Application Process & Timeline
APPLICATION PROCESS
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Step #1: Apply to Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
The UTRGV Occupational Therapy program and Graduate College use the Centralized Application Service of Occupational Therapy Schools (OTCAS) for students applying to the Program.
All applicants to the OTD program are required to submit their application to OTCAS with all the necessary materials by the November 1 application deadline. Please refer to the OTCAS website for instructions on submitting the OTCAS application materials and at the opening of the admission cycle in mid-July. Materials submitted to OTCAS include application, official transcripts, GRE scores (UTRGV code – 6570), letters of reference, and a personal statement.
Step #2: Upon submission of the OTCAS application, you will be notified by UTRGV Graduate College of the process for payment of the university application fee -$50 ($100 for International Applicants). All application fees are nonrefundable. Payment of this fee indicates your application to UTRGV has been accepted.
Step #3: Request your official transcripts and GRE scores to be sent to OTCAS.
Step #4: Tuition Deposit. The OTD program requires a non-refundable supplemental fee of $500. Upon acceptance into the OTD program, the student will be provided with a deadline by which a tuition deposit must be submitted to guarantee a seat in the new cohort. The admissions deposit will be charged only to students who have been accepted into the program. Importantly, deposits received from students who do enroll into the program will be applied to their tuition and fee bill for the initial semester. Deposits are non-refundable unless special circumstances justify a hardship exception. (Start Fall 2024)
Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy Schools (OTCAS).
- Application to the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy schools (OTCAS). All required materials must be completed and submitted online by the November 1 application deadline. Check your application status online! To view the real-time progress of your file, log in to your OTCAS application and select the status options on the right-hand side of the screen.
- Official Transcripts: Official transcripts of all college and university work must be submitted directly to OTCAS at OTCAS Verification Department, PO Box 9120, Watertown, MA 02471.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE):Official GRE Scores are sent to UTRGV Graduate College and OTCAS.
- Three references/recommendations: Reference letters must be submitted electronically through the online OTCAS application system (otcas.org). Please refer to the OTCAS website for Instructions on submission of the OTCAS application materials.
- Volunteer, work, or service experiences/hours: No set number of volunteer hours or experiences must be completed to be considered for admission into the Program. At least three volunteer and/or work experience are recommended. Nor are you required to complete hours in occupational therapy through work or observation. Volunteer experiences are unpaid work, assistant, or service. Observations and shadowing are not considered as volunteer or work experiences. Your volunteer experiences are submitted through the OTCAS application.
- Personal Statement(Standard Essay): Use your own words to create a personal essay that responds to the question below. Your essay should address a) why you selected OT as a career and b) how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you to achieve your goals. Do NOT make your essay program-specific, as the same essay will be sent to each designated OT institution you applied to. You are limited to approximately 1 page (7500 characters, including spaces).
- Application Verification: OTCAS will process your application once you submit your completed application, required fee, and all official transcript(s) to the Service. OTCAS processing may take up to 4 weeks once all required materials are received. Once your application is complete, OTCAS will verify the accuracy of your materials, compare your original transcripts to the self-reported course information on your application, calculate your OTCAS GPAs, and submit your application to each of your designated OT institutions. You will receive an automatic email once your file has been verified and your GPAs are available to you online. It is your responsibility to review the GPAs for accuracy.
- Personal Interview
Applicants may be required to participate in a personal interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee. If needed, the Chair of the Admissions Committee will notify the applicant via phone, email, or letter for an interview.
Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer-based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, visit the for Domestic section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer-based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. For additional information, visit the English Proficiency Exam section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
- Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For additional information, visit the Documentation section of our website.
- Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport. For additional information, visit the Documents section of our website.
Update On International Admissions From US Immigration And Customs Enforcemnet:
- SEVP regulations prohibit the issuance of a Form I-20 based on conditional admission, effective July 13, 2016. University officials can only issue a Form I-20 when students have met all standards for admission for the Program of study listed on the Form I-20. These standards for admission include any English proficiency requirements.
Selection and Notification Process
The Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee meets as soon as possible after the deadline to review each application. If required, the Chair of the Admission Committee notifies the applicant via phone, email, or letter for an interview. No information regarding the status of an applicant is given over the phone or via email. The Admission Committee will communicate with the applicant through OTCAS. The Official admission offer will be made only by the Graduate College. The UTRGV Graduate College will notify all applicants indicating whether they have been accepted into the OT Program.
Not every applicant who meets the minimum admission requirements can be admitted. The Department of Occupational Therapy reserves discretion in admission for the most highly qualified applicants. This program is not designed for individuals already licensed to practice as an occupational therapist.
Important Information
In keeping with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley policy, the Department of Occupational Therapy Admission Committee does not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, creed, religion, origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or previous status major, or college attended.
Be Advised: Applicants who acknowledge a felony conviction should know that the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) might bar persons with a felony record from taking the certification examination. The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE) may deny persons with a felony record a state license to practice. For information regarding their requirements for certification following graduation, please contact:
- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) http://www.nbcot.org
- Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE) https://www.ptot.texas.gov/page/occupationaltherapy
Criminal Background Check
The College of Health Professions requires a criminal background check of applicants accepted into the program and before admission to the Program. Some personal information may need to be disclosed during the educational experience. For example, the information may be required by a clinical education site or licensing board. Prior notification will be given to the students. Information related to this process will be sent to accepted applicants as part of their final and clear admission to the eOTD program.
Application Timeline: OTCAS
How long does the application process take?
It's important you apply as early as possible since completing your application can be a lengthy process, and since
application processing times vary throughout the cycle. Below is a suggested timeline that includes key actions to keep the application process on track. This timeline may need to be adjusted based on the programs' deadlines and requirements.
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Prior to the Start of the Application Process
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1. Research programs you wish to apply to. Pay special attention to:
2. Ask your schools to send you the official transcripts you'll need to enter your coursework. 3. Begin contacting potential evaluators to confirm their participation. 4. Begin drafting your personal essay. 5. Review the instructions in this Help Center and the OTCAS Applicant Responsibilities.
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At Least 3 Months Prior to Deadline
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1. Create your account. 2. Complete the Colleges Attended section. 3. Complete the Evaluations section.
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At Least 10-12 Weeks Prior to Deadline
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1. Ask your schools to send official transcripts directly to OTCAS. If there are any holds on your account at a school, resolve them now to avoid delays in sending transcripts. 2. Begin entering coursework into your application. 3. If you want to use the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) service, sign up and submit your payment. 4. Check in with your evaluators to confirm that they received the evaluation request via email.
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At Least 6-8 Weeks Prior to Deadline |
1. Complete and submit your application. 2. Review the verification process. 3. If you paid for PTE, monitor your emails for information on the review process and be sure to approve your coursework in a timely manner. 4. Monitor your application for receipt of transcripts and letters of evaluation and follow up on any missing items.
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At Least 4-6 Weeks Prior to Deadline
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Continue monitoring your application until your status is Verified. After Deadline Download a copy of your application for your records.
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After Deadline |
After Deadline Download a copy of your application for your records.
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