Prepare for Physical and
Occupational Therapy School
Confirm your interest in PT/OT, prepare academically and develop the necessary skills and experience:
Academic Pre-Requisites: Physical Therapy
Pre-Req Comparison Chart
Read about the PT Admissions Process and Requirements,
This is a general guideline. Please check individual schools for their specific pre-requisites.
- BILD 1, 2, 3, & any upper division Biology lab course (must be at least 4 quarter units)
- CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C, & 7L (lab)
- One Anatomy Course with Lab
- BILD X13 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR, community college
- One Human Physiology Course with Lab
- BIPN 100
- BIPN 105 (lab)
- PHYS 1A,1AL, 1B,1BL, 1C,1CL
- OR, 2A, 2B, 2BL, 2C, 2CL
- MATH 11 Or PSYC 60
- PYSC 1
**MATH 10A & 10B are requirements for physics at UC San Diego**
Academic Pre-Requisites: Occupational Therapy
Read FAQs about OT Education.
This is a general guideline. Please check individual schools for their specific pre-requisites.
- BILD 1, 2, 3, & any upper division Biology lab course (must be at least 4 quarter units)
- CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C, & lab 7L (lab)
- One Anatomy Course with Lab
- BILD X13 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR, community college
- One Human Physiology Course with Lab
- BIPN 100
- BIPN 105 (lab)
Psychology
- General psychology: PSYC 1
- Additional subjects: abnormal, lifespan and/or developmental
- MATH 11 or PSYC 60
- TDGE 25
- OR, Community College Courses
- FPM-40632 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR community college coursework
Additional Recommendations
- Art Courses (such ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, music, ect) either as elective coursework or consider courses available at the craft center or UC San Diego Extension
- Talk to, shadow or volunteer with a PT or OT. Find them through your network of family and friends, Professional Associations, Tritons Connect, or Linkedin
Student Organizations
PT and OT-related student groups include the following:
Exercise is Medicine is a new sports medicine organization on campus. Their purpose is to promote healthy lifestyles through exercise, to promote exercise as a means of medicine in standard healthcare practices, and to provide students with the opportunities to learn about fields within sports medicine.
Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy (SPOT) provides excellent opportunities to meet other pre-PT or OT students, local therapists, and visiting school deans.
Additional Preparation Information
Learn more about gaining experience - clinical, service, leadership, and research.