• Create an account and submit your application on OTCAS
• Complete all required sections in OTCAS
• You will need a personal copy of transcripts to complete the application.
• Arrange for official transcripts to be sent to OTCAS (in Colleges Attended section)
• Complete all sections in the Program Materials area
• SUBMIT your completed application to OTCAS designating Tarleton State University between mid-July to mid – October of each calendar year to be considered for summer entrance.
• If you are qualified, you will be invited for formal interviews that take place at Tarleton State University.
• Wait to hear from Tarleton State University OTD Program via email through OTCAS regarding the status of your application.
• If you are invited to complete an interview, you will be requested to apply for the College of Graduate Studies at Tarleton State.
• PLEASE DO NOT APPLY TO THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES UNTIL YOU ARE NOTIFIED TO DO SO BY THE OTD PORGRAM.

1. Completed bachelor’s degree
2. Submitted official transcripts
3. GPA: 3.0
4. No GRE
5. Personal statement
6. Completion of the following pre-requisites with B or higher:
   • Statistics
   • Anatomy & Physiology with Lab I & II
7. Verification and/or compliance with all required immunizations, background checks and drug screenings
8. Successful faculty interview

• Statistics – MATH 1342 or Principles of Bio-Statistics – Math 3450
• Anatomy & Physiology with Lab I & II – BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402

Once requested by the OTD Program after OTCAS application review, the student will be invited to apply to Tarleton State’s Graduate Studies Program.  Admissions will follow the institutional standards for Tarleton and the Texas A&M University System. In accordance with this, the following requirements are established for admission to the Tarleton’s Graduate Program. 

Students should not apply to Graduate Studies prior to being requested to do so by the OTD Program.

International applicants are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores as a part of the application process. Tarleton also accepts PTE, iTEP, and Duolingo English proficiency scores. Scores can be no more than two years old:

• TOEFL: minimum score 80
• IELTS: minimum score 6
• PTE: minimum score 53
• TOEFL ITP Plus for China: minimum score 543
• iTEP: score between 3.5-3.9
• TOEFL Essentials: minimum score 8
• Duolingo: minimum score 105

The program will accept full-time students only.  Students will not be able to transfer from other OTD programs due to the distinct nature of different OTD programs. All courses must be completed as offered and transfer credits are not accepted.  The Tarleton State OTD Program does not accept work experience towards course credit.

To encourage and facilitate student recruitment, acceptance and retention, the OTD program will implement holistic application strategies.  This process takes into consideration the applicant’s experiences, attributes and academic metrics as well as the value the applicant would contribute to the program and ultimately to the profession. The admission committee will consider the “whole” applicant rather than focusing on just one factor.

Holistic review will consider the principles of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Students must maintain satisfactory academic and professional performance to progress in the OTD program. Progression and retention policies include minimum GPA requirements, successful completion of all courses with a grade of B or higher, adherence to professional behavior expectations, completion of all compliance requirements (immunizations, background checks, drug screenings), and meeting timelines outlined in the OTD Student Handbook.

Graduation requires completion of 86 credit hours, all didactic coursework, Fieldwork Level II rotations, the doctoral capstone experience, and all program requirements as published in the OTD Student Handbook.

Graduates must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination to obtain initial licensure. NBCOT requires a character review process and background check. Applicants with prior legal or disciplinary events should consult NBCOT’s Early Determination Review to assess potential impacts on exam eligibility. A felony conviction or unresolved disciplinary history may affect NBCOT exam eligibility and state licensure.

A felony conviction could affect eligibility to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination and make an applicant ineligible for a license from the Executive Council for Physical and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPOTE). Please carefully review both entities requirements regarding felony convictions prior to application.

NBCOT: When applying for application, one must complete an attestation towards Character Review in alignment with the NBCOT Code of Conduct. (NBCOT Handbook, p.13).

ECPOTE: Texas reserves the right to revoke, suspend or disqualify one’s OT License (Texas Administrative Code §374.5).

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to NBCOT.

As part of the application process, students complete a background check prior to the first day of class, and items of concern will be referred to the Director for student advisement and discussion to ensure transparent options for future practice, if relevant.

For questions about your OTCAS application, please contact OTCAS Customer Service at 617.612.2860 or otcasinfo@otcas.org

For questions about application preparation, prerequisites and undergraduate pathways at Tarleton to contact the Division of Health Sciences Academic Resource Hub 254-968-0796 https://www.tarleton.edu/chs-resource-hub/