Program Admission

View the OTA Application (applications are available December 1 - January 31)

Admission Requirements

The prospective student must be accepted for admission to USI before completing a separate application to the OTA program. The program selects students for admission to the OTA Program on the basis of:

• Admission to University.
• Completion of OTA Core Curriculum with a grade of C or better in each course and minimum GPA of 2.9 on a 4.0 scale.
• Submission of an application to the OTA Program by January 31 of year planning to be admitted to the fall class.
• Interview with Occupational Therapists Admission Committee.
• The selection of students for admission to the program is based on a combination score that includes the standardized interview with the Occupational Therapists Admission Committee (weighted 30%), and the average prerequisite GPA (weighted 70%). Thirty students with the highest ranking will be admitted to the OTA program.
• Prerequisite classes are required to be completed by June 30 of the application year, prior to the start of fall classes.

Student applicants must show capability of fulfilling clinical practice requirements, eligibility for occupational therapy practitioner credentialing and evidence of satisfactory health status. Please note: A felony conviction (this includes documentation of driving under the influence – DUI) may negatively impact a prospective student’s eligibility to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state practice credentials. Contact the OTA Program for further information.

Visit USI Registrar's Office Transfer Credit website to see if your courses will transfer to USI.

OTA Application Information

• Application is located on the OTA Program Website (see the top of this page).

• We suggest you submit your application after fall semester grades are posted.

• Follow the instructions exactly.  That includes submitting an application to USI and providing original transcripts when indicated.  Do not wait until the application deadline to request transcripts from other institutions as the delay may prevent the acceptance of your application! Applications are due January 20 of the year you wish to start the OTA Program.

• You do not have to have all OTA prerequisites completed prior to the application deadline.  However you must have the ability to complete everything prior to June 30.  The selection committee will review all prerequisite grades prior to final acceptance into the OTA Program. Official Transcripts (USI transcripts are not required) are due to the OTA Program by June 30.

• If your application meets the requirements, you will be granted a formal interview.  You will be notified regarding your interview via the email address you provide on your application.  The interviews will be scheduled sometime in March. Applicants are not granted a second opportunity to interview if they do not attend their scheduled appointment.

• Applicants who meet the requirements and complete the interview are ranked based on the results of a standardized interview with occupational therapy practitioners and their cumulative GPA. The rank is determined when the interview score, weighted 30%, and the prerequisite GPA (weighted 70%) are calculated.   The applicants who rank 1-30 will be offered admittance into the OTA program. Letters will be sent in May.

• Several applicants will be offered alternate status (ranked 31, 32, etc.).  In the event one or more accepted applicants do not confirm their acceptance, one or more alternates will be contacted to fill the positions.  Applicants who are accepted will be required to pay a deposit to hold their position in the class.  That deposit will be applied to their fall tuition if they enter the program in the fall. Letters will be sent in May.

Please consider the following OTA Program requirements prior to application:

• Most OTA  coursework is completed on campus in a traditional classroom setting.  However some courses are delivered using a hybrid format that combines both face to face and online content delivery.  Students must have access to the internet and a computer because all courses deliver information using BlackBoard. You may use a laptop computer or tablet in the classroom but it is not required.  The OTA faculty will communicate with you through your USI email account. Contact USI.edu/it/students/ for answers to your information technology questions.
  
  
• Students must commit to approximately 20 classroom hours per week as well as additional group activities and assignments.  Successful completion of the OTA Program may require students to adjust their work demands and other commitments accordingly.

• All OTA students are required to enroll in Certified Background at a cost of $130.00 (first year) and $100 (second year). This fee covers a required drug test, background check and management of required student immunization records.

• Specific immunizations (MMR, Chicken Pox, Hepatitis B, 2-step TB, T-Dap, flu), OSHA and HIPAA training, and CPR certification for Healthcare Providers (2 year certification) are required just prior to the start of the first semester in the OTA Program.  Certified Background enrollment is required to manage student immunization records.

• OTA students must have traditional health insurance coverage while in the program.

• A felony conviction, including documentation of driving under the influence – DUI, may negatively impact a prospective student’s eligibility to sit for the NBCOT certification examination &/or attain state practice credentials.)

• First semester books and tools (goniometers and gait belt) are approximately $800.00.  Second and third semester book fees are slightly less.

• OTA students follow a strict dress code, attendance policy and an alternate grading scale. Refer to the OTA Student Handbook for more details.

• Occupational therapy assistants perform a variety of physical and cognitive tasks.  Successful completion of the OTA Program requires demonstration of these physical and cognitive skills in a variety of ways. For details regarding “The Essential Functions of the Occupational Therapy Assistant” refer to page 26 of the OTA Student Handbook.

• In addition to 3 semesters of OTA coursework, students are required to successfully complete 4 OTA fieldwork assignments in a variety of clinical and community settings. Fieldwork assignments are scheduled as follows: 
  Spring semester: 1 week     Summer semester: 1 week    Final Semester (Fall): two 8 week assignments (16 weeks total)

• The OTA Program cannot guarantee that OTA fieldwork assignments will be located within driving distance of the university or the student’s home.  OTA students must understand that completion of fieldwork assignments may require travel outside of Evansville and/or Southern Indiana.  OTA students are responsible for their own travel and lodging with regard to fieldwork assignments.   

• For more information about the OTA Program, click here to email questions.