The Basics
Preparing to be an occupational therapist does not happen overnight. Most people know that it is important to have strong grades, but just as important is gaining experience to develop the skills, knowledge, and maturity necessary to be an effective healthcare provider. As with others on a healthcare team, an occupational therapist’s decisions and actions affect human life and well-being. Occupational Therapists must pay attention to detail, have high ethical standards, communicate well with patients and other healthcare providers, maintain reliable records, and be knowledgeable about existing and new rehabilitation techniques to ensure each patient has optimal therapy results.
Occupational Therapy Pre-Requisites
Occupational Therapy programs expect students to have academic preparation in biological sciences, anatomy & physiology, psychology, other social sciences, and statistics. Other coursework or experiences that could be recommended or required include: physical sciences, medical terminology, 3D skill/craft/art or a portfolio demonstrating creativity and manual dexterity. It is the responsibility of the student to research individual Occupational Therapy programs to determine the exact coursework required for admission, as it can vary by program. Students should also be aware of when pre-requisites are required to be completed by to be considered for admission.
Consult the Occupational Therapy Prerequisite Guide PDF below for more details.
Recommended courses include the following:
Biological Sciences, 3-4 credit hours
MCB 150/MCB 151 or IB 150/IB 151
Human Anatomy & Human Physiology, 6-8 credit hours
MCB 244/MCB 245 and MCB 246/MCB247
Psychology & Human Development, 6-9 credit hours
PSYC 100 Intro to Psychology
PSYC 216 Child Psychology
PSYC 238 Psychopathology & Problems in Living (Abnormal)
PSYC 361 Psychology of Aging
HDFS 105 Intro to Human Development
Social Sciences, 3-6 credit hours
SOC 100, ANTH 101
Statistics, 3 credit hours
STAT 100, PSYC 235, or equivalent
Physical Science: 3-4 credit hours
PHYS 101 and/or CHEM 102/CHEM 103
Medical Terminology, 1-3 credit hours
CLCV 102
3D Skill/Craft/Art, 3 credit hours (some programs may accept a portfolio)
ARTS 201, ARTS 210, ARTS 230, ARTS 231
Knowledge of Self and Profession
Throughout the application process, you will need to demonstrate knowledge of yourself (values, goals, motivations, strengths, weaknesses), an understanding of the profession, and a commitment to become an occupational therapist. You must clearly articulate your readiness to enter the profession as a result of first-hand experience in the field. There should be evidence in your application that you are committed to service and helping others. You must demonstrate your ability to work on a team, to lead, and to communicate with people with different backgrounds, values, and perspectives from your own.
Major and GPA
And finally, there is no “best major” for pre-occupational therapy students. You can choose ANY major and be successful in your application to occupational therapy school. Admissions personnel will review your GPA from a variety of perspectives…cumulative GPA, science/math GPA, prerequisite GPA. Choose a major that you will enjoy and allows you to successfully complete the required and recommended courses while also gaining experience outside the classroom. Consider a major that will provide many career options, recognizing that students commonly change majors and career plans multiple times as they learn about themselves and their career options.