FAQs

COVID-19 Adjustments?

We are making some considerations to our admissions policies for 2021-2022 cycle. During the COVID crises, we understand the disruption of your lives. We realize that two of the things you may not be able to complete before the application deadline is hours of observation and a letter of recommendation from a licensed OT.undefinedundefined

• All courses with a Satisfactory, Pass, or without a letter grade will be individually evaluated.
• We will accept remote learning coursework, including labs for spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021.
• We WILL require 40 hours of observation of occupational therapy. An option to complete up to 10 observation hours of this requirement can be obtained by completing the following introductory course HERE
• We strongly recommend you obtain a recommendation by an OT license professional.

Requirements that have not changed:

• Our overall GPA and Prerequisite GPA minimum requirement will remain at 3.0.
• Bachelor’s Degree must be completed before first day of program.
• You must have three letters of recommendation.
• We will require official GRE received by OTCAS by the application deadline of February 1st, and are accepting the at home testing that ETS offers.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed by December 20th, 2021.

How long is the program?
The program is pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) & Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The new degree will be nine (9) consecutive semesters, spanning 36 months, and begins in fall 2022. Students must complete 105 credit hours to complete the program.

How much is tuition?
The current cost of tuition (105 credit hours/ 9 semesters) is approximately $49,513 for in-state students or $103,320 for out of state students. Visit: Tuition and Mandatory Fees: Summer 2021 for more information. Be aware that the above estimates do NOT include other university fees, living expenses, clinical education expenses, books and supplies. Expenses are subject to change each year.

When does the OTCAS 2021-22 application cycle start? The 2021-22 application cycle is expected to begin in July 22, 2021. The application is available at: https://portal.otcas.org

Is the program accredited?
The UTEP Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program (OTD) has received candidacy status from ACOTE (https://www.acoteonline.org) and is pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The University of Texas at El Paso is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). For more information on SACS, visit their website at http://www.sacs.org.

How many students does the program admit per year?
The program admits up to 24 students per year.

What are the prerequisite courses for the program?
In addition to a bachelor’s degree form an accredited institution of higher learning, the following prerequisite courses are required for admission to the program: Anatomy & Physiology I with lab, Anatomy & Physiology II with lab, Introductory or General Psychology, Human Growth and Development/Lifespan (or equivalent course/s), Abnormal Psychology, Statistics, at least one Social or Behavioral Sciences elective, Medical Terminology. For more details on required prerequisite course visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/ot/programs/index.html

What is the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)?
Overall 3.0 GPA is the minimum requirement. All coursework is included to provide an overall GPA score and when a course is repeated once or more, all grades are included in the overall GPA calculation. The average GPA score for all those admitted into the UTEP OT Program over the last three application cycles is 3.5.

Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required for admission to the program?
Yes. Scores must be submitted to OTCAS directly (using the code 1218) no later than the application deadline.

What is the minimum GRE score?
There is no minimum score as the admissions committee considers the entire application requirements. Average overall results on GRE scores for all those admitted into the UTEP OT Program over the last three application cycles is 135.

Can I apply to the program before I have all prerequisite courses completed?
Yes. Applicant must complete all prerequisite courses by the fall semester, December 2021.

Can any of the prerequisite courses be waived or substituted?
No, prerequisite courses cannot be waived. However, any course that does not exactly meet the prerequisite requirement must be accompanied by the "Petition for Prerequisite Course Substitution Form" available on the following link: https://www.utep.edu/chs/ot/_Files/docs/Prerequisite-substitution.pdf

Can I receive advance placement credit for prerequisites?
The only prerequisite in which we will accept advance placement credit is for introduction to psychology course.

Does UTEP OT accept transfer credits?
No, courses from the OT curriculum cannot be waived, substituted or given credit for, for any coursework taken at any OT program.

Can I receive credit for prerequisite or OT coursework for experiential learning?
No, credit for experiential learning will not be accepted.

Can I receive credit for prerequisite or OT coursework for work experience?
No, credit for working experience will not be accepted.

How many observation hours does the program require and do they have to be completed at a particular setting?
A minimum of 40 verifiable observation hours with occupational therapy professionals, preferably in more than one clinical setting. All sign-in documentation must be verified by an Occupational Therapy professional with a signature.

Does the program require internships and will there be any expenses associated with them?
Yes. The program incorporates several fieldwork rotations (internships) into the curriculum. Any living expenses and/or travel costs are the responsibility of the student. Fieldwork rotations are scheduled by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and may be completed anywhere in the nation.

What do I upload into the catalog course description section in OTCAS?
This is an optional section; it only applies to those applicants who have an approved course substitution request or medical terminology certificate.

What else do I need to know?
Admission to the program is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. If you have had a felony conviction, you may not be able to sit for the NBCOT OT certification exam. Additionally, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification is required prior to assignment to clinical rotation/fieldwork or service learning. All Program students must become members of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA).