OTD – Admission Requirements

To apply to Monmouth’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, you can submit an application online through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS).

Post-Baccalaureate Entry Admission Requirements

The post-baccalaureate program allows for students to enter the program after completing their undergraduate degree program.

Applicants are evaluated for admission based on academic preparation; quality of references; insightful goals in personal statement; successful completion of observation hours and academic prerequisites; work and service activities.

• Bachelor’s Degree – A bachelor’s degree (or US equivalent) must be completed at the time of application or completed by the time the program begins. A degree in any area of study will be accepted.
• GPA – At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA as well as in the prerequisite courses. (Note: All completed courses will be used in the GPA calculated by OTCAS.)
• Observation Hours – 60 hours of observation in a minimum of two practice settings must be completed prior to admission to the program. Examples of settings are: adults, geriatrics, pediatric, wellness, LTC, hospitals, community centers, primary care, etc. An OT Observation Form will be provided to complete for each site observed.
• Completion of Prerequisites – Completion of all pre-requisites with a grade of B- or better. Applicants with outstanding prerequisite courses that are not shown as “in progress” on the OTCAS application, must submit a Word document outlining the completion plan to ot@monmouth.edu. All incomplete prerequisite courses and observation hours must be completed by the time the program begins. 
• Quality References – Three references are required and can be from academic advisors, licensed occupational therapists, and/or work managers. At least one reference must be from a healthcare professional.
• Writing Sample – Writing prompt available in OTCAS.
• Interview
• Criminal Background Check – Required of all admitted students. Must have prior to first day of class.
• Technical Standards – Occupational Therapy Program Essential Skills and Standards Acknowledgement

International Student Admission Requirements

• In addition to the admission requirements aforementioned, international applicants must be a permanent resident or eligible for an F-1 visa.
• Required English proficiency test – an official English proficiency score report meeting the University requirements is required for non-native English-speaking applicants in addition to the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). The required scores are found on the Graduate Application Requirements page of the Monmouth University Web site.
• International applicants must submit to OTCAS an official course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by one of the member organizations of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Please visit NACES.org for a list of those participating organizations. Note that each organization will have its own instructions on how to submit required documents for evaluation. The evaluation must also show that a bachelor’s degree equivalent to one in the United States has been earned.

Prerequisite Course Requirements:

Course	Credits
Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab	4
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab	4
Lifespan or Human Development OR three courses to include Childhood, Adolescent and Adult Development OR courses that cover the Lifespan Development	3
Abnormal Psychology	3
Statistics	3
English Composition or Technical Writing	3
Humanities (i.e. sociology, anthropology, psychology etc.)	3

**All courses must be completed within five years of application to the program. If any prerequisite course requirement does not meet the 5-year completion time frame, the application will be reviewed by the OT admissions team to determine eligibility.

Fieldwork and Capstone Requirements for Admitted Students

The following items will be required to complete fieldwork and capstone components of the OTD curriculum. Please note that compliance for these items will be discussed in new student orientation upon beginning the program.

1. Physician’s Clearance 
2. Physical Evaluation
3. Tuberculosis Testing
   • 2-Step PPD/TB- QuantiFERON Gold/T-SPOT (2 step for the first Year)
4. FBI Fingerprinting 
5. Annual Training Certificates (HIPAA & OSHA)
6. CPR Certification
7. Flu Vaccination 
8. Immunizations (proof of vaccination and/or titers)
   • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
   • Hepatitis
   • Varicella
   • Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap)
   • Influenza (annual)
   • COVID-19 and booster
9. Medical Insurance

Technology Requirements

The OTD program requires students to have access to personal technology such as a laptop computer, tablet, or PC throughout the duration of the program as well as a working webcam during the hybrid/online courses. Students should reference our Campus Technology Website for detailed suggestions before purchase.

Technology Competency Requirements

The Monmouth OTD program requires completion of coursework in a predominantly traditional week day. However, there are a few courses that are delivered in hybrid/online format. Success in both the online and in person portions of the program requires students to have the ability to navigate the College’s learning management system (eCampus), manage electronic communications, utilize research and information databases, and apply software. Online courses may consist of a combination of scheduled synchronous and asynchronous learning activities; synchronous sessions will require use of the Zoom platform. In person courses will maximize the use of technology with no seat time reduction, using the eCampus learning management system for administration, communication, assessment and content delivery to both supplement and enhance the face to face experience. Prior to starting coursework, all students will be required to complete an online orientation through eCampus that will prepare them to meet the technology requirements of the online portions of the program. Additionally, students will have ongoing access to the Help Desk to manage questions or concerns with technology while in the program.