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Occupational Therapy (OT) School Interview Questions
21 OT school interview questions by type, what each one tests and how to outline an answer, plus the interview formats real OT programs use.
OT school interviews ask why OT, what occupation means, what you learned in your observation hours, how you would handle a client scenario, and how you work on a team. The format changes from program to program: an MMI at Arkansas, a group interview at Louisiana Monroe, recorded video at Baylor and live faculty interviews at West Virginia. Below are 21 questions by type. Open any one for what it tests and a short outline.
How OT programs interview
Seven OT programs and what their own admissions pages say about the interview. Formats change between cycles, so check your invitation too.
| University of Arkansas (OTD)MMI | MMI on Zoom, plus a reasoning test and scholarly writing activities Source |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Monroe (OTD)Group | Group interview of 4 to 6 applicants with a discussion and a problem-solving task, plus a 3 to 5 minute video Source |
| Baylor (OTD)Recorded video | Recorded answers to standard questions on Kira Talent, by invitation Source |
| Des Moines University (OTD)Video, then live | A Kira Talent recorded assessment, then a live interview in person or on Zoom Source |
| West Virginia University (MOT and OTD)Individual | Virtual interview of about 30 minutes with a faculty member and a community OT Source |
| Methodist University (OTD)Individual | Interview with two faculty members, in person or virtual, held through the cycle Source |
| University of Indianapolis (MOT and OTD)Individual | Required on-campus interview day for top applicants Source |
OTD or master's: what to know
You can enter the profession with either degree. ACOTE, the accreditor, defines both the master's and the doctorate as entry-level degrees for occupational therapists. The doctorate equals at least 6 full-time-equivalent academic years, counting your undergraduate years. The master's generally takes at least 5 and no more than 6.
Interviewers often ask why you chose the degree you applied to. Answer from that program's own curriculum, not from rankings.
Why OT and why this program
Every OT interview opens here, in some form.
Why occupational therapy?
What it tests: Whether your reason is about occupation and not just about helping people.
Outline: One moment that pulled you to OT, what it showed you about the profession, and how your strengths fit it.
Why OT and not physical therapy, nursing or another field?
What it tests: That you know what makes OT different, without putting other fields down.
Outline: Name the shared ground, then the difference: OT starts from the activities that matter to the person. Tie it to something you observed.
Why did you choose an OTD (or a master's) program?
What it tests: That you know the two entry-level degrees and picked one on purpose.
Outline: What that program's degree adds for you, from its own curriculum page, and how it fits your plans.
Why our program?
What it tests: Research and fit.
Outline: Two or three specifics from the program's own site, such as a fieldwork site, a faculty interest or the curriculum, and why each matters to you.
What OT is
Programs check that you can explain the profession in plain words.
What does "occupation" mean in occupational therapy?
What it tests: Whether you know occupation means everyday activities, not jobs.
Outline: A one-line meaning, then one example from your observation hours of an activity that mattered to a client.
How would you explain OT to someone who has never heard of it?
What it tests: Clear, plain communication with clients and families.
Outline: Two sentences a child or a grandparent would follow, then a quick example.
Which OT practice settings interest you, and why?
What it tests: Exposure and an open mind.
Outline: One or two settings you have seen, what drew you, and that you are open to others during fieldwork.
What is one challenge the OT profession faces right now?
What it tests: Whether you follow the field beyond your own hours.
Outline: Name the issue, why it matters for clients, and what an OT can do about it. Read AOTA news before the interview.
Observation hours and experience
Expect follow-ups on anything you mention, so pick clients you remember well.
Tell me about something you saw during your observation hours that changed how you think about OT.
What it tests: Reflection, not a list of places and hours.
Outline: What you thought before, the moment you saw, and what you think now.
Describe a client you observed and how the OT adapted an activity for them.
What it tests: Whether you noticed the therapy, not only the client.
Outline: The client's goal, what the OT changed (the task, the tools or the setting), and why it worked.
What surprised you about an OT's day?
What it tests: Realistic expectations of the job.
Outline: One honest surprise, such as documentation or team meetings, and why it did not put you off.
