Selection Process

Application, Interview, and Notification Dates

• WAVE 1 – Early Admissions
  • Applications received July 20 – October 31, 2025
    • Interviews November 14, 2025
    • Notified by November 21, 2025
• WAVE 2
  • Applications received November 1, 2025 – March 6, 2026
    • Interviews March 20, 2026
    • Notified by March 27, 2026

Selection Process

The School of Occupational Therapy admissions committee carefully evaluates each applicant’s application to determine eligibility and suitability to the program. After the initial assessment, selected applicants are invited to a formal interview. After the interview, the Admission Committee reviews the applicant files and makes recommendations to the program director. Applicants are notified as soon as final admission decisions are made. For the 2025-2026 cycle, interviews are in-person with virtual options available in certain instances.

Notification 

Final admission decisions are made by the program. Applicants are notified via email and the Self-Service portal is updated as soon as a final admission decision has been made. 

Note: Intentional misrepresentation or omission of information relative to scholastic records, test records, background reports, etc. will subject the applicant to rescinded admission or a student to dismissal.  The University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant for any reason in deems sufficient. 

Mission Fulfillment

The SOT Admission Committee will consider applications from all qualified individuals; however, to meet the SOT mission, priority will be given to those students from the Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) or from a rural or medically underserved area (MUA).  PNWU uses the Rural Assistance Center online tool (found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/am-i-rural) for determining if an address is rural or located in a MUA or serves a medically underserved population (MUP).  

Application to PNWU begins by submitting a primary application through OTCAS (Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System) https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/ – /login.  Applicants must designate PNWU to receive their application.

A verification of the information provided on the application will take place. This may take 30 days or longer. PNWU will receive the application only after the verification is completed by OTCAS. Students are encouraged to check OTCAS periodically after submission of materials to confirm the application has been verified. Applicants should review the OTCAS instructions and FAQ to assist them in submitting their application properly.