Before you get started, we recommend that you attend a virtual information session, campus visit day or schedule a private one-on-one meeting with an admissions coordinator.  This is not an admission requirement but is strongly recommended as the best way to learn about Cabarrus College and our academic programs.

Application Requirements

For admission into the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Studies and/or Master of Occupational Therapy program, applicants must meet the general college admissions requirements found in the Catalog.

  • Official transcripts from all schools attended (excluding high school)
  • Associate of Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant from an ACOTE or regionally accredited program
  • Verification of employment as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) for one year
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, calculated as an average from all post-secondary transcripts
  • Evidence of successful completion of the following college-level courses with a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher:
    • English Composition
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Human Growth and Development Psychology
    • Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs)
    • Statistics (MOT Only)
    • Kinesiology and Medical Terminology are not required but are strongly recommended
  • References – Three (3) Professional References submitted on the Occupational Therapy Reference Form. At least one reference must be from an occupational therapist the applicant has worked with in practice; and at least one reference from another healthcare professional the applicant has worked with in practice.
  • Reflect on your professional experience as an OTA and generate a 600-700 word essay that addresses the below components. Please use APA formatting and style per the following link, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/1/(Paiz et al., 2018):
    • Explain your greatest accomplishment and its contribution to your professional growth.
    • Provide a specific example that illustrates how you successfully dealt with a significant challenge or adversity in your professional role. Explain how you used critical thinking to problem-solve a successful outcome. Reflect on what you learned from this situation and describe how you can apply it to your future role as an occupational therapist.
    • Describe specific influences on your decision to seek a transition from the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) to occupational therapist (OT) role.
    • Reflect on your personality, attitudes, values, and beliefs, and describe a situation when you applied them based on Hagedorn’s “therapeutic use of self” definition (see below) to promote a culturally sensitive and respectful approach to client-centered occupational therapy practice.
      • “the artful, selective or intuitive use of personal attributes to enhance therapy … the art of therapy to select aspects of one’s own personality, attitudes, values or responses which will be relevant or helpful in a given situation, … honesty, integrity and authenticity are the keys to therapeutic use of self” (as cited in Paterson, Higgs, & Wilcox, 2005)
  • The OT Program educational philosophy focuses on promoting lifelong learning as an essential professional attribute, and facilitating student engagement in self-guided, collaborative, and reflective learning experiences relevant to professional development. Based on this philosophy, describe how your learning style characteristics and adult-learner qualities will contribute to your success as a graduate level occupational therapy student

Application Date

We accept applications on a rolling basis until programs are full, with priority given to applications received by:

  • January 1: for fall enrollment.

Application Process

  1. Apply - Apply online.  A 600-700 word essay reflecting on your professional experience as an OTA must be emailed separately to Admissions and must follow APA formatting and guidelines.

    Nonrefundable Application Fee: $50

  2. Send your transcripts and proof of degree - To complete your admission file, we require official transcripts from all colleges you have previously attended and proof of BA or BS degree from a regionally accredited institution.

    Official transcripts can be sent via mail or electronically to documents@cabarruscollege.edu

    ATTN: Office of Admissions
    Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
    401 Medical Park Drive
    Concord, NC 28025

    Fax: 704-403-2077

  3. Submit 3 professional references - Submit three professional references using the reference form for BSIHS/MOT. Forms can be sent via mail, email or fax.

  4. Submit professional resume - Applicants must email their professional resume to admissions@cabarruscollege.edu

  5. Evidence of OTA licensure

  6. Proof of at least one full year of employment as an OTA within the past five years at the time of application - Employment can be full-time or part-time with a minimum of 20 hours per week.

  7. Log in to view the application status - Please allow 48 hours for your application to be processed. Once the application has been processed by the admissions team, the applicant will receive a welcome email. This will instruct you on how to log into the applicant portal to review the application status and checklist for admissions.