Transfer Overview and Requirements
Transfer students are those students who have taken at least 18 credits of college coursework (beyond high school) at another college or university. Consideration for transfer admission to the Occupational Therapist Assistant program is based on the following criteria:
- A cumulative collegiate grade-point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, computed in the manner used for Penn State students, is the minimum University requirement for admission consideration. In general, admission to the Occupational Therapist Assistant program oftentimes requires a substantially higher cumulative grade-point average. The number of qualified applicants typically exceeds the number of available program spaces; therefore, satisfaction of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Good standing at institutions previously attended.
- Attendance at a regionally accredited college or university.
- A high school diploma or equivalent and completion of the high school units noted above.
The program is competitive, and applicants who submit their application to Penn State by November 30th will be given priority consideration. Applications received after November 30th will be reviewed on a space available basis.
In addition to a cumulative grade point average, it is recommended that a transfer applicant should have demonstrated successful completion of at least three (3) credits of natural science (preferably with a lab) and one (1) social science related course from another institution. These types of courses may include (but are not limited to) mammalian anatomy, physiology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, and other core biological, chemical, and social sciences. The admissions selection committee strives to select students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in a rigorous, science oriented program of study.
There is never a guarantee that any course will transfer to Penn State until courses are formally evaluated at the time of admission. However, the Undergraduate Admissions Office provides an online course evaluation tool (available in LionPATH) so that you can see courses from other institutions that have previously transferred to Penn State from schools across the United States and many parts of the world.
How to Apply
Penn State requires that all transfer applicants submit their application online at the Penn State University Admissions website. To expedite the review of your transfer application, submit your official transcripts from high school of graduation (or GED) and all post-secondary institutions to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. These official transcripts should be forwarded by you, to Penn State's Undergraduate Admissions Office in the original, sealed envelopes provided by those schools. Standardized test scores are not required of transfer applicants.
Currently, the Occupational Therapist Assistant program only admits students to begin the program for the fall semester.