Occupational Therapy Application Information

Shenandoah University’s Occupational Therapy graduate programs prepare you professionally for diverse clinical positions.

Occupational therapists help people of all ages regain their quality of life through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, help individuals recovering from injury to regain skills, and provide support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Shenandoah’s graduate programs in occupational therapy prepare you to help clients reach their greatest level of quality of life and independence by serving as a caring and effective occupational therapist. The GRE is not required.

Virtual & Visit Options

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Shenandoah University’s 75-credit Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.

Our program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.

Degree

Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and an entry-level doctorate program. The MSOT is in compliance with the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist from the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Our next on-site visit for accreditation review is 2023-2024 for our weekend model and 2025-2026 for MSOT at Scholar Plaza. Please note, a prior felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam or attain state licensure. Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.

We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House

Who Can Apply

Students who can apply to the MSOT at the Scholar Plaza Campus in Leesburg, VA or to the weekends-only program at the Winchester campus:

SU undergraduate juniors in the early assurance MSOT program
COTAs (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants) with Associate’s degree and 90 completed credits prior to matriculation
Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

MSOT Program Specifics PDF MSOT weekend Program Specifics PDF Program Prerequisites

How to Apply

SUDOT requires potential students to go through OTCAS for the application process. This is an online centralized application service located at www.otcas.org which has a thorough and accurate list of all required documents and prerequisites for the program. For a list of the prerequisites, please go to Shenandoah University that can be found on the list of participating programs located on OTCAS. The application process is:

PROGRAM	START TERM	APPLICATION OPENS	APPLICATION DEADLINE
M.S. in Occupational Therapy	Fall 2023	July 2022	Applications are still being accepted for 2023 even though our priority deadline has passed. Submit your OTCAS application today and contact SUGradAdmissions@su.edu if you have any questions. Priority: November 15, 2022

Shenandoah’s MSOT Program is accredited through AOTA

ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-2682 or 301-652-AOTA
http://www.acoteonline.org/

Nat’l Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
12 S. Summit Ave., Suite 100
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
Phone (301)990-7979 Fax (301)869-8492

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Shenandoah University’s 107-credit Occupational Therapy Doctorate is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.

Our OTD program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.

Degree

Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers both an entry-level OTD program, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.

We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House

Who Can Apply

Students who can apply to the OTD at the Winchester Campus:

SU undergraduate juniors in the early assurance OTD program
Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Program Specifics PDF Program Prerequisites

How to Apply

PROGRAM	START TERM	APPLICATION OPENS	APPLICATION DEADLINE
Occupational Therapy Doctorate	Summer 2024	OTCAS applications will open late July 2023.	Priority: November 15, 2023

Shenandoah’s OTD Program is accredited through AOTA

Nat’l Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
12 S. Summit Ave., Suite 100
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
Phone (301)990-7979 Fax (301)869-8492

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Degree

The Post-Professional OTD program is designed for practicing, registered occupational therapists who have obtained a master’s degree and want to advance in leadership and develop as evidence-based scholars. Applicants can choose Track I to pursue the program in one year, or Track II to complete the degree in two years.

Learn more about the Post-Professional OTD program by visiting the program website.

Who Can Apply

Applicants to this program must have a master’s degree and current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification. The master’s degree can be an areas of study in a related field if the applicant also received a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. If you recently graduated or are about to graduate from your MSOT program and are unable to receive your NBCOT certification due to the pause in testing during the coronavirus pandemic, you are eligible to apply but must pass the test before completing the program. Please contact graduate admissions at SUGradAdmissions@su.edu to have that requirement waived.

Program Specifics PDF

How to Apply

All applicants must submit a completed application, transcripts, current NBCOT certification, and a resume. Unofficial transcripts, resume, and certification can be uploaded directly to the application form for initial admission. If admitted, official transcripts will be required before enrolling in the program. All non-U.S. educated occupational therapists will need to submit an academic credential evaluation with transcripts. English language proficiency must be met. Please see our International Student Admission Page for more details.

Post-Professional OTD applicants must have a completed application, including all required documents, by the application deadlines listed below:

Deadline Dates

PROGRAM	START TERM	APPLICATION OPENS	APPLICATION DEADLINE
Post-Professional OTD	Summer 2023 (May)	The 2023 Admissions cycle is closed. The 2024 application will open in September.	May 15, 2023