Admissions

All applicants must complete the OTCAS admissions application for our program.

The candidate is expected to satisfy the following minimum requirements:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university by August 5, 2023.
2. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) overall cumulative GPA.  Minimum 3.0 GPA OT prerequisite courses.
3. GRE scores on the verbal and quantitative sections, and the analytical section reported from the same test date are required. You may not mix/match scores from different exam attempts.  GRE scores must have been taken within the past 5 years. GRE scores are calculated in the admissions process.
4. Applicants must have a minimum grade of “B-” in each of the OT prerequisite courses (see list below).
5. OT Observation Hours completed on documented forms.

International students must meet the minimum requirements for admission and apply to the International Admissions Office with certified translations of transcripts at least 60 days before applying to the occupational therapy program. International coursework must be evaluated by the USA Office of International Services to verify equivalency to USA courses. International applicants must have a TOEFL score = 100 on Internet-based tests, OR iTEP Academic = 4.9, OR IELTS = 7.5, OR PTE Academic = 75. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution are not required to submit TOEFL results.

Prerequisite Courses must be completed by May 27, 2023. Prerequisite Courses are required for ALL Applicants.

A minimum grade of "B-” is required in these prerequisite courses:
Developmental (life span) psychology (PSY 250)
Abnormal psychology (PSY 340)
Statistics (ST 210)
**Anatomy & physiology I (BMD 251)
**Anatomy & physiology II (BMD 252)
**Kinesiology (biomechanics) preferred / or physics with algebra/trigonometry (KIN 380 or PH 114) 

** These prerequisite courses must be taken no more than ten years prior to submitting your application. 

AP credit and CLEP scores are not accepted for any of the prerequisite courses.
Pass/Fail and/or Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory grades accepted for course grades for Spring 2020 only.

Applicants are asked to respond to HRSA questions as part of the OTCAS application. Applicants should answer these honestly as these responses will be considered as part of the application process.

OT Observation Hours (minimum of 20 hours) are required at the time of application. Students can submit up to 60 hours of observation. Please complete and submit the required documentation forms. If students can not complete the required hours due to clinic restrictions, you can complete an alternative assignment. Please contact the Admissions Department if you need the alternative, but we highly encourage you to see real OTs in action as much as possible. We want you to know what OTs do and make the best decision for your career choice.

Volunteer Hours

Volunteer hours (1-100 hours) are not required but are considered part of the application process. Students should document only volunteer (unpaid) hours that involve serving individuals with disabilities, individuals that are underserved or underprivileged, and hours with charitable organizations serving people.

Bonus Course

OT 201 Introduction to Occupational Therapy

View the USA Transfer Evaluation System to see how your classes will transfer.

1. Occupational Therapy is a full-time graduate program that provides scientific evidence and clinical education needed for clinical practice. Course work and clinical fieldwork placements are full-time in nature. Students must be able to manage full-time clinical placements which are scheduled both on weekdays and weekends, between semesters and within semesters, not always following the academic calendar. Students should have the resources to commute to clinical placements that are not local to the Mobile area.
2. Students matriculating into and within Occupational Therapy will be required to have continuous health coverage and provide documentation of this throughout the program of study. Students are responsible for the cost of this health insurance coverage.
3. Students matriculating into and within Occupational Therapy will be required to complete background checks, drug screens, immunizations, and specific trainings at various times within the program and clinical fieldwork placements. We are unable to accept students into the clinical programs that are unable to sit for the NBCOT exam or achieve licensure in the US. Students are responsible for the costs of these.
4. The University of South Alabama, Department of Occupational Therapy utilizes the online management system of Canvas for all courses. Each OT student is expected to have a personal computer for the completion of web-based assignments, exams, and online courses during the OT program. USA has a contracted service with Microsoft to allow enrolled students some specific free software downloads. Students should be familiar with MS Office for Word and Excel, be familiar with uploading and downloading documents into course learning management sites such as Canvas, and be familiar with Google Calendar.

The application process is a rolling application process. Students will be viewed at three points for consideration for entrance for Fall 2023.

Fall review of qualified applicants - OTCAS deadline for materials is Sept. 26, 2022.

• all above admissions criteria met and deadlines for receipt of information completed, no more than two pre-requisite courses in process for the Fall 2022 semester (all others are completed)
• must have submitted all official transcripts and OTCAS verification completed through Summer 2022
• will complete OTCAS academic update after Fall grades are issued and courses completed
• seats for Fall 2023 admissions will begin being offered in Oct. 2022
• interviews for selected candidates will be held on Oct. 14, 2022
  
  

Spring review of qualified applicants - OTCAS deadline for materials is Jan. 9, 2023.

• all above paperwork is completed and no more than two prerequisite courses in process during the Spring 2023 semester
• must have submitted all official transcripts through Fall 2022 and OTCAS verification completed
• will complete OTCAS academic update after Spring grades are issued and courses completed
• enter the pool for seats for Fall 2023 admissions
• interviews for selected candidates will be held on Jan 20, 2023
  
  

Late Spring review of qualified applicants - OTCAS deadline for materials is March 31, 2023.

• all above paperwork is completed and no more than two prerequisite courses in process during the Spring 2023 semester
• must have submitted all official transcripts through Fall 2022 and OTCAS verification completed
• will complete OTCAS academic update after Spring grades are issued and courses completed
• enter the pool for remaining seats (if available) for Fall 2023 admissions
• interviews for selected candidates will be held on April 14, 2023
  
  

In order to be considered for admission to the OT program at University of South Alabama, applicants should submit to OTCAS the following:

• completed USA OT Supplemental Application which will be uploaded in the documents section
• pay the $75 non-refundable supplemental application fee and upload the receipt in the documents section
• upload all transcripts in OTCAS for all colleges/universities attended
• complete the OTCAS application process
• submit GRE scores to OTCAS
• have your transcripts verified by OTCAS (start as soon as your application is submitted)
  • Please note that the OTCAS verification process may take 4-6 weeks.
• submit OT Observation Hours documentation
• submit Volunteer Hours documentation (optional)

1. The Department of Occupational Therapy will not process any application that is incomplete (for any items noted above) or that is not submitted by the deadline.
2. Preference MAY BE shown to Alabama residents, however, highly qualified out-of-state applicants whose academics and experiences indicate that they may be a success in both the program and the OT profession will be given the same consideration as residents. Residency and tuition info.
3. Students accepted to the program must submit completed health and physical forms to include required immunizations by July 31, 2023.  Accepted students must also read, sign, and submit the Core Performance Standards document outlining fundamental tasks of which applicants should be capable upon entering the OT program.
4. Acceptance into the MSOT program is provisional pending a clear background check, submission of required medical forms, and completion of bachelor’s degree by August 5, 2023.  
5. Acceptance into the MSOT program is provisional pending completion of any additional required prerequisite courses with a grade of "B-" or better and submission of required medical forms as supplied in the acceptance packet. Failure to make a grade of "B-" or better in any required prerequisite course will result in a nullification of acceptance into the professional program. **Spring Semester 2020 only, courses listed as Pass in the Pass/Fail grading system or Satisfactory in the Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory grading system will be accepted for prerequisite courses.
6. Accepted students must submit a $300 matriculation fee with the Statement of Intent to reserve a seat in the class. This fee is non-refundable and is applied to the student’s first semester tuition.  Students offered admission may elect not to pay the matriculation fee and be placed on the alternate list.
7. PLEASE NOTE: A record of criminal charges, including misdemeanor and felony charges, may result in denial of access to fieldwork sites, inability to sit for the NBCOT board exam, inability to obtain a state license to practice, and/or limit job opportunities.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.