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.
Admission Requirements Include:
- 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.
Application Now Open
| Application Deadline | Interview Date | |
| Round 1 | November 1, 2025 | November 22, 2025 |
| Round 2 | January 10, 2026 | January 31, 2026 |
| Round 3 | March 7, 2026 | March 28, 2026 |
| 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 entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at Texas Christian University has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
See Prospective Applicant Letter.
The program must 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 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.
There is no guarantee that the program will receive accreditation. If you are uncomfortable with the risk involved in applying to or entering a developing program, it may be better for you to pursue one that is already accredited. However, the accreditation process is designed to facilitate development, and substantial support is provided to the program during the process.
*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 ($225 value) |
|
Included | ||
|
Textbooks and course subscriptions ($4,500 value) |
Included | |||
| Grand Total | $105,000 |
The following approximate amounts are not included in tuition and fees, and are subject to change without prior written notice:
|
Student Health Insurance (SHI) plan SHI is an opt-in plan for graduate students who are U.S. citizens. |
$2,387 per academic year |
| Student parking permit | $75 per academic year |
| American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) student membership fee | $85 per year |
|
National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam fee One time fee charged after completion of the program |
$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. No more than two (2) prerequisite course may remain outstanding by the chosen application deadline. In addition, these prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation into the program.
For additional questions, contact OTD@tcu.edu.