Are Fewer People Applying to OT School?
Are you thinking about becoming an occupational therapist? If so, you might be wondering, in today’s landscape, “Are fewer people applying to OT school?” Don’t worry, we’re here to answer this question for you and give you some additional insight on the OT school application process. We’ll also dive into what this means for the occupational therapy profession as a whole.
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After browsing online forums or reading OT school program information for different schools, you have already seen anecdotally that OT school applications seem to be going down. In fact, from 2016-2024, OTCAS has reported a drop of almost 50% in applications to OT programs.
Note: these figures are US-based and are referring to occupational therapy graduate programs, both Master’s and Doctorates.
Occupational therapy school has always been competitive to get into up until now, so you might find this number may be a bit shocking (I know I did). However, after diving into why OT schools are getting fewer applicants, there are a number of reasons why this may be the case. Even with these drops in applications, the number of OT school applicants generally continues to outpace the number of available seats at a rate of about three to one.
So, while it does seem that the number of applicants is dropping for OT programs, this may be a good opportunity for the OT community as a whole to grow and diversify. We will start to see more types of people getting into OT school that may otherwise would not have due to much stricter standards in the past.
If you are applying now, you may find yourself with a higher chance of getting in, maybe even with more acceptances to multiple schools, giving you options. This is great!
Why Are OT Schools Getting Fewer Applicants?
I coach prospective OT school applicants year-round and the biggest trends I’m noticing are due to the following:
The High Cost of Education
OT graduate programs (especially OTD programs and most private programs) are expensive, often requiring over six figures of student loan debt. The financial burden is deterring more prospective students since life in general has become much more expensive for all of us. Applicants are also, understandably, worried about their future salary covering their high student loan payments.
This is why I will always recommend applying to Master’s OT programs compared to OT Doctorate programs unless you are going into research or teaching right away. Here is my take on this: The MOT vs. OTD: Which Degree Should You Pursue?
I want to note that you will always be grandfathered in to practice occupational therapy with a Master’s in OT, even if the Master’s programs are eventually phased out. A majority of pre-OT school applicants I speak with are still under the impression that they have to get the Doctorate to keep practicing, but this is not the case.
Carryover Impact from the Pandemic
Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic deter people from going into healthcare as it was a very scary time to be in healthcare, but it also caused delays in clinical placements and led to general uncertainty with healthcare programs and careers as a whole.
Even five+ years later, I am not only seeing fewer occupational therapy school applicants but I also have seen reported drops in applications for PT school, speech therapy school, medical school, and even nursing programs. I do wonder if the pandemic still is playing a role in this since it has forever changed the landscape of working in patient care.
Reports of High Productivity Demands and Therapist Burnout
If you spend any amount of time in occupational therapy-related Facebook groups and forums, you will regularly see seasoned therapists discuss their challenges with high productivity, unethical situations, and burnout. This can certainly be problematic in almost any occupational therapy setting, but it is not always the case.
The good news is that there are wonderful OT jobs and managers out there that won’t run you ragged, particularly if you work for a non-profit hospital system or non-profit setting. You can avoid working for companies that won’t burn you out by interviewing them just as much as they interview you, finding out what their philosophies and standards are before you take the job. I also recommend speaking with current therapists at the company you’re interviewing for before accepting the position.
I write a lot about this here at My OT Spot, so if this is something that you want to know more about, you can reach out to me directly. I also wrote an article about ethical dilemmas that will provide you with insight into why you’re seeing therapists talk about this regularly.
There is Still Growth in the Occupational Therapy Field
Despite the decrease in occupational therapy school applications, there is still good reason to consider applying. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, OTs have a projected rate of growth at 11% from the years 2023-2033. To put that number in perspective, the average rate of job growth overall is around 8%, so job growth for occupational therapists is higher than average.
This is good news for OTAs as well, with a 21% job growth rate projected for them. And this makes sense, because by 2033, we expect to see more Baby Boomers age into needing additional care. If current trends continue, we also expect to see a greater emphasis on mental health each passing year. Along with all of this, OT and OTA salaries continue to exceed those of the average healthcare worker.