Client scenarios
No clinical knowledge is expected. Panels want client-centered thinking.
A client refuses to take part in a session. What might be going on, and what would you do?
What it tests: Curiosity before judgment, and respect for the client's choice.
Outline: Possible reasons (pain, fear, mood, a goal that is not theirs), ask the client, adjust the plan, and involve the team if needed.
A client recovering from a stroke says the only goal they care about is cooking for their family again. How would that shape therapy?
What it tests: Building therapy around the client's own goal.
Outline: Start from that goal, break cooking into steps, work on each one, and keep safety and the family in the plan.
A client's cultural or religious practices affect how they want to do a daily activity. How would you respond?
What it tests: Cultural humility.
Outline: Ask before assuming, learn what matters to the client, and adapt the activity to fit their practice.
A client's family wants a different goal than the client does. What would you do?
What it tests: Balancing the client's voice with the family's concerns.
Outline: Hear both sides, put the client's goal first when they can decide, find shared ground, and bring in the team.
You have limited equipment for a session. How would you adapt an activity?
What it tests: Creativity, a core OT skill.
Outline: Keep the goal, swap in everyday objects, and check the change is still safe and meaningful for the client.
Teamwork, ethics and you
Answer the "tell me about a time" questions with a real story in about two minutes.
Tell me about a time you worked on a team that disagreed.
What it tests: Collaboration, a daily part of OT practice.
Outline: The disagreement, what you did yourself, how it ended, and what you learned. No blaming.
Tell me about a time you used creativity to solve a problem with limited resources.
What it tests: The problem solving OT asks for every day.
Outline: The problem, the limits you had, your idea, and the result.
You see a classmate or coworker do something unsafe or dishonest. What do you do?
What it tests: Integrity and judgment.
Outline: Check the facts, talk to the person first if it is safe to, and go to a supervisor when a client could be harmed.
How do you manage stress, and how will you handle the workload of an OT program?
What it tests: Readiness for graduate school and fieldwork.
Outline: A real hard stretch you managed, the habits that helped, and your plan for school.
What is a weakness you are working on?
What it tests: Self-awareness and growth.
Outline: A real weakness, what you are doing about it, and a sign it is improving.
How to prepare
- Find your format. Read each program's admissions page and your invitation. Note whether it is an MMI, a group, a recorded video, a live interview or a mix, and whether there is a writing task.
- Pick five or six stories. Draw from observation hours, work and volunteering: a client who taught you something, a team problem, a mistake, a time you adapted something.
- Say "why OT" out loud. Practice until it takes about a minute and names occupation, not just helping.
- Practice the format. For a recorded video, answer to a timer with no second take. For a group, practice getting everyone to speak. For an MMI, do several short timed scenarios in a row.
- Prepare your questions. Bring two or three questions about fieldwork, the curriculum or student support.
Our OT school interview practice asks these questions with follow-ups on what you say.
Sources, checked October 18, 2026
- ACOTE: From the Director, February 2022 (degree definitions)
- University of Arkansas OTD: Admission Process
- University of Louisiana Monroe OTD: Application Process
- Baylor entry-level OTD: Application Procedures
- Des Moines University OTD: Admissions Process
- West Virginia University OT: Application Process
- Methodist University OTD: Applicant Review Process
- University of Indianapolis OT: Application Instructions
Frequently asked questions
What questions are asked in an OT school interview?
Why OT, why not PT or another field, why this program, what occupation means, what you learned in your observation hours, client scenarios such as a client who refuses a session, and teamwork and ethics questions.
Do OT programs use the MMI?
Some do. The University of Arkansas OTD runs an MMI on Zoom. Others use group interviews, recorded video on Kira Talent or a live interview with faculty, so check each program's admissions page.
How long is an OT school interview?
It depends on the program. West Virginia University's virtual interview lasts about 30 minutes with a faculty member and a community OT. Some programs hold a full interview day.
Is an OTD better than a master's in OT?
Both are entry-level degrees that ACOTE accredits. ACOTE defines the doctoral degree as at least 6 full-time-equivalent academic years and the master's as generally 5 to 6. Be ready to say why you chose the one you applied to.