Pre-Occupational Therapy Requirements

Admission Requirements

Students have two options when applying for admission to the UND Occupational Therapy Program.

• Standard admissions option: Application is typically completed during junior year of undergraduate coursework.
• Early assurance: Application is completed during senior year of high school.

Standard Admission Requirements to Occupational Therapy Professional Program

Applicant must be eligible for admission to the University of North Dakota or currently enrolled at UND. All applicants must complete the OTCAS application and the UND graduate application. 

Admission to the Professional Program in OT requires completion of the following:

1. All pre-requisite coursework with a grade of C or higher; minimum 2.75 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) and 8 credits of 300 and/or 400 level(s) coursework
2. Thirty (30) hours of volunteer work prior to application (see Volunteer Work Information)
3. Information required includes letters of reference, written essay, resumé, and volunteer information
4. Onsite interview and writing exercise

Admissions are competitive and based on Admissions Committee review of:

• Cumulative GPA
• Personal interview
• Leadership record
• Volunteerism record
• Essay
• Recommendations (references), preferably from professors, supervisors or professionals with whom you have worked.
• Resumé (include organizational and community involvements)
• Prior to admission, a minimum of 90 semester hours of credit from an approved college or university is required. Students should be broadly educated in the sciences and humanities. The CLEP in natural sciences will not meet the Biology and Chemistry requirements in Occupational Therapy. Students should carefully check all CLEP exams for potential acceptance at UND. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are required to verify completion of prerequisites and grade requirements.
• Early Acceptance Option: Applicants who have a 3.75 GPA or higher, may apply through the Early Acceptance Option. The deadline for Early Acceptance is in early September and applicants will be informed of acceptance by mid-October. Please see OTCAS and OT Program website for deadlines.

Early Assurance Admissions Requirement for Undergraduate

Early assurance is a criterion-based early admission program for Pre-Occupational Therapy students who have exemplary academic performance during high school.

• Limited to the top 20 most qualified candidates
• Selection process begins in September for the following fall
• High school GPA of 3.75 or higher

How to Be Considered

• High school seniors apply for admission to UND
• Declare intent to pursue Pre-Occupational Therapy on UND admission application
• Complete the Occupational Therapy early assurance application (invitation and link to application will be emailed to qualified candidates)
• Priority given to early applicants
• Students who are not selected for early assurance are encouraged to apply for admission to the Occupational Therapy program through the standard admission process.

Progression Criteria

• Maintains enrollment at the University of North Dakota-Grand Forks
• One meeting per semester with UND OT Early Assurance Advisor
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 for all undergraduate coursework
• Achieve a GPA of 3.40 for UND OT prerequisite coursework by the Fall prior to the anticipated year entering the program.
• Progress through prerequisite coursework for the UND OT program as determined by meetings with UND OT Early Assurance Advisor
• Fulfillment of UND Essential Studies requirements
• Attain 30 observation hours, 20 of which must be with an occupational therapist
• One of the following:
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • > 90 semester credit hours with the equivalent of an identified minor in a selected discipline
  • >90 semester credit hours with at least 8 of those credits at the 300 and/or 400 level(s) of coursework.
• Students may only withdraw once from an individual course and may only have three total course withdrawals
• Students may only retake 2 UND OT prerequisite courses.
• Students are expected to comply with all elements of the UND Code of Student Life and interact with peers, faculty, and community members in a thoughtful, respectful manner.
• Pass a criminal background check prior to matriculation within the professional program.

Pre-OT and Undergraduate Degree Options

The bachelor’s degree is not required to enter or continue in the OTD program. The OTD program has agreements established with four degree programs that will accept the first two semesters of the OTD curriculum in order to complete the requirements of said degree. The four agreements with other programs are: 1. BA in Psychology/OT Special Emphasis, 2. BS in Psychology/OT Special Emphasis (see OT website), 3. Bachelor of Science in Inclusive Rehabilitation Sciences, and 4. Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology Allied Health/OT Emphasis.  Please see Pre-OT Degree Option Plans

Additionally, the fifth option is for the student to earn a Bachelor of General Studies with a Health Sciences Subplan which requires: 

1. Have completed their pre-OT work either at UND or at another institution and have not earned a previous baccalaureate degree.
2. Have successfully completed the first two semesters of the OT professional sequence. The undergraduate degree would then be awarded at the end of the second semester.

3. Have completed a minimum of 90 undergraduate credits to include all pre-OT work, 8 credits at 300 level or higher, and selected major degree requirements.

The following list of courses and credits indicates the core prerequisites all applicants must complete prior to admission to the occupational therapy program.

• Two semesters of Composition (6 credits)
• One Semester of Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• One semester of Public Speaking (3 credits)
• One semester of Biology and lab (4 credits)
• One semester of Chemistry and lab (4 credits)
• One semester of Psychology, Sociology, or Public Health Statistics (3 credits)
• One semester of Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
• One semester of Psychological Disorders and Treatment or Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
• One semester of Introductory Sociology or Anthropology (3 credits)
• Two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology; lab required (8 credits)
• One semester of Introduction to Occupational Therapy (2 credits)
• Essential Studies requirements

All of the prerequisite coursework must be completed before entering the professional program; however, the prospective student may be enrolled in pre-professional coursework at the time of application.

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

1. Completion of the application for admission to the professional program and UND School of Graduate Studies application form.
2. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.
3. Applicants who have received their bachelors or masters degree in the United States or English-speaking Canada are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Program has been granted accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). For information regarding accreditation, contact ACOTE at (301) 652-AOTA, or 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. The national entry-level certification examination for occupational therapists is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT, One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, phone 301-990-7979 ). Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapists, administered by NBCOT. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure. A background check is required prior to admission.

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