More than just numbers, though, occupational therapy continues to grow. While OT was once confined to outpatient clinics or hospitals, now it can be found in more places than ever before!
Telehealth services have grown exponentially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has had the benefit of making occupational therapy available to everyone, including those in rural or underserved areas.
AOTA is working hard to make some of the allowances that were available during the pandemic into permanent treatment options. As more people enter the OT field, it will continue to grow. For example, OTs now can choose to work in more home-based settings, school-based practices, or even in niches like ergonomics consulting and adaptive equipment design and implementation. More than ever, OTs can find the specialty that aligns with their passions and bring the valuable care they can provide to any population.
While reviewing some of the numbers at the outset makes it seem like there is less interest in OT as a field, that isn’t necessarily the case.
Looking at the global scene paints a different picture. In Canada, there was almost 25% growth in Master’s-level OT programs from 2018-2023.
In the United Kingdom, a pilot program aimed to increase OT’s role in primary care has been launched. And in Australia, role-emerging practices, including things like wilderness therapy for younger ones, have shown exciting new areas OTs can explore worldwide. Even though fewer may be applying for OT programs in the US, this by no means indicates a downtick in interest.
Other emerging practice areas continue to grow within OT. For example, the global trend toward wellness and prevention has led to OTs having a louder voice in corporate fields like ergonomics, wellness coaching, and injury prevention practices. Many community health centers are making use of OTs specialized skillset to deal with trauma and other challenges. And product designers are recognizing the value that OTs have, getting their help in designing products that will be functional and easy to use.
Organizational Responses to Less OT School Applications
In order to address the decline in occupational therapy school applications, many different organizations are making adjustments that will hopefully address the underlying issues that may keep people from applying.
For example, more OT schools are offering hybrid or part-time options. In fact, as of 2023, almost 60% of entry-level doctoral OT programs included some element of distance education in their curriculum.
Location is only one potential difficulty for applicants; money is also a possible impediment for those thinking of applying for OT school. To help bridge that gap, the OTCAS now offers fee waivers for eligible applicants, and the number of scholarships available for OT programs continues to grow.
Accelerated OTD programs are also available and can be completed in just around 3 years, helping get applicants into the field and practicing. Other OT programs are starting to offer a more holistic admission model, welcoming non-traditional applicants.
Educational programs are not the only ones making changes to welcome more applicants. AOTA and ACOTE’s Academic Leadership Councils have begun more targeted recruitment efforts in underserved regions, as well as in high schools and community colleges. Mentorship programs and job fair presence have helped bring OT into the mainstream. As high school and college students consider potential job opportunities, this will help more of them find out if occupational therapy is a good fit for them.
As mentioned above, steps are being taken to ensure that telehealth and remote work options are available, making OT a more viable job prospect for those just breaking in. Meanwhile, the AOTF is also working on performing workforce studies to refine the strategies used to bring new applicants into the OT world.
In Conclusion
So yes, OT school application numbers have gone down in recent years, but we are hopeful this doesn’t become a cause for concern. The good news is that job growth continues to increase, job opportunities will continue to diversify, and therefore our field will stay in demand. There is a greater need for OTs than ever before, so if OT is right for you, don’t be afraid to apply!
I’m hopeful that OT schools will be able to make going to OT school and becoming an occupational therapist an accessible and financially viable option for all future practitioners. We will continue to pay attention to the landscape and provide ongoing information to help you and all future applicants.
Are You About to Apply to OT School?
If you are about to apply to OT school yourself and would like one on one guidance on anything related to the application process, I offer affordable and personalized coaching calls throughout the year that you can set up here.
Lastly, you can grab a copy of my Getting into OT School e-book that compiles all my applying to OT school content in one place, with bonus content that you won’t find on the site, linked below:
This article was co-written by Sarah Stromsdorfer, OTR/L and Michel Moniger, COTA/L
