How Do You Get Into Occupational Therapy School?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Complete a bachelor's degree. …
  2. Take the GRE. …
  3. Complete OT observation hours. …
  4. Explore specialties. …
  5. Write an impressive personal statement. …
  6. Send your transcripts. …
  7. Update your resume or CV. …
  8. Obtain letters of recommendation.

How many years does it take to become an occupational therapist?

To become an occupational therapist, you will need to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree and pass the required licensure exams. You can expect to spend

six to seven years in school

: four years for an undergraduate degree and two to three years for a graduate degree (if attending on a full-time basis).

How hard is it to get into OT school?

First, getting into an

OT program is difficult

. Competition is fierce, and most who apply for such programs do not get into them the first time they apply. … While there are over 300 OT and OTA programs in the United States, only an average of 15–20 students are chosen for each program.

Is it harder to get into PT or OT school?

Historically,

PT programs have been more difficult to get into than OT

, but in the past few years the number of applicants to OT programs have literally grown exponentially.

How do you get into a OT school?

First, getting into an

OT program is difficult

. Competition is fierce, and most who apply for such programs do not get into them the first time they apply. … While there are over 300 OT and OTA programs in the United States, only an average of 15–20 students are chosen for each program.

Is being an OT stressful?

Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you do have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis.

Is occupational therapy harder than nursing?


OT and PT school are definitely not easier than nursing

. Different subject matter in some regards, but not an easy route, especially considering that OT/PT school are graduate level degrees and nursing is only a Bachelors. Graduate programs, as mentioned, are more strict regarding grades.

Is occupational therapy a dying field?

Is Ota a dying field? OTA is a dying field.

There are NO jobs

. If you love OT and have some flexibility about getting a job maybe go ahead.

What do I major in to become an occupational therapist?

  • Psychology. Psychology was my undergraduate major and the same major as approximately 50% of my OT school cohort (no joke). …
  • Kinesiology/Exercise Science. …
  • Education. …
  • Business. …
  • Biology. …
  • Sociology. …
  • Whatever You're Interested In!

Who makes more money PT or OT?

In 2017,

occupational

earned slightly less than physical therapists at a mean $40.69 per hour, or $84,640 per year. Their pay could fall below $26.23 per hour, or $54,560 per year, or reach above $57.91 per hour, or $120,440 per year.

Is ot a competitive field?


Occupational therapy school is SO competitive

, since many applicants are applying as soon as they can as opposed to when the supposed deadline is. For example, the programs you're looking at have deadlines in December, but they start accepting applications in August.

Is an OTD degree worth it?

Those with a doctorate tend

to accrue higher lifetime earnings

than those with master's or bachelor's degrees on average. … If you already have a master's degree and want to pursue your doctorate, an OT doctorate enables you to pursue a career path where you're directly involved in the care of your patients.

How much does occupational therapy school cost?

Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive.

If you're going for the OTR (Master's or Doctorate) route, you can expect to pay anywhere from

$40,000 to well over $100,000

for your degree.

Is there a lot of math in occupational therapy?

In order to become an Occupational Therapist you will need to have an understanding of a variety of topics. … You will need to understand statistics and then have completed classes in a Social Science such as Psychology (beyond the classes mentioned), Sociology, Anthropology or

Math

.

How can I increase my chances of getting into occupational therapy?

  1. Get your Bachelor's Degree. …
  2. Take the Required Prerequisites. …
  3. Take (and Ace!) the GRE. …
  4. Get Plenty of OT Observation Hours. …
  5. Get Letters of Recommendation. …
  6. Craft a Great Personal Statement. …
  7. Apply to Your Desired Occupational Therapy Programs.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.