Admissions

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Application

Application Opens

July 18, 2024

Application Closes

December 1, 2024

Application System

Students apply though the Orthotics & Prosthetics Centralized Application Service (OPCAS).

The application fee is set by OPCAS.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree is required.
- No specific major is mandated; however, the degree should include a well-rounded general education with a distribution of courses in the sciences, mathematics, psychology, social sciences and humanities. Please note, the GRE is no longer required for admission. Any received scores will be discarded and not used in application scoring.
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (based on 4.0) in all college-level courses, as well as a 3.0 in prerequisite coursework. Applicants with less than a 3.0 but with other outstanding qualifications will be considered.
Students can submit their application even if the prerequisite courses are in-progress, as long as the intention to complete them is marked on the application and will be completed before entry into the program.

Prerequisite Coursework:

Physics with lab, 4 credits
Biology with lab, 4 credits
Chemistry with lab, 4 credits
Psychology (Abnormal or Human Growth & Development), 3 credits
Mathematics (Algebra or higher), 3 credits
Human anatomy, 3 credits
Human physiology, 3 credits
Statistics, 3 credits

Provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Students can use the prerequisite rubric to identify the prerequisites that must be successfully completed to be considered eligible for entry into the Pitt Prosthetics and Orthotics program. The rubric should also be used as a resource to identify suggested courses that would fulfill the requirement of a given prerequisite.

If you have any questions, contact the program’s enrollment specialist.

Transcripts

Applicants are required to provide transcripts from all U.S. universities, colleges or other higher education institutions attended.

Admitted students will need to submit official transcripts to the SHRS Admissions Office prior to enrolling in classes.

Experience

Demonstrate adequate exposure to the profession of Orthotics and/or Prosthetics through volunteer or work experience. It is recommended that a minimum of 250 observation hours are completed and recorded. This will also allow for the practitioner to write a sufficient letter of recommendation.

Students can submit their application with this as an outstanding requirement, as long as the intention to complete them is marked on the application and will be completed before entry into the program.

The submission of a Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist (CPO) recommendation letter can serve as your shadowing record. However, if you shadow at multiple sites or are looking for tools to track, document and report with students may use the provided resources, here.

Verification Letter for Shadowing Supervisor – PDF Download
Shadowing Hour Log (Personal Use) – WordDoc (Microsoft) Download
- Completing and submitting these logs is not a requirement of the application.

Current Pitt Students: View this SharePoint Site for more information about local Pittsburgh shadowing, volunteering and other hands-on opportunities. Pitt Passport required.

Personal Statement

Submit an essay describing why the student is interested in this profession and their long-term goals.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three letters of recommendation. The recommenders should write to the students’ work ethic, character and provide subject-specific feedback on the students’ performance.

One (1) academic reference from a college-level instructor
Two (2) additional letters of reference
- One from a CPO is strongly recommended
- Others in the field (such as a technician)

Application Review Process

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application early and remain in contact with the program or enrollment specialist questions as they arise.
Verified applications will be reviewed and scored on a rolling basis as they are received. Applications are reviewed as early as October.
Offer letters will be sent as verified applicants are reviewed and scored. Applicants can expect to hear an update regarding their status no later than March 1.

All communication regarding the applicant’s application will be emailed to the address on file with OPCAS. While the program appreciates applicants’ eagerness regarding their status, repeatedly emailing or calling program representatives will not accelerate this process.

International Student Information

The following requirements are necessary for applicants from outside of the U.S.

For questions about the international student requirements, please reach out to the SHRS Admissions Office.

Academic Credential Evaluations

Students who have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree or higher at an institution outside of the United States are required to provide an academic credential evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or World Education Services (WES), Inc. with their application.

A course-by-course evaluation with GPA conversion is required.
Evaluations are not required for degrees earned in the United States. If you have attended an English Canadian institution, please contact the SHRS Admissions Office.
Individual SHRS programs may have their own specific Academic Credential Evaluation requirements.

Verification of English Language Proficiency

The University of Pittsburgh accepts the official results of the Duolingo English Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a measure of English language proficiency.

Verification is required unless the following apply:

The applicant is a citizen of a country whose official language is English.
The applicant has completed a degree program at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.
The applicant is not a citizen of a country whose official language is English but has completed a degree program at an institution outside of the U.S. where the language of instruction is English and where the official national language of the country in which the institution is located is English.

Minimum Scores by Program

On-campus Programs — Duolingo: 115 | IELTS: 6.5 | TOFEL: 80

Athletic Training (MS)
Health Informatics (MS)
- Health Data Analytics (Certificate)
- Health Information Cybersecurity (Certificate)
- Leadership in Health Informatics (Certificate)
- Revenue Cycle Management (Certificate)
Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional MS)
Physical Therapy (Post-Professional MS)
Prosthetics and Orthotics (MS)
Sports Science (MS)

On-campus Programs — Duolingo: 130 | IELTS: 7.0 | TOFEL: 100

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS)
Communication Science and Disorders (Post-Baccalaureate)
Communication Science (PhD)
Dietitian Nutritionist Program (MS)
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
Rehabilitation Science (PhD)
Speech Language Pathology (MA/MS)

Hybrid and Online Programs — Duolingo: 130 | IELTS: 7.0 | TOFEL: 100

Hybrid
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Master of Rehabilitation Technology (MRT)
Online
- Doctor of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy (CScD)
- Advanced Practice Certificate in Implementation of Evidence in Clinical Practice (Certificate)
- Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
- Health Informatics (MS)
- Health Data Analytics (Certificate)
- Health Information Cyber Security (Certificate)
- Leadership in Health Informatics (Certificate)
- Revenue Cycle Management (Certificate)

How to Submit Scores

Duolingo English Test: Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh – School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Scores should be submitted electronically through ETS to institution code “2927”.

Prosthetics and Orthotics (MS)

Have Questions?

Admissions

Application

Application Opens

Application Closes

Application System

Prerequisites

Transcripts

Experience

Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation

Application Review Process

International Student Information

Academic Credential Evaluations

Verification of English Language Proficiency

How to Submit Scores

Related Programs:

Rehabilitation Science (PhD)

Prosthetics and Orthotics (MS)

Rehabilitation Technology (MRT)

Have Questions?

Related Programs:

Rehabilitation Science (PhD)

Prosthetics and Orthotics (MS)

Rehabilitation Technology (MRT)

Get More Information

Get More Information

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