Occupational Therapy

The program participates in the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).  OTCAS is open as of July 21.  Applicants must submit all required application materials to OTCAS by the program's December 14 application deadline such that CASPA considers the application "Complete".  The application does not need to be "Verified"; merely "Complete" on December 14.  To learn more about OTCAS please visit - OTCAS

A non-refundable $50 program application fee is required of all applicants. Please include a completed copy of the OT Program Application Fee Form with your payment. Payment instructions are included on the form.

The program no longer provides or requires submission of a Supplemental Application. (Note: a program application fee of $50 is still required. See Program Application Fee.)

The program requires all applicants complete an online asynchronous interview process via UWL's Canvas system.  Applicants will be presented with a series of interview questions and record their responses using a video-based platform.  Applicants will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to access the interview questions in Canvas once their OTCAS application is considered "Complete" and be given a period of approximately one week to record their responses.  An application will not be considered until the asynchronous interview is complete.

All students must earn a Bachelor's degree prior to entering the OT Program.  Students may complete their BA or BS while applying, but they must complete their degree prior to matriculating in our program.  Accepted students completing a Bachelor's degree will need to submit a final transcript demonstrating the issuance of their degree.  The program neither requires not recommends the degree be earned in any particular major.

All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to beginning the program.  Students may apply with outstanding prereq courses so long as they demonstrate a plan to complete those courses before matriculating in our program.  For further information on prerequisite course requirements please visit Prerequisite Coursework

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, calculated on a 4-point scale by OTCAS, is required of all applicants.  Applicants not meeting the stated 3.00 GPA requirement will be ineligible for admission and removed from consideration. 

The program requires applicants submit three references to OTCAS by the application deadline.

The program does not require observation hours in occupational therapy.

The program no longer requires official Graduate Review Exam (GRE) scores.

• Transcript information - As noted above, official, certified or attested transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted. Additionally, documents issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
• Course-by-Course Evaluations – This program requires a WES or ECE evaluation to be submitted as part of the application process.
• Proof of English language proficiency: Non-native English speakers must submit evidence of one the following language proficiency requirements for admission:
  • TOEFL score (within last 2 years) of at least 100 iBT or 600 pBT, or IELTS score of at least 7.0 - Institution Code: 1914
• Proof of funding: Submit a bank statement and completed Affidavit of Support form.
  • Applicants who require F-2 visas for dependents (spouse and/or children) must submit additional proof of funding and passport copies for each dependent.
• Passport information: Submit a photocopy of the photo page of your passport. 

Please contact International Admissions at  intladmissions@uwlax.edu if you have questions.  Each of the items listed in this section "Additional requirements for international applicants" can be sent directly to the UWL Admissions Office.

UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA

Transfer Credits:

Transfer credits from other Occupational Therapy (OT) programs are not accepted.  Due to the tight sequencing and integration of the curriculum we do not accept didactic or clinical credits from other institutions.  All students, regardless of their prior background and education, must complete the entire OT curriculum at UWL.

Advanced Placement:

The program does not grant advanced placement to any student.  If accepted, these students are required to complete the entire curriculum, regardless of background, education and experience.

If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Wisconsin after completion of this program, you should contact that state's appropriate licensing board and refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosure to determine whether this UWL program meets licensure requirements in a specific state.

The program accepts applications once annually.  Incoming students will begin courses in late May.  We admit for neither a fall nor spring start.  Summer 2021 courses will begin in late May of 2021.

• July 18 - OTCAS opens.
• December 14 - Application Deadline.  All application materials must be received by OTCAS in  order to be considered for admission.  GRE score submissions must be submitted with ETS and interviews completed as well.  
• Late February / Early March - Applicants notified of their admission.  Applicants receive one of three decisions:
  • Invitation to join the program.
  • Applicant is an alternate for admission and may receive an offer should an accepted applicant decline the program's offer.
  • Applicant will not be invited to join the program.

• Late May - New OT students begin courses and participate in orientation activities.

The committee considers several criteria when reviewing applications for admission.  Included below are the criteria considered and some suggestions to consider when completing your application.

GPA (Cumulative and Prerequisite): 

It is recommended that students make academic success a priority.  The minimum cumulative GPA for admission into the Occupational Therapy Program is 3.00.  A high GPA is reflective of a strong application.  Particular emphasis on prerequisite and science coursework is suggested as the program considers academic performance in these courses in addition to cumulative GPA.

Personal Characteristics: 

The following application items will also be reviewed:

• Narrative responses
• References
• Interview
• Experiences (employment, volunteering, etc.)

When preparing these items applicants should emphasize the following characteristics:

• Knowledge and Creativity
  Demonstrates a broad understanding of occupational therapy and is curious about the field.  Individual is intelligent and displays creativity.
• Communication Skills
  Writes in a clear, organized and logical manner with precision and style that is also interesting and well organized.
• Teamwork
  Demonstrates the ability to work well in group settings in a way that is friendly and supports the efforts of others.  Provide constructive feedback to team members in a helpful manner.
• Resilience
  Demonstrates the ability to work extremely hard and under stressful conditions.  Overcomes challenges and setbacks.  Accepts feedback without getting defensive.
• Planning and Organization
  Demonstrates the ability to organize work and time effectively while meeting deadlines.  Sets realistic goals and makes plans to accomplish them.
• Ethics and Integrity
  Demonstrates sincerity, honesty, is trustworthy and maintains high ethical standards.

Exceptional Achievement:

Items that may be considered include awards, collegiate extracurricular participation, honors, scholarships, study abroad experiences, volunteering, work experiences, etc.