Apply to OTD

The Augustana University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program receives applications for admission through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS). OTCAS allows applicants to use a single application and one set of materials to apply to multiple OT programs. Application instructions can be found here (coming soon) or on the Augustana University directory page within OTCAS.

In addition to the OTCAS application, applicants must submit the supplemental materials listed below:

Official Transcripts from each college and university attended: For applicants with required coursework in process, final official transcripts showing completion of prerequisite courses and baccalaureate degree must be received prior to enrollment. If these are not complete (the verification process in OTCAS flags inconsistencies or incomplete transcripts), the applicant must update them before the Augustana OTD Admission Team can consider the applicant;
A Purpose Statement that addresses the provided prompt and follows composition criteria as directed
Applicants with a cumulative GPA under the required threshold will be asked to submit an Academic Performance Essay, where they will have the opportunity to explain their prior academic performance and indicate steps and strategies for improvement.
Letters of recommendation from three people who can speak to the applicant’s potential as a future OT from an academic or professional standpoint, who know the applicant well and are not a family member: Letters of recommendation are submitted by the referee directly via secure link within the OTCAS system.
English Language Proficiency: Applicants for whom English is not their primary language are required to demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following standardized assessments prior to enrollment: TOEFL (minimum score: 4iBT or 550PBT), IELTS (minimum score: 6), or Duolingo English Test (minimum score: 110). This requirement is based on language proficiency and is separate from all other admissions criteria.
A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is NOT required.

Application Review

The Augustana University OTD Program uses a rolling admission format.
The Augustana OTD Admission Committee reviews completed applications in the order of receipt as they are submitted.
Applicants will be notified of their status (Admit, Waitlist or Deny) within 30 days of application submission.

Application Selection

The maximum size for an OTD cohort is 60, though target enrollment for the class of 2028 is 30 and 2029 is 45.
When the cohort has reached capacity, other applicants meeting admission criteria and recommended for acceptance are added to a waitlist. If seats become available, the Augustana OTD Admission Committee will use the waitlist to offer admission to rank-ordered applicants. If waitlisted applicants have the same score, further ranking will occur based on application submission date with earlier applicants receiving priority.

Application Screening

Interview Process

Interviews are conducted through an interactive video platform (Kira Talent) where students record themselves responding to a short series of questions. Students are provided a short amount of time to prepare their response following each prompt. All responses are time limited and single take to assess the applicant’s ability to respond in the moment.

The director of admission and designated reviewers review and score interview recordings using a standardized interview rubric. Interview scores are incorporated into the holistic admission score. Applicants meeting the scoring threshold with these combined scores are categorized as Admit or Waitlist, while those not meeting the threshold score are denied admission.
For eligible Augustana Students and Alumni who apply to the OTD program through Direct Admit routes, the process may differ slightly. See OTD Pathways for more information.

Selection Process

The Augustana OTD Admission Team offers selected applicants admission into the program based on a holistic evaluation of their application, supporting documents and interview (if applicable).
A combination of academic performance, recommendation letters, essays and interview (if applicable)
Additional factors such as (life and work experience, ability to perform under pressure, additional preparation) are strong indicators of potential success.
All applicants are notified by their preferred email regarding final selection decisions.
Applicants who are denied admission following their interview may request a meeting with the Augustana OTD director of admission to discuss ways to strengthen their application or eligibility for our accelerated, hybrid OTD program.

Admission Exception Requests

Exceptions to Augustana OTD Program admission requirements are granted infrequently and only under exceptional circumstances. If you believe you have an exceptional circumstance, you must first speak with a member of our admission team who will direct you through the exception process.

If deemed a possibility, you must submit a formal request letter and all required, verifiable proof documents directly to OTCAS.

Deadline: All final exception documents must be uploaded to OTCAS by the final June application deadline.
Varying Dates: The specific June deadline varies annually. It is posted on this website and the OTCAS portal.
Strict Cutoff: No clarification or supporting documents will be accepted after the posted deadline.
Recommended Timeline: You must begin this process at least one (1) month before the deadline. This allows for third-party verification processing.
Review Window: Final decisions are made within 14 days of receiving a completed submission.
Ethics Warning: Any falsification of documentation or statements results in immediate disqualification from the program.