Occupational Therapists (OTs) evaluate a person’s condition and needs and develop a personalized treatment plan to help them reach those goals. OTs may adapt a person’s home, work, school, or other environments to help improve their independence. For more information about OT and master’s and doctorate level programs, visit the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). To understand the differences between physical therapy and occupational therapy, the NBCOT has a breakdown of the differences between the two fields.
Exploration of the field is highly encouraged. You can do so by shadowing practitioners and working or volunteering in healthcare settings.
The timeline for application looks different for each student. Current Mizzou students can talk with their MedOpp advisor about their personal timeline and building their candidacy for OT school.
Courses
The following courses* are common requirements for OT school and must be completed before matriculation**:
- One semester of general biology with lab
- One semester of human anatomy with lab
- One semester of physiology with lab
- One semester of statistics
- One semester of medical terminology
- One year (6-9 credit hours) of psychology/sociology
*See Plan of Study for Mizzou course numbers.
** Disclaimer: this list is not necessarily comprehensive. Please consult schools’ websites for exact requirements.
You might be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admittance.