Enroll in a pre-occupational therapy bachelor's degree; a high school diploma is required. Some schools may accept a GED. Students in the program at Bowling Green State University take coursework to prepare them for entry into a master's program, covering topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, lifespan human development, introductory psychology, English and cellular biology. While an undergraduate major in pre-occupational therapy is not a requirement for admission to a master's program, it ensures students get the required classes needed for the master's acceptance.
Join Pi Theta Epsilon, the national occupational therapy honor society, if a campus exists at your school. Pi Theta Epsilon offers membership rosters, seminars, conferences and job databases, and may help your resume stand out from other applicants when you apply to graduate school.
Check for schools in your state offering the master's degree in occupational therapy by reviewing the American Occupational Therapy Association's listing of programs state by state (see Resources). The organization has schools in 27 states; if one is not in your area, an online master's program may be a match.
Review your intended school's occupational therapy master's degree website, which will provide information on requirements and length of program. For example, students interested in the program at East Carolina University must have a certification in occupational therapy, bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, three letters of reference and a resume and must submit GRE scores. Some schools require a specific bachelor's degree major; others require demonstrated coursework in human anatomy, introduction to occupational therapy, biology and psychology.
Take courses in topics such as foundations of occupational therapy, neurological foundations of occupational therapy, managing occupational therapy services, assistive technology devices and services, infant-toddler mental occupational therapy intervention, pediatric theory development and practice, clinical education, promoting occupation in communities and therapeutic skills.
Complete internships, field experience and required thesis projects. For example, students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's program spend two years on research, plus their last summer and fall semester getting real-world experience through clinical field experience.