The prerequisites OT programs ask for most: anatomy and physiology, lifespan/human development, statistics, and abnormal psychology. Many also require sociology or anthropology and medical terminology.
How often each course appears
We checked the official pages of every ACOTE-listed OT program. On 127 of them the page we reached lists prerequisites, and this is how often each course is mentioned. Use it to plan; then follow the exact list of your target programs.
| Course | Share of program pages |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & physiology | 66% |
| Lifespan / human development | 56% |
| Statistics | 54% |
| Abnormal psychology / psychopathology | 46% |
| Sociology or anthropology | 42% |
| Medical terminology | 30% |
| Introductory psychology | 19% |
| Biology | 17% |
| Physics | 16% |
| Kinesiology | 13% |
| Neuroscience | 13% |
| Chemistry | 8% |
Based on 127 OT program pages retrieved October 8, 2026. A course missing from a page does not prove a program doesn’t require it, because some programs put prerequisites on a separate page.
Other admission requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (any major) before you start, unless you are in a combined program.
- GPA minimums, often for both overall and prerequisite GPA.
- Observation hours with an OT, mentioned on 45% of the pages we analyzed.
- Application through OTCAS: 61% of the pages we analyzed mention it.
- Letters of recommendation, a personal statement and often an interview.
Ready to choose programs? Browse every accredited OT program.