Pre-Physical Therapy/Pre-Occupational Therapy

Pre-Professional Health Program Advisors

Preparing for Admission to a Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Program

To meet American Physical Therapy Association accreditation standards, all physical therapy graduate programs must lead to a doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT).

Most programs have transitioned to doctorate programs, but a few schools still offer a master’s degree. If you are seeking admission to a physical therapy graduate program, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in any field, plus the prerequisite coursework listed below.

While many of these courses are not required for occupational therapy, following the Pre-Physical Therapy track makes students strongly competitive for a master’s in occupational therapy (MOT). There are doctorate programs in OT called the OTD, as well.

The main pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy track is the BS in Applied Human Sciences. You should contact individual PT and OT schools for their admissions requirements or consult the APTA or AOTA websites.

Suggested additional courses include human nutrition, communication, and two courses in English. Check the requirements of the individual schools that interest you.