Master of Occupational Therapy

Note: The Department of Occupational Therapy is pursuing an Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (ELOTD), pending accreditation approval. Students currently enrolled in the MOT program or applying between mid-September 2025 and February 1, 2026, will have the opportunity to pursue the ELOTD once approved.

Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program accepts applications annually for an August class start date.

• Applications for 2025-26 cycle open mid-September 2025
• Applications for 2025-26 cycle close February 1, 2026  (2 p.m. U.S. Pacific time, 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern time)
• 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).

Apply

2025-26 Application Cycle General Requirements (opens mid September 2025 and closes February 1, 2026)

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

• Apply to the appropriate entry path and pay the associated fees for the Occupational Therapy program online application in OTCAS by the deadline listed above.  We have allowed enough time in the review process for applications to be verified by OTCAS as this process may take 48 hours or longer.
• 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 fall 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.  Degree must be posted and verified by Graduate Studies before the start of the fall semester of the application year.
• Completion of 7 of the required 9 program prerequisites with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.  All courses accepted for prerequisites must have a passing grade of a P or a 2.0 (letter grade equivalent of C) or higher.  Input prerequisites completed and in progress as directed in OTCAS.  If an applicant has not completed 7 out of 9 prerequisites at the time of application but plans to meet all requirements by the time the OT program starts in August please send an email to ot@ewu.edu requesting a review.
• 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 or observing an Occupational Therapist.  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.
• Responses to all EWU specific questions completed in OTCAS.
• Submission of 3 letters of recommendation from the recommender to OTCAS 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

2025-26 Application Cycle Prerequisites (opens mid September 2025 and closes February 1, 2026)

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
  Either a college level Human Anatomy course or the first course of a combined anatomy and physiology series of courses fulfills the Human Anatomy with lab prerequisite.
• Human Physiology with lab
  Either a college level Human Physiology course or the second course of a combined anatomy and physiology series of courses fulfills the Human Physiology with lab prerequisite.
• Intermediate English Composition
  An intermediate English composition course.  A course designated by a college/university or academic department as “writing intensive” can also fulfill this requirement. Applicants should submit course descriptions along with proof that the institution considers the course a writing intensive one to ot@ewu.edu for review.  Applicants who have already earned a master’s degree in a different field are exempt from this requirement.
  
• Introduction to Sociology
  Content includes concepts, principles and theories of sociology that explain social behavior in non-psychological terms to understand how human beings fit their activities together into a system of social arrangements.  Must include multiple social systems.  For additional information on the breadth of this category please email ot@ewu.edu.
• Abnormal Psychology
  A college level abnormal psychology course.
• General Psychology
  We will accept General Psychology Advanced Placement credit under one of two conditions: (1) the AP credit is recorded on an accredited institution transcript as equivalent to a college level General Psychology course with a passing grade, or (2) the institution granted test credit and the applicant was took higher level college Psychology courses with a passing grade.
• 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.

Go to: OTCAS.

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.

2025-26 Application Review Criteria (opens mid September 2025 and closes February 1, 2026)

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

• Prerequisites
• Observation/Volunteer/Work Experience
• Letters of Recommendation
• EWU-specific essay question(s)

From the applicants who meet the minimums we pull approximately 70-75 to interview.  Interviews are typically held in mid January following the end of the application cycle.

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

Program Acceptance Statistics

• 70+ applicants interviewed, 32 accepted each year
• 2023-24 cycle Prerequisites GPA: average 3.69; lowest 3.10

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 accepted into the program are assessed as they progress using a Professional Behaviors Assessment tool located in the current OT Student Handbook they are given at Orientation during their first summer term.

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

Please reference the program homepage for additional program resources and information: