OTA Admission Requirements and Prerequisites

While having college experience is helpful, it is not required to be eligible for our OTA program. We accept students of varying education levels, from high school graduates to master’s degree holders.

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Students interested in entering the OTA program typically come to the University as LIFE Core (also referred to as liberal arts and science, LAS, or general) occupational therapy assistant students one or two semesters before beginning the OTA sequence of courses. LIFE Core occupational therapy assistant students take prerequisite requirements and complete most of their LIFE Core requirements before beginning OTA program courses.

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Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the University as an LIFE Core-OTA student, you must meet the following minimum requirements

  • A high school diploma or passing GED® exam score
  • A minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5, or
  • College credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, if applicable
three OT students standing in a classroom
outside shot of st. kate campus

Requirements to Begin the Professional Sequence of Courses:

After admission to the University, students must fill out an Intent to Major form, the term prior to beginning the professional sequence.  The following requirements must be met in order to file the Intent to Major form:

  • An overall institutional GPA of 2.5
  • A cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5
  • No more than two LIFE Core courses and science courses remaining to be completed with the OTA course work.
  • No more than three prerequisite courses may be “In Progress” and must be successfully completed prior to beginning OTA coursework
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
    • Please not that if the minimum grade is earned in all courses, the perquisite GPA will be below a 2.5.
  • All prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade, except Medical Terminology which may be taken S/U. (All courses must be taken at an accredited school).
  • All program and university immunizations must be completed at the time of filing the Intent to Major Form
    • Please note: All students in the health professions programs (including the OTA online program) are required to submit documentation of immunizations. Program and University policies address the immunization requirements for healthcare students in fieldwork and clinical settings, and reflect current laws, the requirements of our clinical partners and CDC guidelines.  For further information, contact the program director or [email protected].
  • Student photos must be submitted for student I.D.s
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Occupational Therapy Assistant Prerequisite Courses

While having college experience is helpful, it is not required to be eligible for our OTA program. We accept students of varying education levels, from high school graduates to master’s degree holders.

Students interested in entering the OTA program typically come to the University as LIFE Core occupational therapy assistant students one or two semesters before beginning the OTA sequence of courses. LIFE Core occupational therapy assistant students take prerequisite requirements and complete most of their liberal arts and science core requirements before beginning OTA program courses.

Admission Requirements

We require the successful completion of four prerequisite courses for admission into the OTA program. You can take these prerequisite courses online through our university. They can be completed independently of or in conjunction with the OTA program’s LIFE Core courses.

  • A grade of C or better in each of the four prerequisite courses
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all four prerequisite courses
  • All prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade – except for Medical Terminology which can be taken for a Pass/Fail grade.
two students practicing OT skills in lab
CourseDescriptionCredit Hours
BIOL 2400*General Anatomy and Physiology with Lab4
IPE 1020Medical Terminology1
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
PSYC 2020*Lifespan Development Psychology4
Total13

*These prerequisites must be completed within the last five years.

Repeats of prerequisite courses will be taken into consideration when calculating your prerequisite GPA.

If you have previous college experience and completed one or more of these prerequisite courses, please talk to an admissions counselor to see if your credits are transferable.

Code of Conduct

Success in the field of occupational therapy not only requires you to have the right knowledge and skills, it also involves having a personality that fits the field’s desired code of conduct. Because occupational therapy assistants work with people of all ages and personalities, it’s important to exhibit professional behavior at all times as well as have:

  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Strong communication
  • Excellent problem solving
  • Effective time management
  • Suitable stress management

We recommend learning about the character review process the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) uses to ensure OT practitioners meet standards of professional conduct.

OT students sitting down talking while studying
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For More Information

Contact us to see if our Online OTA program is a good fit for you.