OTD Admission
This program is designed for students who do not have a degree or certificate in occupational therapy, but have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and are seeking an entry-level graduate program in occupational therapy.
Application Opens July 19
| Application Deadline | Interview Date | |
| Round 1 | November 15 | December 7 |
| Round 2 | December 31 | January 25, 2025 |
| Round 3 | March 7, 2025 | March 29, 2025 |
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
- In-person interview
- International applicants must meet all TCU International Student Admission Criteria
- Completed a minimum of 30 hours of observation and/or volunteer work in at least two (2) different types of occupational therapy settings with an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.
| Minimum Credits | Behavioral Science Courses |
|
3 |
Introductory Sociology OR Introductory Anthropology |
| 3 | Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology |
| 3 | Human Growth & Development OR Lifespan and Human Development (Birth – Death) OR Developmental Psychology |
| 3-5 | Human Anatomy (lab highly recommended) |
| 3-5 | Human Physiology (lab highly recommended) |
| 3 | Physics OR Physical Sciences (Neurosciences, Biomechanics/Kinesiology) |
| 3 | Introductory Statistics (must include inferential) |
| Highly Recommended: Medical Terminology |
Retaking Prerequisite Courses: Applicants are approved to retake up to 15 credit hours of prerequisite courses. The higher letter grade will be used to calculate the prerequisite GPA. Cumulative GPA will include all prerequisite courses completed.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at Texas Christian University is an Applicant Program* seeking Candidacy Status for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, 301-652-2628. See Prospective Applicant Letter.
The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its 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.
The decision for Candidacy is scheduled for December 2024 which will allow admission of our first student cohort to begin June 2, 2025.
There is no guarantee of the program attaining Candidacy Status. Should an applicant harbor concerns regarding the uncertainties associated with applying to or enrolling in an emerging program, it might be prudent to consider pursuing one with established accreditation. Nevertheless, it's important to note that the accreditation procedure is structured to foster growth, with significant support allocated to the program throughout its progression.
*Doctoral degree level occupation therapy program.
| 2025-2028 Cohort | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
| Tuition | $35,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $105,000 |
| CPR/BLS training | $75 | $75 | $75 | $225 |
| Textbooks and course subscriptions | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $4,500 |
| Grand Total | $109,725 |
The following are approximate estimates only and are not included in tuition and fees, and may be subject to change.
| University health insurance | $2,205 per academic year |
| Student parking permit | $75 per academic year |
| American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) student membership fee | $85 |
| National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam fee | $540 |
| Student housing near TCU campus | Off-campus housing will vary per student |
| Student housing at fieldwork and capstone sites | Varies per student |
A non-refundable $1,000 deposit is due upon program acceptance and will be applied to program tuition.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The top 100 candidates who satisfactorily meet these criteria will be invited for an interview. All applications and required materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the deadline. A non-refundable $1,000 deposit is due upon program acceptance and will be applied to program tuition.
For additional questions, contact OTD@tcu.edu.