Admission Requirements
All applications will be processed through OTCAS. There is no supplemental application required by Elmhurst University.
The master of occupational therapy program at Elmhurst University welcomes applications from students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited university/college. A master’s degree in occupational therapy from Elmhurst University will prepare you for professional entry-level practice as an occupational therapist.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a graduate information session. During a graduate information session, you will have an opportunity to visit the University, meet faculty and to learn more about our master of occupational therapy program.
How to Apply
The OTCAS application for Fall 2025 will open on July 15, 2024.
The OTCAS application for Fall 2025 will open on July 15, 2024. at 12:01 a.m. (ET). All applications must be verified on or before February 15, 2025.
For assistance regarding the OTCAS application, please refer to the OTCAS frequently asked questions web page at OTCAS FAQ.
All applications will be processed through OTCAS—there is no supplemental application required by Elmhurst University.
*Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant, without exception, to meet all application deadlines and maintain all updates to the applicant’s OTCAS application.
In order to ensure proper delivery of emails to your inbox, it is recommended to add [email protected] to your address book. It is also suggested to periodically check the “Messages” section of your application as any email that is sent from OTCAS can also be found there.
Admission Criteria
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Prerequisite coursework from a regionally accredited institution must be completed within five years of the submission of the application for consideration, without exception.
Applicants must have satisfactory completion of all undergraduate or graduate-level prerequisite coursework with grades of B- or better.
All in progress and future prerequisite requirements must be documented in the OTCAS application and/or included on an official transcript verifying the intent to complete the requirement.
- 3 credit hours: Human Anatomy with a lab*
- 3 credit hours: Human Physiology with a lab*
- 3 credit hours: Sociology or Anthropology
- 3 credit hours: Developmental Psychology
- 3 credit hours: Abnormal Psychology
- 3 credit hours: Statistics
* Or two combined courses in Anatomy and Physiology with labs
Human Anatomy with a lab* (3 credit hours)
Human Physiology with a lab* (3 credit hours)
* Or two combined courses in Anatomy and Physiology with labs
Sociology or Anthropology (3 credit hours)
Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours) – Example: Lifespan Development, Human Growth & Development, Child Development, Adolescent Development, Adult Development and Aging
Abnormal Psychology (3 credit hours) – Example: Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology
Statistics (3 credit hours) – Example: Elementary Statistics, Business Statistics, Social Science Statistics
A prerequisite grade of a B- or less does not exclude applicants from consideration, however; preference will be given to applicants with a B- or better in prerequisite coursework. The University offers all prerequisite courses. For details on non-degree-seeking enrollment, please contact the Office of Registration and Records at (630) 617-3250 or [email protected].
The master of occupational therapy program at Elmhurst University does not accept transfer credits, experiential learning credits, or Advanced Placement credits toward fulfillment of graduate-level coursework required to complete the master of occupational therapy degree.
Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted directly to OTCAS, Transcript Department, PO Box 9120, Watertown, MA 02471.
Official transcripts sent to the University will not be considered.
*Note: The master of occupational therapy program does not accept transfer credits toward the fulfillment of graduate level coursework required to complete the master of occupational therapy degree at Elmhurst University.
All in progress and future coursework including outstanding prerequisite requirements must be documented in the OTCAS application and/or included on an official transcript verifying the intent to complete the requirement.
As prompted in the OTCAS application, you will be asked to address why you have selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Further, describing how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. The personal statement should be uploaded to the documents tab in the supporting information section in the OTCAS application. An additional, supplemental personal statement is not required.
A current professional resume should be uploaded to the CV/Resume tab under program materials in the OTCAS application.
Three letters of recommendation are required from:
- A professor, teacher, or academic advisor
- A person who supervised your employment, an observation or volunteer experience
- A person of your choice, other than family or friend, who can speak to your potential for success in professional graduate education
Minimum 20 hours of documented observational/volunteer experience:
- Ten hours must be in an occupational therapy setting.
- Ten hours must be in a community service setting.
- Observation hours can be documented within the OTCAS application “Experiences” section (“Observation Hours” tab).
Qualified candidates will be notified via email if they are selected for an interview with the master of occupational therapy program faculty. An interview with the master of occupational therapy program faculty does not guarantee admission to the program.
Requirements for Graduation
Students in good standing in the master of occupational therapy program at the time of graduation must:
- Successfully complete all didactic course requirements for the master of occupational therapy degree.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. (Students who receive a grade of “C+,” “C” or “C-” in more than two courses will need to re-take courses to complete the program.)
- Have successfully completed of 24 weeks of supervised Level II Fieldwork within 24 months of successfully completing all didactic coursework.
- Have successfully completed all program requirements within four years of matriculation.
NBCOT Certification: Upon program accreditation and successful curriculum completion the graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination to become a practicing occupational therapist. The examination is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), locate at One Bank Street Gaithersburg MD, 20878, NBCOT’s phone number is (301) 990-7979; web address is nbcot.org.
NBCOT Eligibility: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For students with a concern in this area, NBCOT can be contacted directly for information related to the Early Determination and Character Review process for approval to take the NBCOT certification examination.