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Occupational Therapy Dual Admission

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Bachelor's/Master of Occupational Therapy Dual Admission

Bachelor's/Master of Degree in Occupational Therapy Dual Admission

The North Central College dual admission bachelor's/master of occupational therapy program is exactly what you need to get your career as an occupational therapist off to the right start. This innovative opportunity provides five outstanding students direct admission to the College's master of occupational therapy (MOT) degree program as incoming freshmen. With the security of dual admission, you will have a clear pathway to achieving your goals. You can focus on your undergraduate studies while connecting early with graduate faculty, advisors and students. Our experienced, talented faculty will help you every step of the way, including preparing you to get the proper certification to become an Occupational Therapist. If you are interested in our dual degree MOT program, review our minimum GPA requirements, test scores, and other eligibility factors to see if you qualify. We can't wait to hear from you.

Dual Admission Benefits

Employment for occupational therapists is projected to grow 27 percent by 2024, much faster than the national average for all careers. Consequently, admission to MOT degree programs is becoming increasingly competitive with colleges offering a limited number of seats. The Dual Admit program gives you the opportunity to secure your seat, meet the requirements of the program, and know with confidence that a seat is waiting for you.

The North Central dual admission program also saves you the time, worry and expense of applying to graduate programs while still working toward your undergraduate degree.

At North Central, you will benefit from a strong liberal arts foundation that aligns with the mission of the occupational therapy program, featuring accomplished, highly regarded faculty, small class sizes allowing for extensive personal attention, numerous career development and extracurricular opportunities, and much more. 

Occupational therapists work with people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, loss of limbs or other disabilities. The professional (entry-level) MOT program will provide you with a diverse curriculum along with professional experiences. You will develop the knowledge, leadership ability, and ethical behaviors necessary to become a purposeful and competent occupational therapist.

Additional benefits include:

  • Streamlined application process
  • A clear road map to completing your prerequisite coursework 
  • No requirement to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test
  • Focused, personalized faculty mentoring with the MOT program director every semester

Eligibility Requirements

High school seniors must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for the dual admission program: 

  • A minimum weighted high school GPA of 3.30 on a 4.00 scale
  • Minimum scores on a standardized test that must include a writing component:
    • ACT score of 24 or higher OR
    • SAT score of 1190 or higher
  • Admission to North Central College as an incoming freshman.

Dual Admission Conditions

Students must meet and maintain the following conditions to remain enrolled in the dual admission program:

  • A grade of C or higher in all required prerequisite courses—
    • Human Anatomy with a lab* 
    • Human Physiology with a lab* 
    • Sociology or Anthropology 
    • Developmental Psychology 
    • Abnormal Psychology 
    • Statistics 
    • *or two combined courses in Anatomy and Physiology with labs 
  • 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA
  • Observation experiences with an occupational therapist totaling at least 20 hours 
  • Community service experiences totaling at least 10 hours 
  • Participation in the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) organization

Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.

The Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) is a two year program including two summer terms. All courses in the program are required and sequential. The program requires completion of 82 credit hours through courses offered online, traditional and blended, as well as two 12-week Level II Fieldwork Experiences*.

*MOT students have three attempts to pass two Level II Fieldwork Experiences. If they are not successful after three attempts, they are permanently dismissed from the program.

The entry-level Occupational Therapy Master's degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

82 credit hours to include:

Occupational Therapy Doctorate, O.T.D.

This is an entry level clinical Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). Students who graduate with an OTD are able to sit for the boards and enter into practice settings, similar to the MOT program. However, the education at the doctoral level program is not only for competency in treatment, but also a greater emphasis on leadership skills and scholarly research in the field. This emphasis is seen in additional coursework in these areas and a significant research capstone requirement. Unlike the MOT and OTD program, the Post-Professional OTD does not lead to licensure and is intended to expand the knowledge and skills of an already-licensed OT. With these three programs, North Central will provide Occupational Therapy degree programs to meet a variety of student professional needs.

 The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 30 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3. 

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at: www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

112 credit hours to include:

Invest in your future

Choosing the right college is a big decision. Don’t make it alone. North Central’s admission and financial aid team is here to help you design a financial aid solution that works best for you and your family.

Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.

Learn more about financial aid and costs for North Central College

Steps to Apply

Step 1: Submit Your Freshman Application

Freshman Applicants

Step 2: Submit Your Free Direct Admit Application

Only admitted fall freshmen who meet the eligibility requirements move to the next step in the process. These forms must be submitted by July 15:

Step 3: Application Review and Interview Process

  • A select number of admitted North Central freshman students will be invited to participate in an on-campus interview day, which includes meeting occupational therapy faculty and students, a tour of campus, and a writing sample exercise. 
  • Applicants will be notified if they are selected for an interview.