Application Process
Application Deadlines:
Deadline to apply is June 15th.
Application Fees:
- Domestic applicants and green card holders: $50
- International applicants: $60
Application Requirements
All applications must be submitted through the UAB Graduate School. The deadline for applications is June 15. Applications MUST include all of the requirements above or they will not be considered for admission.
-
All Applicants
All OTD applicants must have:
- Current master’s or bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program (this includes applicants who have an OTA degree and a BS degree in a related field).
- Applicants must be currently or have been previously employed as an occupational therapist or OTA with at least one year of clinical experience.
- The ability to complete essential tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation, associated with performing as an occupational therapy student. View the list of essential tasks and reasonable accommodations.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) / Resume.
- GPA of 3.0 in their most recent degree.
- A Letter of Intent (minimum of two double‐spaced pages and maximum of four pages in length to be submitted before interview) providing a description of how the program aligns with the applicant’s intended career goals.
- Three letters of reference from professionals you have worked with.
- Interview (online or in-person).
- Computer skills.
*No GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required.
**Students planning to take the Low Vision Graduate Certificate track must also submit a copy of their US license. This does not apply to international students.
-
International Applicants
All international applicants must have:
- Must have graduated from a World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) approved school.
- International applicants from non-English-speaking countries only must have official copies of the applicant's scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer version, or 80 on the internet based test of the TOEFL or a minimum score of 6.0 - 6.5 on the IELTS test is recommended.
- The UAB Graduate School may require confirmation of degree equivalency. A transcript evaluation from World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators may be required.
Transfer of Credit Policy
The Department of Occupational Therapy adheres to the credit transfer policy established by the UAB Graduate School. This policy is quoted below, and you can also review it and other information about academic progress on this UAB Graduate School webpage.
"Previously earned graduate credit with a grade of B or above while enrolled at another regionally accredited graduate school may be eligible for transfer into the student’s current degree program if it has not been applied toward another degree (either at UAB or elsewhere). In addition, credit may be awarded for non-collegiate courses in accordance with American Council on Education recommendations and approval of the appropriate department chair and dean. All transfer credit requests must be initiated by the student and require the approval of the graduate program director and the Graduate School. Transfer of Credit forms are available online at uab.edu/graduate/online-forms."
“Completion of this form does not guarantee that the transfer credit will be granted. No more than 12 semester hours of graduate credit can be transferred to UAB. Students wishing to request an exception to the transfer credit hour limit must receive the approval of the program director, department chair, and Graduate School Dean. Once transfer credit has been approved, it will be included in the calculation of the grade point average in the student's current UAB program."
“In programs offered jointly by UAB and other universities, all graduate credits earned in the program at a cooperating university are eligible for transfer to UAB. If a student earns credit in one UAB graduate program and is later admitted to another program, unused credits from the previous program, if applicable, are eligible for consideration for transfer into the current program.”
In keeping with this university’s policy, requests for transfer of credit from another program will be considered on an individual basis.
How to request transfer of credit
Step 1: Submit your request to the program director and the department chair. Each course/credential/certification submitted for review will be evaluated for equivalence by the program director and relevant course instructor(s). You must provide the syllabi for the course under consideration for credit transfer for an equivalency review, and a competency test may be administered at the program director’s discretion. Those requesting course credit for certifications such as the American Occupational Therapy Association’s board and specialty certifications must submit proof of certification and certification criteria.
Step 2: Once you have received approval from the program director for the transfer of credit, you must fill out this transfer request form for approval from the UAB Graduate School.
Request More Info