Careers in Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists (OT) help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Areas of Occupational Therapy Include:

Children and Youth
Health and Wellness
Mental Health
Productive Aging
Rehabilitation, Disability, and Participation
Work and Industry

Clinical Involvement

Clinical involvement is a crucial part of the health science journey, as it will help you to explore and confirm your interest in the profession and demonstrate a commitment to serving others. While there is not a required number of clinical hours for the occupational therapy school application, you should plan to spend a significant amount of time outside of class gaining experience in clinical settings to strengthen your application.

Application Process

Below is a list of action steps to plan for when you are applying to occupational therapy school. This is a simplified version of a multifaceted process, so we recommend consulting the Professional Health Program Application Process section of our website.

Application System
- In Ontario, ORPAS is the main application system used for OT schools.
- Applications across the rest of Canada are done through the individual institution.
Entrance Exam
- Entrance exams are not required for entrance to OT programs in Canada.
- To become a licensed OT, however, you must pass the NOTCE.
Selecting Schools
- It is essential to select schools that are not only a good fit for you academically, but also a good fit for your values, skills, interests, and that will help you become the professional you want to be. Take time to research programs prior to the application process. Here are some factors you should consider:
  - Admission Requirements
  - Institutional mission, goals, and values
  - Size of cohort
  - Location
  - Your professional interests as it aligns with the school’s mission and training
Reference Letters
- Confirm your letter writers at least 3 months before you plan to apply. You should determine specific letter requirements and quantities from your programs of choice. Letters are most commonly required from at least one of the following categories:
  - Science Faculty
  - Non-Science Faculty
  - Faculty Advisor
  - Employer
  - Physical Therapist
  - Healthcare Provider
  - Volunteer Supervisor
  - Occupational or Physiotherapist
Timeline
- The application process lasts approximately 8-12 months. You should submit your primary application as soon as possible according to the ORPAS Key Dates
Personal Statment
- your personal statement is a distinctive part of your application to OT schools. click here to see some sample OT personal statements.

Academic Prerequisites

Pre-requisite course requirements vary widely by individual school.

For Canadian schools, you should determine specific requirements for programs of choice using the:

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Schools List

For American schools, you should determine specific requirements for programs of choice using the:

AOTA Find a School Page

Course	Required for Canadian Schools?	Required for American Schools?
Anatomy & Physiology	Recommended	Yes
Statistics	Recommended	Yes
Anthropology	None	Yes
Psychology	Recommended	Yes
Sociology	None	Many
Medical Terminology	None	Many
Biology	Some	Some
Physics	Recommended	Some
English	None	Few

*Some OT schools may require different courses. you can check this here.