Admission Requirements

On this page, you will find the admission process and requirements for Chatham University's Occupational Therapy Assistant to Occupational Therapy Doctor (OTA-to-OTD) program.

Admission Requirements

  • Current occupational therapy assistant (OTA) license
  • Minimum of one year of clinical experience as an OTA
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (must be completed before classes begin)*
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
    • Grades below C are not accepted for prerequisites
    • “Pass” or “Satisfactory” grades are accepted only for Spring 2020 coursework and do not affect GPA

Applicants Without a Bachelor's Degree

OTA applicants who do not hold a bachelor's degree may be eligible to pursue Chatham's online Bachelor of Science in Health & Wellness. This pathway allows students to complete their bachelor's degree while preparing for entry into the OTD program, potentially reducing both time and cost compared to completing the degrees separately.

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisites must be completed at a minimum of 3 credits (or equivalent with lab as noted):

  • Human Anatomy w/ Lab OR Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
    • May be 3-credit course + 1-credit lab if taken separately
  • Human Physiology w/ Lab OR Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
    • May be 3-credit course + 1-credit lab if taken separately
  • Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology (3 credits)
    • General or developmental psychology is not acceptable.
  • Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development (3 credits)
    • A combination of courses is acceptable if, together, they cover the full lifespan from birth to death (e.g., childhood development + adult/aging development courses)
  • Research Methods or Statistics (3 credits)

Application Materials

To be considered for admission, submit the following:

  • A completed free online application. OTA applicants should NOT apply through OTCAS.
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Two professional letters of recommendation (e.g., faculty, advisors, OT supervisors, or work/volunteer supervisors)
  • Completion of at least 3 of the 5 prerequisite courses at the time of application
  • Personal statement responding to the provided prompt
  • A current resume and/or supplemental information describing relevant experiences (leadership, employment, volunteer work, service, research, advocacy, caregiving, etc.)

The program uses a holistic admissions process, meaning we consider your experiences, attributes, and skills, in addition to your academic performance, to make admission decisions.

Important Dates: Fall 2017 Admission

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

Recommended submission date: On or before October 1, 2026

Priority Interview Dates:

  • September 15, 2026 (Virtual)
  • October 19, 2026 (Virtual)
  • November 19, 2026 (Virtual)

Additional virtual interview dates may be offered after priority rounds.

Final Application Deadline: June 19, 2027 (space-available basis)

Interviews are by invitation and offered after application completion.

Program Interview

A required 30-minute interview with faculty and/or program alumni will be scheduled for applicants who meet the initial review criteria once their application is complete.

The interview is a great opportunity for us to get to know you beyond your application and for you to learn more about our program. It will be a relaxed conversation guided by about five questions, and you’ll also have time to ask some questions you have about the program, student experience, or anything else that’s important to you.

To help keep the process fair and consistent, interviewers will not review your application beforehand. This means you’ll have the opportunity to highlight the experiences, strengths, and goals you feel are most important during the conversation. We know interviews can sometimes feel stressful, but our goal is simply to get to know you. Most students find it feels more like a conversation than a formal interview.

In addition to the 30-minute interview, most interview sessions also include time to connect with the program director in a small-group setting and to meet current students. This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand about the student experience and ask them additional questions about the program.

The full interview experience typically lasts 1–2 hours, depending on the number of applicants scheduled that day. To help you feel prepared, the first question we’ll ask is:
“What motivates you, and how have these motivators influenced your desire to become an occupational therapist?” Starting with this question helps you ease into the conversation.

Remember, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. We’re most interested in learning about your story, your interest in occupational therapy, and the unique strengths and perspectives you would bring to the profession and to Chatham’s program.

Additional Information 

  • Chatham University reserves the right to request a background check prior to admission.
  • Advanced placement, transfer of credit, or experiential learning credit is not available for OT coursework due to the integrated and sequential nature of the program curriculum.

International Applicants

International Applicants must submit additional documentation to the Office of Admissions. A list of these documents can be found on the International Admission web page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact our Admission Department:

Office of Admission
Chatham University
107 Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
800-837-1290
412-365-1825
Email Admissions