The WMU Occupational Therapy Department offers undergraduate students an academic program leading to the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a dedicated track in occupational therapy which is then followed by a one-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists 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, most 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 obtain state licensure.

The department provides undergraduate admission opportunities to current WMU undergraduate students, and to transfer undergraduate students. Students interested in admission to the undergraduate occupational therapy concentration should contact the College of Health and Human Services advisor - (269) 387-2656 - well in advance of applying to the program.

Admission Requirements for Occupational Therapy Concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services

Incoming Freshmen

Freshmen entering WMU beginning in the fall of 2013 will no longer be eligible for direct admission to the occupational therapy concentration of the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services.

Current WMU And Transfer Students

• Completion of the department application, which is available online at the WMU Occupational Therapy website.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 from WMU and/or transfer institution (if the student has attended two or more institutions, the grades from all institutions will be averaged together).
• Prerequisite courses must all be completed with a grade of “C” or better. All pre-requisite courses must be completed at the time of application to the program. The only exception to this policy is OT 2020. If not completed previously, students must be enrolled at the time of application to the program.
• In addition to academic performance, students will be evaluated on the following topics: work and/or volunteer experiences; leadership roles; and cultural/ethnic diversity and competence.
• Application deadline for current WMU students: January 31 of each year for fall semester admission; September 1 of each year for spring semester admission.

Please note the following: 

1. In the admission process, a formula is employed that assigns points for grades and for other admission topics. Admission to the program is based on the compilation of all points.
2. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the professional occupational therapy curriculum. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent to the University Admissions Office in time to be processed prior to the department deadline. 
3. Occupational therapy is a profession that is regulated on national and state levels, and everyone who wishes to practice as an occupational therapist is required to pass the NBCOT Certification Exam after graduating from an accredited program.
4. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or who have been charged with a felony and convicted of a misdemeanor, while not prohibited from taking the NBCOT certification examination, may not be able to practice based on state laws.