Candidates for the entry-level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program must have earned a bachelors degree and completed all prerequisites prior to beginning coursework at The Ohio State University. Because the field of Occupational Therapy draws upon a variety of disciplines, there is no single major or even type of major that is best suited for undergraduate preparation. OTD candidates should have a comprehensive base in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They should take advantage of academic opportunities in a variety of disciplines to prepare for a people-oriented profession that relies heavily on interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills. 
 
Students have entered the program with backgrounds in Health Sciences, Psychology, Biology, Exercise Science, Education, Human Development and Family Studies, Russian, Dance, and others. 

Because of the competitive nature of the program, completion of all requirements is not a guarantee of admission. Only applicants with the highest qualifications will be accepted for admission.

The following courses must be completed prior to beginning the OTD program: Abnormal Psychology, Introductory/General Biology, Introductory Sociology, Human Anatomy (lab recommended but not required), Human Physiology (lab recommended, not required), Intermediate or Technical Writing, Statistics, and Medical Terminology. All students interested in applying to the program should have their prerequisite coursework evaluated to ensure they meet the requirement for each prerequisite. To have coursework evaluated, send unofficial transcripts to HRSGraduateStudentServices@osumc.edu.

Admission to the entry-level OTD program is highly competitive. Qualified applications will have a bachelor's degree and a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. They will be required to have completed a minimum of 20 documented hours of practical experience (observation, volunteer and/or work experience) in an occupational therapy setting in at least one of the following areas: acute-care, mental health, rehabilitation, pediatric, and or gerontology.

Due to the integrated and complex nature of our curriculum design and the challenges associated with ensuring that all curricular content is adequately covered, we do not allow courses from other OT programs to substitute for courses in the OSU OT program. Students who have attended other OT programs who wish to transfer to our program are welcome to apply for admission according to the standard admission dates and policies.

Students must successfully complete an annual criminal background check and be eligible to receive a student badge through the Wexner Medical Center. Certain offenses revealed on background checks constitute automatic bars to acceptance into the Division of Occupational Therapy. These offenses involve conviction of or pleading guilty to crimes based upon the Ohio Revised Code 2151.86, reflecting Senate Bill 38 Disqualifiers. Criminal conviction during the program may result in dismissal from the program. For questions, please contact the Division of Occupational Therapy.

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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

The OTD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611 and its web address is https://acoteonline.org/