How to Apply

Entry-Level OTD, Occupational Therapy (Professional)

You are required to upload a copy of your most recent résumé or curriculum vitae as part of your application.

On your resume include a section for “OT Related Experiences”. Indicate your OT experiences, including, but not limited to, the site you observed at, name of supervisor, dates of observation/volunteer experience, and what you observed.

You are required to answer two essay questions. These questions will pertain to knowledge and experiences related to the profession of occupational therapy, why you are choosing to pursue an entry-level OTD at NYU, and your experiences with or desire to become an agent of change in your community (and/ or family).

You are required to answer the required question and one supplemental question. Each question should have the following format:

• Maximum of three pages
• Double-spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• 1-inch margins on all sides

Required Question

OTCAS requires all applicants to submit a personal statement that addresses the following prompt:

• Explain why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

Required Supplemental Questions (choose one):

Reflect on a time/situation when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to take action? What influenced your decision?

or

What do you identify as important social and cultural factors to consider as you enter a healthcare profession?

Submit three letters of recommendation. At least one of the recommendation letters is required to be from an OT supervisor at an occupational therapy experience site.  Be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline. 

• One letter of recommendation should be from an OT supervisor at an occupational therapy experience site.
• Do not submit letters from family members or friends of the family.

Complete the “Prerequisite Course Requirement” section of the application.

Prerequisite courses are as follows:

• Abnormal Psychology (covers the lifespan)
• Developmental Psychology (covers the lifespan)
• Behavioral Science (social science course)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with dissection lab (course must be completed within 10 yrs) 
• Elementary Statistics
• Community Health

Note(s):

• Grades of B or above are required for the prerequisite courses. Three credits are required for each prerequisite course.
• AP, CLEP Exam and Regents College Exam will not be accepted unless credited and graded by a previously attended college or university.
• It is highly recommend that A&P I and II with dissection lab be completed in-person. Online A&P I and II courses must be synchronous and approved by NYU's OT Department.
• Courses taken at non-accredited institutions will not be accepted.
• Community Health explores the historical, theoretical, and practical foundations of community and public health. The course examines how health impacts individuals, groups, and society at large, with a focus on education, promotion, and intervention strategies aimed at improving health outcomes. Students will investigate the social, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence health, and develop the skills necessary to address health disparities and promote health equity. This requirement may also be fulfilled by completing a public health or global public health course.

For questions about prerequisite courses please contact the Occupational Therapy Department at occupational.therapy@nyu.edu

A minimum of 10 hours of documented occupational therapy experiences in at least 2 service delivery settings (e.g. schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, community health centers, private clinics) is needed. Please note- observation forms must be signed by an Occupational Therapist.

NYU OT's Observation Hours Verification Form (make additional copies as needed)

Upload one official copy of transcripts from every postsecondary school you have attended or are attending. Make sure to request them in advance of the deadline.

If you completed or are completing a degree at an institution outside of the US or Canada, you are required to provide a WES or ECE evaluation. Please review our requirements for translation and a course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts.

Not required.

See testing requirements.

Start your application now

You will apply through OTDCAS only. You do not need to fill out a separate NYU Steinhardt application.

The OTDCAS application portal is for our on-campus program.

You will be notified about your decision by email. Typically, decisions will start going out in late November for Spring semester enrollment and in late March or early April for Summer or Fall enrollment. You may learn of your decision before or after this timeline.

• Learn more about what financial aid may be available to you.
• Learn more about cost of attendance and tuition and fees.