All candidates for admission must have:
1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or a plan to complete one prior to enrollment. While we do not require any specific discipline, undergraduate students often major in areas such as health science, exercise science, or psychology in preparation for a doctorate program in occupational therapy.
2. Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
3. A grade of B- or higher is preferred for the prerequisite courses listed below, with a minimum grade of C required.
| Requred Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| Lab Science (Biology, Physics or Chemistry) | 3–4 |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 |
| Statistics or Research | 3 |
| Medical Terminology | 1–3 |
4. We recommend completing 30-50 hours of observational, volunteer, and/or work experience in occupational therapy before classes begin. It's beneficial to have experience at multiple observation sites with various settings and ages across the lifespan. For those unable to access onsite observation hours, alternative options are available. Please contact graduate@huntington.edu to review alternatives.
5. Completed application through OTCAS or HU Website. To start your application on OTCAS, follow the link below and search for Huntington University. OTCAS will charge a service fee for coordinating your documents. Or you can apply directly on the HU website (no cost) and email the required documents to graduate@huntington.edu.
6. Three letters of recommendation, submitted via OTCAS or directly to graduate@huntington.edu.
OTCAS Application
A completed Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) application is required.
Technology
Successful participation and completion of the doctoral program in occupational therapy will require students to be competent in using computer and internet technology. Learn more about required technology.
Advanced Placement and Experiential Learning
Advanced Placement (AP) and experiential learning are not options in the Huntington University OTD program to align with the OTD curricular completion of all accreditation standards as outlined in the ACOTE Standards.
Transfer Students
Graduate credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions may be transferrable to Huntington
University's Graduate Programs. Only graduate courses with a grade of B- (2.67) or above are transferable.
Generally, such credits must be no older than 10 years and must represent courses that can reasonably substitute for courses in the Huntington University Graduate Programs. Individual program directors determine the suitability of such courses for transfer credit and may deny transfer credit. Students will be asked to provide relevant materials for their transfer courses. Students in the Occupational Therapy Program may transfer in a maximum of 12 credit hours. Although credits may transfer, no transfer grades are recorded nor counted in the cumulative grade point average.
Background Check
Students will be required to pass a background and substance abuse checks at time of admission to the program in order to be eligible for fieldwork, experiential component and to take the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) exam. Eligibility requirements for the national exam for becoming an occupational therapist can be retrieved at www.nbcot.org. NBCOT, One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Phone: (301) 990- 7979; E-mail: info@nbcot.org; Fax: (301)869-8492
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all 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.
Degree Information
Period of Study
Students being accepted to the Huntington University OTD program must have a minimum of three FTE academic years in undergraduate work. The addition of the three FTE year in the Huntington University OTD program is required to meet the minimum of six FTE academic years for ACOTE compliance.
Progression in the OTD Program
Coursework is developmental in nature and requires coursework to be sequential as listed in the OTD Completion Plan. Completion of fieldwork and experiential component (capstone) must be completed within 24 months or 2 years from didactic coursework. Timeline from matriculation to graduation should not exceed six years.
Retention
Students compliant with grade requirements and OTD program policies and procedures as documented in the student manual will advance toward graduation through satisfaction of each semester requirements.
Graduation Requirements
The OTD requires the completion of 106 credit hours in a sequenced three-year sequence. For the first two years, the course loads range between 40-47 hours. The final year involves 24 hours total for fieldwork and capstone requirements and a three-hour online course.
Become a Forester
Students with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution are eligible to apply for this program. Applicants must also meet the minimum admission requirements and complete prerequisite classes. Call us at (800) 600-4888 or email us at graduate@huntington.edu.
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