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1. The Department of Occupational Therapy will not process any application that is incomplete (for any items noted above) or that is not submitted by the deadline.
2. Preference MAY BE shown to Alabama residents, however, highly qualified out-of-state applicants whose academics and experiences indicate that they may be a success in both the program and the OT profession will be given the same consideration as residents.
3. Students accepted to the program must submit completed health and physical forms to include required immunizations per matriculation guide requirements. Accepted students must also read, sign, and submit the Core Performance Standards document outlining fundamental tasks of which applicants should be capable upon entering the OT program.
4. Acceptance into the OTD program is provisional pending a clear background check, submission of required medical forms, and completion of bachelor’s degree. You will be required to submit forms per the matriculation guide requirements.
5. Acceptance into the OTD program is provisional pending completion of any additional required prerequisite courses. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses. Failure to make a 3.0 prerequisite GPA will result in a nullification of acceptance into the professional program. **Spring Semester 2020 only, courses listed as Pass in the Pass/Fail grading system or Satisfactory in the Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory grading system will be accepted for prerequisite courses.
6. Accepted students must submit a $300 matriculation fee with the Statement of Intent to reserve a seat in the class. This fee is non-refundable and is applied to the student’s first semester tuition.  Students offered admission may elect not to pay the matriculation fee and be placed on the alternate list.
7. PLEASE NOTE: A record of criminal charges, including misdemeanor and felony charges, may result in denial of access to fieldwork sites, inability to sit for the NBCOT board exam, inability to obtain a state license to practice, and/or limit job opportunities. Potential students with concerns are encouraged to review the NBCOT requirements on the website. 

Minimum Requirements

All applicants must complete the OTCAS admissions application for our program.

The candidate is expected to satisfy the following minimum requirements:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university by May 30, 2026 for Fall/ Spring applicants, July 2026 for summer applicants.
2. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) overall cumulative GPA.  Minimum 3.0 GPA OT prerequisite courses.
3. OT Observation Hours (20 required) completed on documented forms
4. Complete the Supplemental Application and Required Fee

Program Requirements

1. Occupational Therapy is a full-time doctorate program that provides scientific evidence and clinical education needed for clinical practice. Course work and clinical fieldwork placements are full-time in nature. Students must be able to manage full-time clinical placements which are scheduled both on weekdays and weekends, between semesters and within semesters, not always following the academic calendar. Students should have the resources to commute to clinical placements that are not local to the Mobile area.
2. Students matriculating into and within Occupational Therapy will be required to have continuous health coverage and provide documentation of this throughout the program of study. Students are responsible for the cost of this health insurance coverage.
3. Students matriculating into and within Occupational Therapy will be required to complete background checks, drug screens, immunizations, and specific trainings at various times within the program and clinical fieldwork placements. We are unable to accept students into the clinical programs that are unable to sit for the NBCOT exam or achieve licensure in the US. Students are responsible for the costs of these.
4. The Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀ, Department of Occupational Therapy utilizes the online management system of Canvas for all courses. Each OT student is expected to have a personal computer for the completion of web-based assignments, exams, and online courses during the OT program. Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀhas a contracted service with Microsoft to allow enrolled students some specific free software downloads. Students should be familiar with MS Office for Word and Excel, be familiar with uploading and downloading documents into course learning management sites such as Canvas, and be familiar with Google Calendar.

Prerequisite Courses must be completed by dates noted in the review process section.

Prerequisite Courses are required for ALL Applicants.

A minimum 3.0 GPA must be maintained for these prerequisite courses:
Developmental (life span) psychology (PSY 250)
Abnormal psychology (PSY 340)
Statistics (ST 210)
**Anatomy & physiology I (BMD 251)
**Anatomy & physiology II (BMD 252)
**Kinesiology (biomechanics) preferred / or physics with algebra/trigonometry (KIN 380 or PH 114) 

** These prerequisite courses must be taken no more than ten years prior to submitting your application. 

AP credit and CLEP scores are not accepted for any of the prerequisite courses.
Pass/Fail and/or Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory grades accepted for course grades for Spring 2020 only.

 

 

 

Application Process 

 

When should I apply?

