Entry Requirements

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2022-2023

The Master of Occupational Therapy program is now available in Pocatello and Meridian, Idaho. Applicants for Pocatello and Meridian will apply for the program using the OTCAS online system using the instructions found here.  After students are accepted into the program, they will be asked about their campus preference. After campus preferences are submitted, the admissions committee will meet to make campus assignments. While committee members will attempt to honor campus preferences, the student preferred campus is not guaranteed.

All applicants applying to the ISU MOT Program must also apply for admission to ISU through the Graduate School. General admissions requirements may be obtained from the Graduate School webpage.  Some of the requirements for admission into the MOT Program are higher than the general requirements for the ISU Graduate School. 

The following information provides the specific requirements for applying to the ISU Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program. The requirements include the completion of a bachelor's degree, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores, grade point average, prerequisite course work, and volunteer or paid aide experience under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist.  Applicants must meet and/or exceed all of the listed requirements to be competitive in the application process.  Please contact our admissions advisor if you have specific questions during the application process.

Completion of a Bachelor's Degree

Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree from any regionally accredited college or university in the United States or with equivalent preparation acquired in another country. This degree may be in progress during the application process but must be completed by August of the year an applicant plans to matriculate into our program.  Successful applicants must provide official transcripts to the ISU Graduate School to verify degree.

GPA Requirements

Applicants must have:

• A minimum of an earned grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 over last 60 credits. 
• A minimum of 25 upper division credits must be completed, or in progress, by January of the year of admission for applications to be considered.
• Applicants with advanced degrees may use the most recent upper division or graduate credits completed.
• Courses graded on a pass-fail basis will be excluded from the grade-point calculation if they have a passing grade, but will be included if they have a failing grade.

GRE/MAT Requirements

COVID UPDATE:  The GRE scores listed below are required minimum scores for the 2022-2023 application cycle.  If you are having difficulty finding a testing seat, ETS has a "take at home" option for the GRE.  

Applicants must take either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and the scores must be received by the ISU Graduate School by the application deadline (January 15) for an application to be considered as meeting the deadline. The scores on these tests must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:

• GRE
  • A total combined score of at least 295 in the verbal and quantitative portions.
  • Verbal must be at least 146.
  • A minimum of 4.0 on the analytical portion.
  • All requirements must be met from a single GRE occurrence.
  • The ISU code for the GRE is: 4355
• MAT
  • A total score of 390.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  
  • International students must complete the TOEFL Examination with a score of 550 (paper based) and 213 (computer based).
  • In addition, the score of Section I of the exam must be 55 (paper based) and 21 (computer based).

Official exam results must be provided to the ISU Graduate School.  The ISU code for all three exams listed above is 4355. Applicants with scores lower than the requirements will not be competitive in the application process.

Prerequisite Course Work

Applicants must:

• Complete specific prerequisite courses with a GPA of 3.0 in each of the specified categories.
• Prerequisite course work in anatomy and physiology must be completed within the last five (5) years.
• An applicant with more than four (4) prerequisite courses in progress or planned for the spring/summer semesters may not be considered for admission (the program may not consider applications when there are more than 4 prerequisites planned/in-progress).
• Courses graded on a pass-fail basis are acceptable for meeting minimum criteria in fulfilling prerequisite requirements; however, such grades may be evaluated less favorably by the admissions committee in ranking applicants.  Thus, the use of such courses as prerequisites is discouraged. 

Prerequisite Courses

Observation/Volunteering in Occupational Therapy

Occupations are the heart of occupational therapy.  Occupations are the everyday activities that people want, need and are expected to do.  Occupational therapists believe that by engaging in occupations, people are improving and/or maintaining their health, well being and quality of life. 

COVID UPDATE:  The Admissions Committee for the ISU MOT program is allowing completion of the following assignment as substitution for some or all of the required observation hours OR as substitution for a second practice setting.

After watching one of the movies listed below, write a one-page, single spaced essay on the power of occupation in the character's life.  Within the essay, discuss a specific everyday activity and explain how it contributed to the character's recovery, improved their health or wellbeing and/or quality of life.  Submit the essay to  ot@isu.edu with the subject line 'observation hours essay'. 

ACCEPTED MOVIES:

A Mile in His Shoes
Charged (a documentary)
Crash Reel
Let There be Light (1946 documentary available via Netflix)
Megan Leavey
Peanut Butter Falcon
Regarding Henry
Still Alice
The Upside
Stronger

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge and exposure to the occupational therapy profession. They are required to complete:

• A minimum of 40 hours of volunteer or work related experience.
• Hours must be completed in at least two different occupational therapy practice settings.
• Hours must be completed under the supervision of an occupational therapist or certified occupational therapy assistant
• Examples of practice settings include, but are not limited to acute care or rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient clinics, school-based or pediatric practice, mental health practice and nursing homes.
• All of the required experience must be completed PRIOR to application to the ISU MOT Program.
• Observation hours can not include therapy that is administered to the applicant or to relatives of the applicant. 
• Observation hours must have been completed within 5 years of application. 

Letters of Reference