Career Overview
This profession focuses on helping people regain independence and confidence in their everyday lives. Practitioners support patients of all ages through challenges related to injury, illness, developmental conditions, or aging by helping them navigate daily activities such as learning, working, dressing, or returning to routines. The field blends creativity, problem-solving and compassionate care to improve quality of life in practical and meaningful ways. Common work settings include hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics and community-based programs.
Common Prerequisites
- Biology I with lab: BSC 2010/L
- General Chemistry I with lab: CHM 2045/L
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs: BSC 2093C and BSC 2094C OR BSC 2085/L and BSC 2086/L
- Physics I with lab: PHY 2053/L OR PHY 2048/L
- General Psychology: PSY 2012
- Abnormal Psychology: CLP 4143
- Developmental Psychology: DEP 4053
- Statistics: STA 2023
- Medical Terminology: CLT 3040 OR HSC 4537
* Specific requirements vary by institution. Always verify with individual programs.
Academic Performance
- 14–16 credit hours per semester
- 8–11 credit hours of science prerequisite courses per semester
- No D or F grades
- C grades may be accepted, but repeated low grades weaken applications
- Avoid withdrawing from prerequisite courses
- Strong semester GPAs that match competitive averages
Why does it matter?
Admissions committees want to see that you can succeed in science-heavy course loads
similar to graduate health programs. The term GPA’s for these semesters will also
be reviewed
Competitive Profile
Competitve Applicants Typically Have:
- Overall GPA: 3.3–3.7
- Science GPA: 3.1
- GRE: >50th percentile
- Observation hours (varies, often 40–100+)
- Experience with diverse populations preferred
- Strong letters of recommendation
- Volunteer in rehab centers, schools, or clinics
- Shadow occupational therapists in multiple settings
The hands-on experiences really help to translate the textbook knowledge into practical skills.
Andrea Barrows
Internships
- Gain experience with diverse populations in clinics, schools, or community programs
- Shadow occupational therapists in pediatric, adult, or rehabilitation settings
- Volunteer in environments focused on daily living and adaptive care
- Assist with therapy sessions or work in caregiving/support roles
- Seek opportunities that emphasize patient interaction and functional independence