Students can apply to the OTD program about one year before they intend to start. So, you can apply
in July 2025 for Fall 2026 admissions if you meet the requirements below based on completion of
prerequisite courses and date the degree will be conferred – see criteria listed below each date.  All
applicants should apply through OTCAS.

 

This will be a rolling application process. Students will be viewed at various points for consideration for entrance to Fall 2026.

 

You can apply at these times if you meet this criterion:

A- Fall review of qualified applicants- OTCAS deadline for materials  is  Sept. 15, 2025

Students transcripts through Summer 2025 will show you have completed minimum of 3/6 (or more)
prerequisite courses by Summer 2025, the supplemental application will indicate you will complete all
prerequisite courses by December 2025 and will graduate with Bachelor’s degree by May 2026 (or
sooner)
Selected applicants will be required to attend on campus interview on Oct. 17, 2025

 

B- Spring review of qualified applicants- OTCAS deadline for materials is Jan. 9, 2026

Student transcripts through Fall 2025 will show you completed minimum of 3/6 prerequisite (or more)
courses by Fall 2025, the supplemental application will indicate you will complete all prerequisite course
by May 2026, and you will graduate with Bachelor’s by May 2026
Selected applicants will be required to attend on campus interview on Feb. 6, 2026

 

C- Late Spring review of qualified applicants- OTCAS deadline is June 1, 2026

Student transcripts through Spring 2026 will show you completed the minimum of 4/6
prerequisite (or more) courses by Spring 2026, the supplemental application will indicate you
will complete all prerequisite course by July 2026, and you will graduate with Bachelor’s by July
2026
Selected applicants will be required to attend on campus interview on June 26, 2026

 

To be considered for admission to the OT Doctorate (OTD) program at the University of South Alabama,
applicants should submit the following to OTCAS:

1-Completed Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀOT Supplemental Application which will be uploaded in the documents section;

2-Pay the $75 non-refundable supplemental application fee and upload the receipt in the documents
section;

3-Upload official transcripts in OTCAS for ALL colleges/ universities attended and have them verified
within the OTCAS system;

**Please note that the OTCAS verification process may take 4-6 weeks. Also, students completing
degrees in Summer 2026 must send official transcripts showing degree completion to
otadmissions@southalabama.edu

4-Complete the OTCAS application process including academic updates
Students who will complete prerequisite courses and degrees after the application is submitted must
complete an academic update in OTCAS and submit updated transcripts to show completion and grade
achieved for courses and completion of the degree. OTCAS has instructions for this. Students are
encouraged to submit all necessary materials and start the OTCAS application as soon as possible.
(Students applying in Summer will submit some aspects directly to the
otadmissions@southalabama.edu)

5- Submit Required OT observation hours document

6- Optional Documents- students with relevant volunteer and/or work experiences can submit this
documentation (see specific requirements in OTCAS

Qualified applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview as part of the application process.
Admissions will remain open until all seats are filled before the start of the Fall 2026 semester.
Admissions are competitive and the OTD program will select applicants who show successful academic
potential to meet the requirements of the OTD program.

In order to be considered for admission to the OTD program at University of South Alabama, applicants should submit to OTCAS the following:

1. completed Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀOT Supplemental Application which will be uploaded in the documents section
2. pay the $75 non-refundable supplemental application fee and upload the receipt in the documents section
3. upload all transcripts in OTCAS for all colleges/universities attended
4. complete the OTCAS application process
5. have your transcripts verified by OTCAS (start as soon as your application is submitted)
6. Please note that the OTCAS verification process may take 4-6 weeks.
7. submit OT Observation Hours documentation
8. submit Volunteer/Work Hours documentation (optional)
9. Forms are located at the top of this webpage

To be considered for admission to the OT Doctorate (OTD) program at the University of South Alabama, applicants should submit the following:

 

1-Completed Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀOT Supplemental Application  which will be uploaded in the documents section;

2-Pay the $75 non-refundable supplemental application fee and upload the receipt in the documents section;

3-Upload official transcripts in OTCAS for all colleges/ universities attended and have them verified within the OTCAS system;

                 **Please note that the OTCAS verification process may take 4-6 weeks. Also, students completing degrees in Summer 2025  must send official final transcripts to otadmissions@southalabama.edu

 

4-Complete the OTCAS application process including academic updates

     Students who will complete prerequisite courses and degrees after the application is submitted must complete an academic update in OTCAS and submit updated transcripts to show completion and grade achieved for courses and completion of the degree. OTCAS has instructions for this. Students are encouraged to submit all necessary materials and start the OTCAS application as soon as possible.

