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  Application & Admissions: Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program

All applications for admission with consideration for university-based financial aid, including scholarships and assistantships, must be submitted in a complete form by January 15 for fall entry and by October 15 for spring entry. Applications received after the above deadlines will be considered on a space available basis only.

Credentials for all applicants* must include:

  • A personal statement (see guidelines below).
  • An official transcript of all post-secondary education showing successful completion of an ACOTE or WFOT approved occupational therapy Bachelor's or Master’s degree program.
  • An official transcript showing current enrollment in or completion of a Master’s degree program.
  • Satisfactory completion (B- or better) of prerequisite courses in Introductory Statistics and a graduate-level Research Methods course.
  • A Curriculum Vitae.
  • Three letters of reference appraising the candidate's potential for study in the OTD program. *
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores are required for all applicants except current Tufts alumni.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international students whose native language is not English. The minimal accepted TOEFL for the Department of Occupational Therapy is 230CBT.

Note: NBCOT credentialing before entry in the OTD is strongly recommended. Those not credentialed in occupational therapy at entry will be given provisional acceptance into the OTD Program and NBCOT credentialing must be achieved by the end of the first semester of the program. It is expected that all applicants are licensed or eligible for licensing in the United States.

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*For Tufts Department of Occupational Therapy Master's degree alumni and current students or in 2nd semester (post-professional program):
Only two letters of reference appraising the candidate's potential for study in the OTD program are required. GRE scores are not required for current or former Tufts students.

Guidelines for Personal Statement (limit 4 pages double-spaced)

  1. What are your plans for graduate study as related to your future career as a leader in occupational therapy? Please address your specialty focus.
  2. The Leadership Project is an important part of the OTD program (see program description). Please indicate your current ideas about your project.
  3. In what ways do your academic background and recent professional experience point to your potential for success as a doctoral student and as a leader in occupational therapy? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
  4. Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?

Application deadlines:
October 15 for Spring Admission (September 15 for international students)
January 15 for Fall Admission (December 15 for international students)

Applications will be considered past deadline on a space-available basis.