Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. 
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0. 
• Academic record that includes a balance of coursework in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and life sciences, as well as competence in written and spoken English. Basic computer skills (preparation of documents, spreadsheets, graphs, databases, research, and presentations) are required.
• Satisfactorily complete the following prerequisite courses* at an accredited college with a grade of B- or higher in all prerequisite science courses, and a minimum grade of a C+ in all other non-science prerequisite courses. Pass grades earned during the spring 2020 semester meet this GPA threshold and are transferable to New York Institute of Technology. All science courses must be for science majors. Only one math or science course can be retaken one time to achieve the required grade. Course descriptions are required for each of the prerequisites.
  • One course (three or four credits) from one of the following areas, including a lab component:
    • General Biology or,
    • General Chemistry or,
    • General Physics
  • One course in Human Physiology with Lab or Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (four credits)
  • One course in Human Anatomy with Lab or Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (four credits)
  • One course in General/Introductory Psychology (three credits)
  • One course in Developmental or Child Psychology (three credits)
  • One course in Abnormal Psychology (three credits)
  • One course in Statistics (three credits)
  • One course in either Anthropology or Sociology (three credits)
  • One recommended course in Academic or Scientific Writing (three credits)
• Meet the Technical Standards for the occupational therapy program. 

* If you have a bachelor’s degree and have not completed all prerequisite courses for admission, you may be provisionally accepted to the program. After completion of these prerequisite courses and satisfaction of all other academic and professional standards, you may be admitted into the professional phase of the program.

Note: The Occupational Therapy program does not award or grant advanced standing under any circumstances. All courses in the curriculum must be completed within the program.

• Submit your application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). A completed application must be received by the program from OTCAS between August 1 and February 21. The priority application due date is October 1. Specific instructions related to the application process can be found on the OTCAS website.
• Proof of 50 hours of volunteer work under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.
•  An essay detailing the desire to pursue occupational therapy as a career.
• Three professional letters of recommendation on letterhead, including one from a licensed occupational therapist. Recommendations must be dated within the past six months. References should be sent in sealed envelopes with the referee’s signature over the seal. Signed recommendation letters can also be submitted through OTCAS.
• Course descriptions for all prerequisite courses.
• A personal interview (for those applicants who qualify). 
• Copies of undergraduate transcripts for all postsecondary schools attended. Only two prerequisites can be pending (e.g., in progress) at the time of application. Acceptance (if granted) will be conditional on receiving the required grade in the admission criteria. All final, official transcripts must be received prior to the start of your first semester.
• Copy of college diploma or proof of degree.

Note: Applicants to the School of Health Professions should be aware that certain legal issues and/or convictions may preclude a student from being accepted by clerkships, internships, and/or fieldwork, and impact the student’s ability to complete the required program courses and qualify for graduation, certification, and/or licensure.

• Priority Deadline: January 6, 2025
• Regular Deadline: Extended to June 20^th. 2025

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications must be submitted by June 20 to be considered. Applications submitted by the June 20 deadline will undergo the verification process through OTCAS. Verified applications indicate your application has been submitted with all required documents (such as transcripts or letters of recommendation), and that all documents have been reviewed and approved by OTCAS. Please note that verification can take a few weeks. We recommend submitting your application at least three weeks before the final deadline.

Students may submit an application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) or through the New York Tech Online Application. A completed application must be received and verified in order to be reviewed by the admissions team. The priority application due date is January 6.

New York Institute of Technology’s master’s program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814-6519, or at acoteonline.org or by phone at 301.652.6611.

Graduates of the occupational therapy program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion of the exam will result in certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

All states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For further information, contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877; phone: 301.990.7979. For additional information about state licensing and other restrictions, contact your local State Board of Occupational Therapy.

This program is approved by the New York State Education Department.

New York Tech is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education, most recently in 2019.

Occupational Therapy Department
New York Institute of Technology
Riland Center, Room 333
Northern Boulevard, PO Box 8000
Old Westbury, NY 11568
otprogram@nyit.edu