Cooperative Programs in Allied Health Professions (Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant)
1. Core Courses: Each school has its own requirements, so be sure to check the catalogue of each school that you may apply to.
Most schools require:
Recommended by many and required by some:
2. Volunteer Work: All schools require experience in the field. Some have actual minimum hour requirements. 200 volunteer hours should satisfy most schools requirements. A range of experience is recommended; private practice, hospital in-patient, hospital out-patient, rehabilitation hospital, work hardening, etc.
An internship is available through the Biology Dept. Contact the Department Chairperson.
Note: With all internship/volunteer opportunities, check carefully to see how much "hands on" experience you will be able to get. Some settings are very restrictive; others will allow you considerable participation.
3. Other Requirements:
4. Application Procedure:
Note: Most programs start during the summer following the senior year, many as early as June.
5. For more information:
The primary goal of the occupational therapist is to enable individuals with physical, developmental, and emotional disabilities to acquire or regain skills necessary for independent living. This rehabilitation employs the use of educational, vocational, and recreational activities or "occupations". Patients range in age from children to the elderly. The therapist may serve individuals or groups on an in-patient or out-patient basis. Some of the more common problems include stroke, developmental disabilities, arthritis, hand injuries, and brain injury.
1. Recommended Curriculum: Each school has its own set of requirements. You should contact the individual schools for catalogues and pre-requisites. However, most schools require the following:
Additional work in human (vertebrate) biology, psychology and/or sociology would be recommended.
2. Volunteer (or Paid) Work Experience: All schools will want the applicant to have had experience in the field. You should work (or at least observe) two or more different types of occupational therapy settings. At a minimum, you should work in one setting that treats primarily physical problems and one that treats primarily psychiatric problems.
3. Other Requirements:
For more information contact:
The American Occupational Therapy Association
1383 Piccard Drive
Rockville, MD 20850-0822
(301) 948-9626
Web site: http://www.aota.org
4. Scholarship Information: Once you have been accepted, you may request information on scholarships by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
AOTF
P.O. Box 1725
Rockville, MD 20849-1725
(301) 948-9626 ext. 199
Loan Information:
Loans for Occupational Therapy Students Program
P.O. Box 407
Beltsville, MD 20705
1-800-328-4143
