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. Applicants applying to our program will apply online using the OTCAS application. The application portal is currently open for Fall 2025 applicants. Walsh University also offers an Early Assurance program option for incoming freshmen.

The Occupational Therapy Program adheres to the non-discrimination policy established by the university:

Walsh University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loans programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

In consideration of the above policy, any candidate who demonstrates a history of scholastic aptitude along with professional potential will be considered for admission. All qualified students applying to our program are required to successfully complete an interview prior to being accepted.

Students can complete their undergraduate degree from Walsh University or other accredited institutions and submit application materials for review. Admissions requirements are described below.

Requirements

Specific application requirements, to be submitted on OTCAS include the following:

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree completed or in progress
• Complete the Academic History section in OTCAS with every institution attended.
  • Print the OTCAS transcript matching form for each institution.
  • Arrange for your official transcripts to be sent from the registrar to OTCAS with the transcript matching form enclosed.
  • When entering all of your college courses in OTCAS use a personal copy of your transcripts. Do not enter courses from memory. OTCAS may withhold verification of grades if your self-report does not match your transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation (may be from an instructor, employer, supervisor, or coach who have known the applicant at least one year)
• Exposure to the field of occupational therapy by completing a minimum of 20 total observation hours in at least two different locations is required.
  • All observation hours must be verified with a signature from a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant and include the name of the site. Please refer to our Clinical Observation form (PDF) for necessary components.
• Login to OTCAS regularly to check the real time status of your transcript verification and completion of references as you may need follow up on these items.
• Contact OTCAS promptly if you have any discrepancies or issues with your application.
• Do not wait for OTCAS to receive all of your materials before e-submitting your application (e-submission requires paying your fee). You will want OTCAS to begin verifying your grades as you continue to ensure your letters of recommendation are completed electronically.

International Applicants must also submit the following application materials:

• TOEFL score (international students only)
• Academic transcripts must be evaluated by WES with a course by course evaluation on a 4.0 scale.

Some courses may be offered through a distance format. In order to be successful in these courses, students must demonstrate an aptitude for self-direction and have access to the internet using either a tablet or computer.

To Interview:

The following materials must be submitted to and processed by OTCAS to be considered and ranked for a slot in the interviews:

• OTCAS application- paid fee *we recommend this be completed 6 weeks before our application deadline.
• Transcripts from all institutions attended verified by OTCAS.
• 3 completed letters of recommendation.
• 2 completed observations with a minimum of 20 combined total hours is required.
• 6 of the 9 prerequisite courses completed or in progress with a grade and a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Applicants applying after March will be required to have 6 prerequisites completed at the time of application submission.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be considered for Fall 2025 beginning July 21, 2024. Early applicants will be given preference.

Final application deadline will be May 16, 2025.

The final interview date is to be determined.

Interviews will be held in person for those applicants within a 250 mile radius or if requested for those outside that radius. Applicants outside that radius may request a virtual interview.

Routes of Admission

There are three routes of admission into the Graduate Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. All qualified students applying to our program are required to successfully complete an interview prior to being accepted.

Standard

Standard entry in which the student completes an undergraduate degree in 4 years prior to entry into the Graduate Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.

Traditional Early Assurance Direct Freshman Entry

The Early Assurance entry is available to a limited number of graduating high school seniors who can either enroll in Walsh University’s Psychology Pre-OT program or Exercise Science Pre-OT program.

Accelerated Early Assurance Direct Freshmen Entry

The accelerated direct freshman entry program is available to a limited number of graduating high school seniors who can either enroll in Walsh University’s Psychology Pre-OT program or Exercise Science Pre-OT program. Accelerated Early Assurance major and transition to the OTD program after completing their junior year.

Prerequisites

An applicant may major in any undergraduate area but must successfully complete course prerequisites with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisite courses must be a grade of C or higher to be accepted.

AP credits are not accepted as fulfillment of prerequisite courses

Credits for coursework or experiential learning at another occupational therapy program will not be accepted

We evaluate prerequisite courses taken at other institutions through review of course syllabi. The requirements listed above represent semester credit hours. If your course work was designated as quarter credit hours, convert your quarter credits to semester credits to ensure that your preparation meets these requirements. In order to convert quarter hours to semester hours, divide the quarter hours by 1.5 (Example: 4 QH/1.5 = 2.6 semester hours).

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