Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy

We believe that through active learning, students in our program attend to the intellectual, technical, and moral dimensions of practice. Hands-on learning activities that encourage participation, collaboration, and critical thinking are utilized throughout the curriculum.

The Institute OTD program provides students with opportunities to learn, leverage, and apply research evidence throughout their program. We believe that occupational therapists should function in multidimensional and interprofessional roles that anticipate and respond to the changing needs of the individual and society.

In order to actualize these roles, students must understand the core construct of occupation, apply the best evidence, demonstrate sound professional reasoning, and collaborate with those who provide and receive care. These elements of active learning serve as the threads for our OTD curriculum.

You will continually connect theory with practice through clinical placements at leading health care sites in Boston and beyond. Numerous part-time fieldwork placements throughout your first two years are integrated with coursework so that you immediately apply concepts to real-world client care.

Fieldwork takes place in a variety of clinical and practice settings (e.g. acute care, rehabilitation, pediatric occupational therapy, geriatric occupational therapy, community). 

Learn More About Fieldwork

In addition, throughout the program you will be able to immediately put into practice what you are learning in the Tabor/Connor Occupational Therapy Center for Learning, Participation, and Rehabilitation (Tabor/Connor OT CLiPR), which includes a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. You will have simulated learning experiences with standardized patients and community dwelling adults to complement your coursework, honing your skills to prepare you for professional practice.

Standardized Patients and simulated learning experiences are used extensively in our Occupational Therapy Program.  Simulation is threaded throughout the entry-level doctor of occupational therapy curriculum in a variety of coursework. Students work with standardized patients to complement learning in all tenants of occupational therapy practice across a variety of contexts. The following areas are included in simulated learning experiences in OT:

• Therapeutic Use of Self
• History-taking / Occupational Profile Assessment
• Evaluation / Clinical Skills Assessment
• Intervention Planning and Care Implementation
• Shared-Decision Making, Caregiver Education, and Advocacy

Degree

Bachelor's degree (BS or BA) from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or recognized international equivalent.

Prerequisite Coursework

Completion of the following prerequisite courses at a fully accredited institution with a grade of B- or better is required for admission to our Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

Most of these courses are offered online by the MGH Institute. Learn more about our online prereqs or select a course below to view its description.

• Human Anatomy or Anatomy & Physiology 1 (with lab)
• Human Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology 2
• Two Psychology courses 
• A Human Development course
• A Social Science course (Sociology, Anthropology, Ethics, Political Science, etc. are acceptable)
• Statistics

Applicants with questions about prerequisite course equivalency and/or acceptability should complete and submit the OTD Prerequisite Inquiry Form. Upon submission of the form, replies can be expected by email in 7-10 business days.

Applicants may be asked to submit mid-term reports for certain prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to matriculation. Prerequisite credit cannot be given for courses with a grade of Pass/Fail.

All prerequisite courses must be taken at an institution that is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies. Please refer to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website for additional information.

GRE

The GRE is not required for this program.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

• Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation. 

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.   

• To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
• For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements.  

Please refer to our program page in OTCAS for information. All official transcripts should be sent directly to OTCAS.

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

The personal statement should be submitted directly to OTCAS.

Recommendation Letters

All applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. One letter must be from an individual in the health or education sector. Letters should address the applicant’s potential for graduate education/ scholarly study and the applicant’s qualifications for work as a health professional. Recommendation letters must be submitted directly to OTCAS.

Observation hours - in person or virtual modules - are recommended, but not required

Personal interviews are required for entry to our Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. Qualified applicants will be notified via email if selected for an interview with a member of the admissions committee. Interviews are by invitation only.

Important Immunization Information

The MGH Institute, as mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, requires completion of the hepatitis B vaccination series prior to matriculation. For applicants who have not been vaccinated, the three-dose hepatitis B series must be initiated prior to December 1st preceding intended June matriculation.