OTACAS Applicant Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

Applicant Responsibilities

Applicants are responsible for properly completing the application, sending supporting documents and fees to OTACAS in a timely manner, and regularly checking their application status. OTACAS applicants to schools and colleges of occupational therapy agree to abide by the following rules and requirements:

• Review the application procedures and admissions prerequisites of each designated occupational therapy program for which he/she plans to apply.
• Use the OTACAS Transcript ID Form to arrange for all official U.S. and Canadian transcripts to be sent to OTACAS by the application deadline of the school or college.
• Provide all required information on the OTACAS application accurately and in a timely manner.
• Provide all required information on the supplemental applications (if required) accurately and in a timely manner.
• Abide by all selected OTACAS school-specific deadlines.
• Arrange for OTACAS to receive a course-by-course Transcript Evaluation Report for all international institutions attended, if required by the applicant’s designated occupational therapy schools and colleges.
• Provide the names and email addresses of your evaluators and notify them they will be contacted by email for their letter and Evaluation Request Form.
• Respond immediately to all notices and questions received from OTACAS and each school and college to which they apply (applicants are responsible for checking their personal email, including any junk mail folders, and OTACAS accounts for these important notices and questions).
• Print a copy of the completed OTACAS application before submitting to OTACAS.
• Agree to submit the correct OTACAS application fee.
• Promptly respond to any criminal background check correspondence and pay fee as required (if applicable).
• Pay any additional school and college supplemental fees that may be required.
• Check application status online by logging on to the OTACAS web application.
• Promptly notify OTACAS of any change in contact information.
• Promptly notify all designated schools and colleges of occupational therapy of any change in contact information.
• Contact schools and colleges of occupational therapy directly regarding questions about admissions decisions, school-specific admissions criteria, or other program-specific information.
• Respond promptly to schools and colleges, either to accept or decline interview invitations and offers of admission.
• Respond promptly to all offers of admission. Once an applicant has accepted an offer, it is the applicant’s obligation to immediately notify and withdraw any outstanding applications or to decline offers of admission from other schools and colleges of occupational therapy.
• Log off the OTACAS web application after the completion of each entry to protect against unauthorized access of application information submitted to OTACAS.

OTACAS Applicant Code of Conduct

Once admitted to a professional occupational therapy program, students are considered to be members of the occupational therapy profession and therefore, bear the responsibility to adhere to the professional, ethical, and legal standards prescribed for the practice of occupational therapy and their school or college of occupational therapy. Applicants, although not yet members of the profession, are likewise, bound to legal and ethical standards of behavior during the admissions process. Schools and colleges of occupational therapy are encouraged to admit applicants who possess a high level of professionalism and professional potential.

The Applicant Code of Conduct provides an explicit statement of applicant responsibilities and expected standards of performance and behavior.

Applicants are expected to:

• Act with honesty and integrity throughout the admissions process when interacting with school admissions officers, admissions committees, and OTACAS staff.
• Respect the knowledge, skills, and professionalism of those involved in the admissions process, including the faculty and staff at the schools and colleges of occupational therapy and OTACAS staff.
• Respect the autonomy and dignity of fellow applicants, admissions staff, faculty, students, and anyone involved in the admissions process.
• Be responsible and accountable for their actions and personally manage and respond to all matters related to their application.

Misconduct, as defined in the Applicant Code of Conduct, and all forms of dishonesty, are not tolerated in the application process. An applicant who acts unethically may be denied admission to all OTACAS participating schools and colleges of occupational therapy for the current and future application cycles. Moreover, such unethical actions, if disclosed after enrollment in a program, or at the beginning of occupational therapy practice, can result in more serious consequences. It is important that applicants understand the significance of exhibiting professional behavior throughout their careers, starting with the application process.

Applicant Affirmation Language

I affirm that I have read and understand the OTACAS Applicant Responsibilities and Code of Conduct that are listed above. In addition, I affirm that all the information contained in my application is factually correct and honestly presented. It is understood and agreed that any information an applicant provides that is dishonest or misrepresents the applicant will be shared with all schools and colleges of occupational therapy. Information will also be shared if an applicant is a “no-show” for a scheduled admissions interview. It is further understood that an applicant who misrepresents him/herself or otherwise acts unethically or dishonestly may be denied admission to all OTACAS participating schools and colleges of occupational therapy for the current and future application cycles. All credential data, including the application form, letters of recommendation, transcripts in support of the application, photographs, and personal statements become property of OTACAS and cannot be returned.