Frequently Asked Questions I am interested in...Select a programDoctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)Occupational Therapy Combined Program (BHS-OTD)Professional Certificate in Driver Rehabilitation Therapy (DRT)My question pertains to...Select a categoryAccreditationAdmissions: ApplicationAdmissions: Course RequirementsAdmissions: COVID-19 RelatedAdmissions: Dates and DeadlinesAdmissions: Degree RequirementsGeneralJobsStudent LifeTuition and ScholarshipsAccreditationIs the UF OTD program accredited? The entry-level OTD degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929; tel. (301) 652-AOTA. 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 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. Learn more about UF OTD graduation rates and NBCOT exam performance.Admissions: ApplicationI am interested in applying to the OTD program at the University of Florida. What should I do first? Browse our website to get an idea of our educational philosophy and the course work that you will study once in the program. Register for one of our information sessions. You can also find admission requirements and instructions for applying via OTCAS on our site.Do I have to complete all of the admission requirements at the time I apply? All prerequisite courses must be completed by the time you enroll in the program. However, the Admission Committee must have enough information about your performance in these courses to predict your ability to succeed in the program. If you can, leave the medical terminology and oral communication classes until after you apply. All other admission requirements (GRE, observation hours, etc.) must be completed at the time of application.I have previously submitted all of my transcripts to OTCAS, so do I also have to submit them to the University of Florida’s Office of Admissions? You must submit official transcripts to OTCAS. You do not need to submit transcripts to the University of Florida Admissions Office.What types of clinical experiences are needed to apply to the program? Thirty (30) hours of observation in at least two diverse OT settings are required for application. Search for facilities online and contact the facility directly for permission to observe. Students looking for volunteer or observational experiences at UF Health hospitals or clinics should start by checking their website.Does the OTD program have specific forms for recommendations and to log observation hours? When you complete your OTCAS application you will provide the contact information for the professionals you wish to serve as references. OTCAS will contact these professionals directly about submitting a rating form and a letter of recommendation. Observation hours are documented through the OTCAS portal. In addition to entering your observation hours manually, you should upload the Occupational Therapy Observation Verification form from the site, signed letter from the site, or a signed form used for admissions to another OT program. See the OTCAS website for more information.Admissions: Course RequirementsHow do I find out what pre-requisite courses are needed to apply to the program? View the required prerequisite table for more information.Where can I complete the prerequisite courses required for the OTD program? Prerequisite courses can be completed at any accredited college or university, which includes community colleges.How old can the prerequisite courses be? Will you accept Advanced Placement or credit by examination for prerequisite courses? Anatomy, Physiology, Statistics, and Abnormal Psychology should be less than 5 years old from the application date. All other prerequisites should be less than 7 years old from the application date. The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program will accept the following prerequisite courses taken through Advanced Placement or credit by examination, IF the courses were given credit by a community college, state college, or four-year university AND that credit is documented on the applicant's/student's transcript: General Biology, General Biology lab, and Introduction to Statistics. No other advance placement courses will be accepted as prerequisites or as substitutes for Doctor of Occupational Therapy program courses.What course can I take to meet the oral communications prerequisite requirement? Please see the note on our Required Prerequisites page. There are several suggestions for appropriate courses. The intent of this course requirement is that the student will give multiple individual oral presentations in the class with feedback on their performance. Good communication skills are critical to functioning effectively as an OT.Can I substitute course work from other universities or programs for the OTD course work? Students may transfer a limited number of upper division courses into the program. Students wishing to do so will be asked to submit a full course syllabi for each course after being admitted to the program. Course substitutions are reviewed by the admission committee and relevant members of the faculty.Admissions: COVID-19 RelatedWhat if one of my prerequisite courses is P/F or S/U? I have an option to choose P/F or S/U, what should I do? We prefer that your coursework be submitted as a letter grade. If you have an option to do so, we encourage you to choose a letter grade. It will be challenging for us to calculate a prerequisite GPA if more than one of your courses is P/F or S/U. If your college or university is not offering an option to choose a letter grade, then you will want to submit a short explanation to the Admissions Committee under Additional Documentation in OTCAS stating that you were unable to choose a letter grade option.Admissions: Dates and DeadlinesWhat are the admission deadlines? Check OTCAS in mid-July for an updated version of the UF OTD application. The early review application deadline is November 15th. The regular review deadline is January 15th. The majority of students are selected during early review.When does the OTD program begin? Classes begin in the Fall semester in the College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Occupational Therapy.Admissions: Degree RequirementsIs a Bachelor's degree required for admission to the OTD program? What should I take as an undergraduate major? Yes, an undergraduate or BS degree is required. Though many students will complete the Bachelor Health Science degree and the pre-OT track, you can enter the OTD program with an undergraduate degree in any major. Students with BS degrees in the applied sciences, psychology or social sciences will find it easier to fit the required prerequisite courses into their degree.I have an AA degree from a Florida community college, what is the best major at UF to enter to qualify for the OTD program? Many students who will enter the OTD program have completed the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Bachelor of Health Science degree and the pre-OT track.GeneralWhat is Occupational Therapy and how do I find out more about the profession of Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the skills necessary for independent and satisfying lives. For more information visit the American Occupational Therapy Association.Are there student assistantships available for the OTD program? We currently do not offer assistantships through the OTD program.JobsWhat is the job outlook for graduates from the OTD program? Occupational Therapy is listed in U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 Best Careers. The job outlook was listed as excellent. For more information see the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau projects a 12% growth in the profession from 2022 to 2032. UF graduates are in high demand. In a survey of UF OTD graduates, 95% of those students actively seeking employment had positions within 3 months of passing their certification exam.Student LifeWhat housing options are available for students? UF Graduate and Family Housing Website: https://housing.ufl.edu/living-options/?housing-type=family-housing The Department of Housing and Residence Education features five different apartment complexes known as villages that are available to all Graduate and Professional Students and certain other academic classifications of students depending on a student's family composition. We take pride in our ability to provide a comfortable living environment that serves the needs of a diverse population including single students, families, international students, local students, short-term renters, longer-term renters, and many other types of students. Continuum Website: http://www.thecontinuumforufgrads.com/ The Continuum is a provident community for University of Florida graduate students. It provides a home conducive and in support of the aspirations and achievements of a community of scholars. The Continuum has a quiet, urban-designed and convenient apartment community with all of the luxury of living off campus – but with the on-campus goal of enhancing the university’s academic mission. UF Off Campus Life Website: http://www.offcampus.ufl.edu/ The housing options listed are not endorsed or affiliated with the University of Florida.Tuition and ScholarshipsWhat is the estimated cost of attendance? View current cost estimates for Florida and Non-Florida residents for the OTD program.What are the tuition and fees for the OTD program? Tuition for the OTD is the same as graduate tuition rates. View the in-state and out-of-state graduate tuition costs per credit hour. View the annual cost estimates for graduate students.What financial aid and scholarships am I eligible for? You may be eligible for university administered financial aid and scholarships. Contact Student Financial Affairs for more information. Also, check the American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation for more scholarship information. The Department of Occupational Therapy offers scholarships to students who are admitted into the program. Eligibility depends on the year in which the student is enrolled. Learn more about the Department of Occupational Therapy scholarships.Click the button below to view the DRT FAQYou will be redirected to the Professional Certificate in Driver Rehabilitation Therapy (DRT) program website.Click the button below to view the BHS-OTD program infoYou will be redirected to the Occupational Therapy Combined Program (BHS-OTD) page.PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
