NOTE: MAJOR CHANGE in application process. See new process below.
In addition to the general University admissions requirements, applicants must meet the following requirements:
If you have any further questions, please contact the Admissions Coordinator
Application Deadline: October 15th
UTMB Health uses the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).
Please visit https://portal.otcas.org/ to create your OTCAS account.
OTCAS must receive the application, references, and transcripts by October 15th. Once your application is complete, OTCAS will verify your documents before releasing them to UTMB Health. Please note that UTMB Health cannot access unverified applications. Applicants should confirm their status as verified with OTCAS.
Applicants must arrange for OTCAS to receive a sealed official transcript directly from EVERY regionally accredited U.S. institution they have attended. OTCAS does not accept student-issued transcripts or faxed copies. OTCAS considers all application files "incomplete" and does not begin transcript verification until the correct fee and all expected U.S. transcripts are received.
OTCAS verifies the authenticity of transcripts by asking the following questions:
OTCAS will contact the applicant and the institution register regarding any suspicious transcripts.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the OTCAS transcript request form for every regionally accredited U.S. institution attended. The applicant's name, OTCAS ID number, and the name of the college/university attended automatically appear on the bar-coded form.
Applicants should verify they are submitting the correct transcript request form to the appropriate college or university. This bar-coded form helps OTCAS to properly match the applicant's official transcripts to the appropriate OTCAS application. Applicants should advise the Registrar's Office to enclose the OTCAS Transcript Request Form with the official sealed transcript and mail it directly to OTCAS. OTCAS accepts transcripts that arrive without the form. If the applicant's current name differs from the name listed on the transcript, the applicant is instructed to include both names on the transcript request form.
OTCAS instructs applicants to arrange for OTCAS to RECEIVE all official transcripts by the earliest application deadline date set by their designated programs. OTCAS does NOT enforce transcript deadlines. The service accepts transcripts received after the institutional deadline has passed.
Evaluators must submit ONLY electronic references directly to OTCAS. Paper references are not accepted.
Applicants may enter up to five (5) evaluator names on the OTCAS application.
Applicants should alert evaluators to watch for an automated email from OTCAS with the subject "OTCAS Reference Request". Some email filters may interpret OTCAS emails as "spam" and automatically delete or route them to a "junk" or "spam" folder. If the evaluator is unresponsive, then the applicant can delete the particular evaluator from the Reference section and request a new reference by entering a new evaluator on the application.
If one or more of the applicant's evaluators is unresponsive or declines an invitation to submit a letter of reference, the applicant may edit the list of evaluators on the OTCAS application before or after it is e-submitted to OTCAS. Applicants cannot make edits to an evaluator's information once the reference is received.
The guiding principle for establishing the OTCAS application fees is to cover the operational and administrative expenses associated with the CAS and to minimize the financial burden on applicants.
Applicants are encouraged to pay the application fee on-line by credit card as part of the OTCAS Web application. OTCAS accepts VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards. OTCAS accepts credit card payments via the on-line application only, and not by mail, phone or fax. Some applicants may choose, however, to mail a money order payment. Applicants who pay by mail are instructed to use the "OTCAS Payment Form" to facilitate the matching of the payment to the correct OTCAS ID. OTCAS does not begin to verify the application until the correct application fee amount is received.