School of Health Sciences

We strive to provide clear and attainable minimum admission requirements. New students enter the program annually in January (winter semester).  To apply to start January 2026, the application cycle opens January 2, 2025 and closes June 1, 2025. To be considered, the program requires a completed Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS) application and supplemental processing fee of $40 fully completed and paid by the June 1st deadline.

• Application Overview: Minimum Requirements /  Health & Educational Requirements

  Minimum Requirements - 

  The following are the minimum requirements for an application to be reviewed and evaluated by the Program Admission Committee. All admissions requirements must be met to have a chance at being admitted. Simply meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee progression to the interview stage of the admissions process or to acceptance into the OT program.

  By June 1, 2025 all of the following must be fully submitted and verified by OTCAS and the EMU OT Program:

  • A complete application submitted through OTCAS which includes:
    • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
    • Letters of reference (3-5)
    • A minimum of 20 total OT observation hours split between 2 different settings. 
    • Supporting documentation section thoroughly filled out highlighting experiences (work, volunteer, leadership, research, etc) 
    • Personal statement
  • All appropriate OTCAS application fees
  • Non-refundable processing Fee of $40 paid to the EMU OT program through EMU ebill.

   

  Health & Educational Requirements

  To comply with affiliation agreement requirements and to ensure the health and safety of clients at our fieldwork sites, all students must complete a criminal background check and the following health and educational requirements upon admission to the EMU OT program and/or annually:

  • Hepatitis B series
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) titer Varicella titer
  • Tetanus Immunization(TDap or Td)
  • 2-step Tuberculosis (TB) skin test (required annually)
  • Influenza (required annually)
  • Physical examination (required annually, only the approved department form will be accepted)
  • Proof of health insurance coverage (required annually)
  • CPR certification and first aid training (coordinated by the program)
  • OSHA/Blood Borne Pathogens training (required annually and coordinated by the program)
  • HIPAA training (required annually and coordinated by the program)
  • Criminal Background Check (required annually)

  
  

  Apply Now

• How do I Apply?

  Combined OT (COT)

  If you will not have a completed bachelor degree prior to the start date of January, 2026, but will have at least 90 completed credit hours, choose the Combined Occupational Therapy applicant option on OTCAS.

  Masters of OT (MOT)

  If you have completed or will complete a bachelor degree before the start date of January, 2026 choose the Master of Occupational Therapy applicant option on OTCAS.

  
  

  Apply Now

• Pre-admission Coursework

  If you have taken a course within the required course time frames and are unsure if it would qualify as an approved course, please email us ([email protected]) with the following information:

  • College or university name
  • Course number and title
  • Course credit hours (must designate: semester hour, quarter hour, etc.)
  • Date completed/will be completed
  • Grade on transcript (if completed)
  • Active link to the website of the specific course in the course catalog or a copy of the course syllabus

  If you have taken a course that is older than the required course time frame, but are interested in using this towards an application requirement, please email us ([email protected]).

  Find out what pre-admission courses are required. 

  Please use the information below to assist you with choosing courses from other colleges and Universities for the pre-admission course requirements.

  Pre-Admission Courses Michigan
  Pre-Admission Courses Ohio

  
  

  Apply Now

• Observation Hours

  A minimum of 20 total hours of volunteering or observation with occupational therapists in at
  least two different settings must be completed in the three years prior to the application deadline. Document your observation hours under the Observation Hours section of OTCAS. No other documentation forms are required for observation hours.

  The OT program does not assist applicants with locating observation hours.

  Applicants who complete OCTH 100: Orientation to OT or OCTH 201L2: Exploring Occupational Performance in the Community [GELB] will be identified as having fulfilled the full observation hours requirement for application. 

  If you are having difficulty with locating observation hours check out ClinEdWeb's Virtual Course: Intro to OT - 20 Observation Hours at www.clinedweb.com or Simucase's Guided Observation Program at www.simucase.com/observation

  This course will provide an introductory understanding of occupational therapy practice. Purchase of this course will provide access for 120 days with provision of a Certificate of Completion that can be uploaded to OTCAS as evidence of observation hours.  The module provides virtual observation of real occupational therapy practitioners and clients in a variety of settings and populations. 

• The Application Process & Fee

  EMU OTCAS will open January 2 of each year. To locate us, please click Add A Program on the OTCAS homepage and then Filters. Before January 2, 2025 the EMU OTCAS application can be located under Future Programs. If it is after June 1, 2025, we are located under Past Programs. Applicants can begin their application on OTCAS at any time before EMU OTCAS opens.

  All applicants to OTCAS must also submit a secondary non-refundable processing fee of $40.00 before applications will be fully reviewed. Please submit via eBill.

  For further information about a “complete” OTCAS application, visit the OTCAS Applicant Help Center via chat on the OTCAS website, phone (617.612.2860) or email ([email protected]).

  
  

  Apply Now

Questions

Contact us with your specific questions via email [email protected] (preferred) or phone (734.487.3398). The EMU OT program admissions requirements are subject to change without advance notice.