5-  Submit Required  OT observation hours document

6-Optional- Submit volunteer/work-related documentation (optional)

     Admissions will remain open until all seats are filled before the start of the Fall 2026 semester. Admissions are competitive and the OTD program will select applicants who show successful academic potential to meet the requirements of the OTD program.

 

Matriculation Fee

Admitted students who wish to reserve their place in the program will be asked to submit a $300 Matriculation fee upon acceptance. 

 

Review Process

  Students who are offered a seat in the program will be required to complete background checks,  drug screens, and complete immunization requirements prior to entry into the program. The results of these and compliance of this may impact your status.

 

 NBCOT Exam Eligibility

  Students will be required by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to complete a character review process as part of being eligible to sit for the national exam. This includes answering questions about felony charges, surrendering professional licenses, court or disciplinary procedures resulting in harm to others, or being suspended or expelled from a college or university. You will also be required to complete a background check. 

**PLEASE NOTE: A record of criminal charges, including misdemeanor and felony charges, may result in denial of access to fieldwork sites, inability to sit for the NBCOT board exam, inability to obtain a state license to practice, and/or limit job opportunities.

OT Observation Hours (minimum of 20 hours) are required at the time of application. Students can
submit up to 60 hours of observation. Please complete and submit the required documentation forms.

The form is located at the top left of this webpage.

** Students who experience extenuating circumstances (ex. natural disasters) in your geographical area
that impact your ability to schedule OT observation hours may request permission from the Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀOT
admissions department to complete an alternate assignment. Please contact the Admissions
Department if you need the alternative, but we highly encourage you to see real OTs in action as much
as possible. We want you to know what OTs do and make the best decision for your career choice.

The following are not required but these experiences will enhance your application for consideration
into the OTD program.

Volunteer Hours
Volunteer experiences (1-100 hours) are part of our holistic admissions process. Applicants should
document only volunteer (unpaid) hours that involve serving individuals with disabilities, individuals that
are underserved or underprivileged, and hours with charitable organizations serving people. Paid
employment does not count for this. Applicants should upload documentation from the agency or your
university/college volunteer services (Ex South Serves) that indicates the agency you volunteered for,
the dates, and the hours you provided. Only provide a maximum of 100 hours even if you did more than
this.

 

Work Related Experiences

Paid employment that provided opportunities for you to work directly with individuals with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds (Ex. rehab aide, nurses aide, teachers aide or assistant) should be documented. Provide a letter from the employer on letterhead stationary that indicates your name, job position, months/years of employment, and basic job responsibilities. It should be signed by the employer and include contact information such as phone number and email for verification.

Bonus Course

OT 201 Introduction to Occupational Therapy

OTD Tuition and fees 2024-2025

International students must meet the minimum requirements for admission and apply to the International Admissions Office with certified translations of transcripts at least 60 days before applying to the occupational therapy program. International coursework must be evaluated by the USA Office of International Services to verify equivalency to Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀcourses. International applicants must have a TOEFL score = 100 on Internet-based tests, OR iTEP Academic = 4.9, OR IELTS = 7.5, OR PTE Academic = 75. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution are not required to submit TOEFL results.

View the Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀTransfer Evaluation System to see how your classes will transfer.

The Â鶹Ïà¹Ø±¨µÀ entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccrediation Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

ACOTE Contact Information
Address:
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone:
(301) 652-AOTA

Website:


Current Status: Preaccreditation Status Granted

This OTD program is scheduled for the onsite ACOTE evaluation in Fall 2025.

We must achieve Accreditation Status before our graduates 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 in order 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.

OTD students must successfully complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork, as well as, the individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all required coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in the 2023 D standards.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the .

If you have further questions about the application process, please contact the OT Department.
Phone: (251) 445-9222
Email the Dept. of OT