How to apply

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program has been accepted into candidacy by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) with a start date of January 2025. Related message to prospective applicants from Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change.

OTCAS Application: Available January 1-November 15

The OT program must receive a submitted OTCAS application on or before November 15 in order to consider applicants for admission. Applications submitted to OTCAS after November 15 will not be considered. The application can be found at https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login, and information about OTCAS may be found at https://help.liaisonedu.com/OTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center. It is highly recommended that you submit your OTCAS application sooner rather than later to ensure timely submission and review of all items by OTCAS.

Applicant Personal Statement Submitted to OTCAS

It is recommended that you compose your personal statement in a text-only word processor and copy and paste it into the general section of the OTCAS application. Additional details and instructions for the personal statement in the general section of the application can be found within the application.

Applicant References Submitted to OTCAS

The three professional recommendations may be obtained from at least one OTR and one professor/instructor or another healthcare provider. You will send the requests electronically in OTCAS to the individuals you want to complete them and these individuals must submit their completed recommendations electronically via OTCAS. If you are applying only to Wayne State University's Occupational Therapy program, OTCAS will require you to enter the names of three recommenders.

A stronger applicant file is one that has references who have known you for a period of time and can comment on your performance. References from family members or those in a personal relationship with you are highly discouraged.

Documentation of 20 OTR Contact Hours Submitted to OTCAS

OT observation hours form must be completed by OTR only; COTA is not acceptable.
Minimum of 20 hours completed in the last two years.
Submitting hours over two years old is acceptable as long as 20 of those hours were within the last 2 years
Click here to print or save the online form for distribution to OTRs that will be observing.
Forms will be attached in OTCAS under Test Scores in the WSU Program Specific area.

Plan of Work for Fall semester - Academic Updates Submitted to OTCAS (if applicable)

For those applicants completing courses in the Fall semester (August-December):

- You will need to put the courses in progress in OTCAS. Once the courses have been completed in December, applicants will need to complete an Academic Update in OTCAS for the completed courses. More information on the Academic Update process can be found on the OTCAS website here.

Essential Functions

Occupational Therapy students must acquire and maintain certain essential functions that are necessary to the practice of Occupational Therapy. Please read the linked document that describes these essential functions.

Supplemental Materials to be submitted in OCTAS:

Copy of Granted Waiver: Six-Year Time Limit Rule for Science Prerequisites Course Waiver (if applicable)
Only those applicants who requested and received a six-year time limit science course prerequisite waiver from the WSU OT Admissions Committee need to submit documentation in the Additional Documents section.
Copy of TOEFL Scores (if applicable) only those applicants that need to complete the WSU English Proficiency requirement with the TOEFL exam need submit documentation in this section.
Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Scores (if applicable). Only those applicants that have completed AP/CLEP exams and want to use those credits for prerequisites need to submit score documentation from the college board in the Additional Documents section.