Admissions Requirements and Deadlines

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education must be completed prior to matriculation into the OTD program, unless you are enrolled as a WNE undergraduate student in one of our 3+3 pathways. Transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted. International applicants must submit English-translated transcripts. A course by course degree evaluation may be required prior to matriculation. 
• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) is preferred for admission. Candidates with a lower GPA are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Prerequisite courses: A pre-requisite GPA of 3.0, is preferred for the following prerequisite courses:
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II 
  • Development Psychology or Lifespan Development 
  • Abnormal Psychology 
  • Statistics or a research-based course

  Prerequisite coursework cannot be fulfilled with a grade lower than “C.”  Courses completed with a lower grade must be repeated to achieve a grade of “C” or higher.

• Recommendations: applicants are required to enter a minimum of two recommendation names within their application; it is preferred that one recommendation be from a professor.  Additional recommendations should be from individuals with knowledge of your educational and/or professional history. 
• Personal Statement and additional questions: applicants must submit the standard personal statement which should address why you selected OT as a career and how an occupational therapy degree relates to your immediate and long term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational and professional background will help you to achieve your goals. 
• Observation hours: No minimum number of hours are required; it is highly recommended that prospective students observe more than one practice area or population. Candidates must complete and submit signed observation forms. WNE Observation forms are preferred.
• Interviews: qualified students will be invited to participate in an interview.

English-language testing is required for all applicants who are non-native English speakers UNLESS they have resided in a country, where English is the primary language, for more than 10 years.  English language testing is NOT required if the applicant has earned or is degree pending (will have earned by anticipated matriculation date) a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree following three or more years of campus-based post-secondary instruction in the United States. 

 OTD applicants can use any of the following standardized tests to meet our English language requirement:

• TOEFL - 80 IBT
• IELTS - 6.5
• PTE Academic - 56
• STEP Eiken - 1
• iTEP - 4.5
• Duolingo - 105 DET

List of countries in which English language testing would be waived because it is the primary language:

• Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

Current Western New England University students have two pathways to enter the OTD program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Requirements for Current Students