Occupational Therapy

Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program accepts applications annually for a mid-June class start date. Applications open up in mid-July and close at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 15. All applications are reviewed as they come in.  No priority is given to applications received earlier in the cycle. During the open period, applications are available on the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).

The following are required for acceptance to the Master of Occupational Therapy program:

• Apply to the appropriate entry path and pay the associated fees for the Occupational Therapy program online application in OTCAS by 5 p.m. EST on November 15.
• Program applicants must complete all program entry requirements as outlined in the applicant’s offer email from the Department of Occupational Therapy by the start of the summer semester of the application year.

The following items are required to be completed at the time of submission of the OTCAS application:

• Meet the requirements for admission to EWU Graduate Studies.
• Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended received and verified by OTCAS by the application submission deadline.
• Evidence of Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree completion
  • Direct MOT entry: Degree must be posted before the start of the summer semester of the application year.
  • Combined Bachelor’s to Master’s entry: If accepted to the program the department will verify with the appropriate EWU undergraduate department adviser that the applicant is making satisfactory progress towards completion of the undergraduate degree at EWU.
• Complete (at least 8 of the 10 by the OTCAS application submission deadline) the MOT specific prerequisites with a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher.  (Remaining prerequisites, if any, must be completed by the start of the summer semester of the application year.)
  • Demonstrate a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA in all MOT specific prerequisite courses.
• Demonstrated experiences with persons with disabilities or living with life challenges to include voluntary or work experience of 40 hours or more.
  • At least 10 of the 40 hours must be shadowing a licensed occupational therapy practitioner in at least two different practice settings.  Telehealth hours do count toward observation/shadowing.  Applicants must upload a completed PDF of EWU’s Department of Occupational Therapy observation hours log to the Documents section of the OTCAS application.
• All applicants applying to the MOT (either path) are required to complete Casper, part of the Altus Suite, to assist with our selection process for the 2022-2023 Application Cycle.  Applicants create an account at www.TakeAltus.com and navigate to Eastern Washington University’s tests. All applicants are required to complete Casper, part of the Altus Suite, to assist with our selection process for the 2022-2023 Application cycle.  Applicants create an account at www.TakeAltus.com and navigate to Eastern Washington University’s tests.  You must register and take the Casper assessment no later than the deadline posted on the Altus website which is typically at least two weeks prior to the OTCAS application submission deadline).  Testing spaces for each date are limited – please plan accordingly.  For the 2022-23 application cycle the last test date for the EWU MOT program is October 13, 2022.
• Personal Statement completed in OTCAS.
• Eastern Washington University-specific Essay Question completed in OTCAS.
• Submission of 3 letters of recommendation as follows:
  • One from a licensed OT practitioner
  • One from: (1) a college professor or (2) an employer of at least 6 months
  • One as a character reference from someone not related to applicant

All prerequisite coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university for a letter/number grade (not through certificate programs). Courses taken with a narrative grading system must be evaluated by the granting institution and a letter grade assigned. International courses must be evaluated by World Education Services or another credential evaluation service recognized by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

REQUIRED:

• General Biology with lab
  This course must include chemistry of living systems and cell functions. A college chemistry for non-majors or chemistry for the health sciences course can be substituted.
• Human Anatomy with lab
  This can be taken as a multi-term combined anatomy and physiology series of two terms or more. If the full Anatomy and Physiology series is completed at Eastern Washington University (BIOL 232/332, BIOL 233/333 and BIOL 234/334), the program-specific Medical Terminology prerequisite is waived. It is recommended to complete the full series of anatomy and physiology.
• Human Physiology with lab
  This can be taken as a multi-term combined anatomy and physiology series of two terms or more. If the full Anatomy and Physiology series is completed at Eastern Washington University (BIOL 232/332, BIOL 233/333 and BIOL 234/334), the program-specific Medical Terminology prerequisite is waived. It is recommended to complete the full series of anatomy and physiology.
• Intermediate English Composition or Technical Writing
  An intermediate English composition course or a technical writing course.  A course designated by a college/university or academic department as “writing intensive” can also fulfill this requirement. Applicants should submit course descriptions to ot@ewu.edu along with proof that the institution considers the course a writing intensive one for review.  Applicants who have already earned a master’s degree in a different field are exempt from this requirement.
• Medical Terminology
  A college level medical terminology course from an accredited institution. The Medical Terminology (HLED 256) course is offered through Eastern Online. Applicants who are Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) are not required to take a Medical Terminology course.
  
• Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology
  Approved selected courses used to fulfill general graduation requirements for diversity or international studies may be substituted for an introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology course. Contact ot@ewu.edu for a list of approved courses and criteria.
• Abnormal Psychology
  A college level abnormal psychology course.
• General Psychology
  We will accept General Psychology Advanced Placement credit only under the following conditions: (1) applicant minored or majored in Psychology and (2) the AP credit is recorded on an accredited institution transcript as equivalent to a college level General Psychology course with a passing grade.  If the AP test shows as credits only on the transcript then we will not accept it and the applicant will need to take a General Psychology course in order to fulfill this prerequisite.
• Life Span (Human Development or Developmental Psychology)
  A college level human development or developmental psychology course that covers the lifespan of a person.
• Statistics
  A college level introduction to statistics course.
• Introduction to Occupational Therapy
  Introduction to Occupational Therapy (OCTH 101) online course at Eastern Washington University or equivalent. This course covers the depth and breadth of occupational therapy practice, background, foundational knowledge of theory, practice models and history.
  For the 2022-23 application period the Introduction to Occupational Therapy prerequisite is highly recommended but not required.  Applicants during the 2022-23 application cycle must have completed 8 of the 10 required prerequisites at the time of application.
  For the 2023-24 application period and beyond the Introduction to Occupational Therapy prerequisite will be required.  Applicants during the 2023-24 must have completed 9 of the 11 required prerequisites at the time of application.

Go to: OTCAS Website.

1. Create an OTCAS account and follow the prompts.
2. Submit your documents as listed under General Requirements in step 2.
3. Enter your completed Course Prerequisites as stated in step 3.

For more information on tuition and fees for a specific Occupational Therapy program curriculum sheet, please visit EWU’s Student Financial Services website.

Program and course fees are added on top of tuition and mandatory fees.

Individual course fees for lab supplies etc. are posted on each course section in the schedule (go to the Course Search function in EagleNET). Input the required parameters, select the course and look for the amount listed under “base fees.”

WICHE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program participates in the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Program. WICHE helps students to enroll in selected out-of-state professional programs not offered in their resident state. Outbound students and their families save money through reduced tuition arrangements.

Information about WICHE Program

If you are a resident of Alaska, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Nevada, Montana, Nevada or Wyoming, you are encouraged to contact the certifying office in your state or the WICHE Office in Boulder, CO at the following address:

WICHE Student Exchange Program
P.O. Box 9752
Boulder, CO 80301-9752
303.541.0214
info-sep@wiche.edu

The following application elements are initially reviewed on all OTCAS applications received by the submission deadline:

• Prerequisites
• Altus Casper score
• Personal Statement
• Observation/Volunteer/Work Experience
• Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Essay
• Prerequisite and last 60/90 GPAs

From the applicants who meet the minimums we pull approximately 70-75 to interview based on the following criteria for the 2022-23 application cycle.  Interviews for the 2022-23 application cycle are tentatively set for January 14, 2023.

• Last 60/90 attempted GPA
• Prerequisite GPA
• Altus Casper score
• Essays

After the interview, a final selection of 32 individuals plus about 25 wait-listed individuals is compiled based on a complete records review and the results of the interview’s two activities:

• Group interview
• Group challenge activity

Past Program Acceptance Statistics

• 200+ applicants, 32 accepted each year
• Past 3 years: Cumulative GPA (Last 60/90 credits): average 3.88, lowest GPA accepted to program 3.6
• Past 3 years: Prerequisite GPA (at time of application): average 3.90, lowest Prerequisite GPA accepted to program 3.5

During the progression of occupational therapy coursework, development of a high level of professionalism is a focus. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behaviors in classes, fieldwork experiences, and interactions with other students, instructors, clients, staff, faculty, and other University personnel.  Professional behaviors include: responsibility, competence, communication, integrity, cooperation/teamwork, respect and initiative. Students will be expected to use good judgment regarding appropriate dress and grooming for classes and Fieldwork I and II placements. Emotional maturity is expected in all professional matters throughout the OT Program.  Students in the program are assessed as they progress using an assessment tool (see Appendix 2 Professional Behaviors Assessment in the OT Student Handbook 2022-23 for details.)

Professionalism is expected by those who are trained to do a job well and is demonstrated when that professional uses skill, good judgment, and polite behavior expected from a professional.  There are also guidelines, rules and laws that govern the professional conduct expected of an Occupational Therapist.  It is critical that you review these documents and fully understand them.

• The AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics which delineates the ethical obligations of an occupational therapist.
• WAC 246-847-160 which is a statute that covers unprofessional conduct for state health professionals

Additional Resources:

• EWU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog
• OT Student Handbook 2022-23
• The cost of attendance for graduate programs is found on our Graduate Tuition & Aid page.