General Information

Central Washington University (CWU) does not offer a degree program in Occupational Therapy or Pre-Occupational Therapy. "Pre- Occupational Therapy" is a non-degree advising program through which a student can prepare for admission to a professional Occupational Therapy program at another institution. CWU does offer prerequisite courses necessary for successful admission to such a program.

There are four universities in Washington and Oregon that offer degrees and professional training in the field of Occupational Therapy: Eastern Washington University, University of Washington, University of Puget Sound, and Pacific University. All of these programs grant graduate degrees and therefore require students to have a bachelor's degree before admission.

Requirements for admission vary among the professional schools. The information contained in this handout should serve as a general summary of those requirements. For general information about the Occupational Therapy profession, employment outlook, and professional training programs through out the U.S., visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website (http://www.aota.org). More detailed information about each of the above programs, as well as information about other schools, is available from the Pre-Occupational Therapy advisor or by visiting the internet web sites noted in this handout. An especially helpful site is:

Dr. David Darda, the Pre-Occupational Therapy advisor here at CWU, is on sabbatical leave during the 2007-2008 academic year. This handout is your primary source of Pre-OT information during this time, so be sure to read the following pages in detail. If you have general questions about the Biology major or scheduling of classes, contact the Biology Office (509-963-2731; biology@cwu.edu for a referral to a general biology advisor. Dr. Darda will be scheduling a few Pre-OT advising sessions throughout the year. Look for notices or check with the Biology Office for dates and times.

What you need to do while at CWU:

• Decide on a degree program and work toward your Bachelor's Degree
  Since Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) is not a degree program, you will need to decide on what degree to declare. The Bachelor of Arts in Biology is a good choice, as is a Psychology major. However, you can decide to pursue any number of degrees if you so choose.
• Take the proper prerequisite courses (and do well!)
  Unfortunately, not all professional OT schools have the exact same prerequisite requirements. The list below consists of the primary coursework needed to prepare for admission to all four Washington and Oregon programs. For details about prerequisites for each program, visit the program websites noted later in this handout. Please note:
  1. Some courses require prerequisites*; check the catalog!
  2. Course substitutions are sometimes possible must be approved by the professional program(s) of interest.

• Get some exposure to the field of OT
  All Pre-Occupational Therapy students will need to gain intern experience working under the direction of a licensed Occupational Therapist. It is never too early to begin your internships. Two generalities - the more time you accumulate the better and the more varied settings the better. Such internships may be paid or voluntary. Be sure to obtain documentation of your experience from your internship supervisor. In Ellensburg, contact:
  
  Kittitas Valley Community Hospital
  (509) 962-7386 or 963-7527 or 962-7322
  
  Ellensburg Community Schools
  Special Services
  (509) 925-8117
  
  Also, contact local nursing homes. They often employ Occupational Therapists.
  
  
• Take the Graduate Record Exam
  Most graduate OT programs require that you take the Graduate Record Exam. Your scores will be a part of your application. You should arrange to take this far enough in advance of application deadlines so as to allow your scores to be a part of your application - this usually means late in your junior year of early in your senior year at CWU. Detailed information on the GRE can be obtained from the CWU Testing Center (Boullion 125; 963-1847) or online at www.ets.org
• Apply to the school(s) of your choice
  The application process can be quite time consuming and must be completed well in advance of your beginning the graduate program. All programs start with the fall term and applications are due as early as December of the previous year. In most cases, separate applications must be made to the OT program and the university's graduate school. Admission is competitive, thus application to more than one school is encouraged. For specific information (philosophy, prerequisites, GPA requirements, length of program, admissions, application material, costs, scholarships, etc.) about the Washington and Oregon programs, be sure to visit the following web sites:

Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA
http://www.ewu.edu/ot

University of Washington, Seattle, WA
http://depts.washington.edu/rehab/ot/index.html

University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
http://www.ups.edu/ot

Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
http://www.pacificu.edu/ot/

Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Programs

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. OTAs must complete a two-year education program, usually offered at a community college. In Washington, there is only one such program.

Green River Community College
http://www.greenriver.edu/ProgramInformation/OccupationalTherapyAssistant.htm