Pre-Occupational Therapy

Did you know: Occupational therapy is ranked #10 as the best health care job by US News and World Report in 2021.

Students planning on gaining admission to occupational therapy school must successfully combine an academic major with the specific prerequisite requirements. Most occupational therapy schools are not selective in your degree. A student should select the best degree for them. Factors to consider:

How efficient is the degree?
What are your passions?
What would you do if you did not become an occupational therapist?
Where do you feel most confident academically?

If students are deciding which major is best for them, we can help! Meet with a pre-health advisor through our College of Health Science Student Services and Academic Advising Office.

The Pre-Occupational Therapy Pathway is a non-degree program available at Boise State University. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Occupational Therapy.

Pre-Health Advising Team

Contact an advisor by emailing HSAdvising@boisestate.edu.

Suggested Academic Plan

Steps you should be taking in your first year at Boise State:

Attend Orientation
Required Advising Appointment
Start Major Exploration
Start Exploring Schools
Consider taking the courses listed to the right in your first year

The courses listed on the tables are meant as a guide for students to start completing the requirements to apply to occupational therapy (OT) programs in the U.S. Students should meet regularly with their academic and pre-health advisors to ensure progress.

Semester 1	Semester 2
(FW) ENGL 101 Writing and Rhetoric I (3) (FM) MATH 143 College Algebra (3) (FS) PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3) (UF) UF 100 Foundation of Intellectual Life (3) (FA) Foundation of Arts (3)*	(FW) ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II (3) (FM) MATH 254 Statistical Methods (3) OR PSYC 295 Statistical Methods of Psychology (3) (FC) COMM 101 Introduction to Oral Communication (3) HLTH 101 Medical Terminology (3)

*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar’s Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your second year at Boise State:

Find Volunteer/Community Service Opportunities
Start Networking
Student Involvement and getting to know your advisors and instructors (especially science)

Semester 1	Semester 2
(FN) BIOL 227 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) (FS) SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3) (FH) Foundation of Humanities (3)* (UF) UF 200 Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3) Major Requirement (3-4)	BIOL 228 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) KINES 270 Applied Anatomy (3) FS ANTH 102 Cultural Anthropology (3) Major Requirement (3-4) Major Requirement (3-4)

*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar’s Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your second year at Boise State:

Find Volunteer/Community Service Opportunities
Start Networking
Student Involvement and getting to know your advisors and instructors (especially science)

Semester 1	Semester 2
(FN) BIOL 227 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) (FS) SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3) (FH) Foundation of Humanities (3)* (UF) UF 200 Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3) Major Requirement (3-4)	BIOL 228 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) KINES 270 Applied Anatomy (3) FS ANTH 102 Cultural Anthropology (3) Major Requirement (3-4) Major Requirement (3-4)

*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar’s Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your fourth year at Boise State:

Start Practicing for Interviews
Continue Gaining Experiences
Start the Application

Semester 1	Semester 2
Major Requirements (3-4) PSYC 335 Biological Bases of Behavior (3) Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4)	Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4) Major Requirements (3-4)

Resources and Information

The following information and resources are excellent for pre-occupational therapy students to consult when looking for more information about the profession and locating programs:

Pre-Occupational Therapy Web Resources

American Occupational Therapy Association
Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
AOTA Program Listing (DOT, MOT, OTA programs)

Idaho Occupational Therapy Information

Career Exploration Sites

Explore careers in Occupational Therapy

Read about career in Occupational Therapy

Video Transcript

Mother: My daughter is profoundly deaf so she has cochlear implants which help with the hearing, and she also has an autism diagnosis so she has multiple sensory issues.

Occupational Therapist: For a child, any child, one of their occupations is playing. That’s just naturally what they do. Play is something that you can’t always teach, so we incorporated play into function. Taking turns, which is a huge skill in peer interaction– figuring out how both sides of my body work together and how that is all integrated into our brain neurologically.

Mother: The sensory integration is just what my daughter needs to facilitate all of her motor skills, her balance, her vestibular system, and it just made a dramatic difference.

Occupational Therapist: The results are a child finding themselves. Not catering to what is inhibiting them, but to what is strengthening them.

Is a bachelor’s degree required for a Pre-OT pathway?
A: Yes! A bachelor’s degree is required. While subjects like Health Studies, Kinesiology, Psychology, or Biology may make tying in the coursework required for OT school more efficient, choosing one of these subjects is not required. Hence you just need a bachelor’s degree, which can be in ANY subject. We recommend that you choose a subject you enjoy and are passionate about. We can tie the requirements for OT school in with the requirements for your major.

Is there an admissions test for OT school?
A: Most schools require the GRE (Graduate Record Exam).

What is the difference between Occupational therapy and Physical therapy?
A: Occupational therapy focuses on activity and helping individuals with everyday tasks, whereas Physical therapy focuses more on movement and mobility.

What are other requirements for OT school?
A: OT students must complete clinical work and/or observation hours through work or volunteer work. Some schools may require personal statements, letters of recommendation, and the GRE (Graduate Record Exam).

What other OT programs are in Idaho?
A: There is only one OT program in Idaho through Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho.

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Suggested Academic Plan

Pre-Professional Pathways