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ORPAS – Program Requirements Overview

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Refer to the application and the university's website for up-to-date program details.

This web page contains an overview of the requirements for the rehabilitation sciences programs.

Refer to each university’s information in the Application Guide for full details.

If you fail to submit the required documentation, your application to that school will be incomplete.

McMaster University

More about OT, PT and SLP programs at McMaster University.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

2025 Positions: 70

2024 Applicants: 1,533

Prerequisites: None

Minimum Academic Requirements: 

  • 4-year baccalaureate degree (120 units or credits) or equivalent
  • Minimum GPA of 3.3 (B+ or 77%) on the ORPAS 4.0 scale, according to the Undergraduate Grade Conversion Table, in the last 2 years or 60 units of university academic study

References: Not required

Transcripts Required:

  • University
  • College

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

Physiotherapy (PT)

2025 Positions: 67

2024 Applicants: 1,544

Prerequisites:

  • 1 course in human anatomy and 1 course in physiology (minimum 3 units each) or 1 full-credit (6 unit) combined course in human anatomy and physiology.
    • To meet this requirement, you may complete any combination of half-credit (3 unit) and full-credit (6 unit) courses, as long as you complete a minimum of 3 units for each subject. For example:
      • 1 half-credit (3 unit) course in human anatomy and 1 half-credit (3 unit) course in physiology;
      • 1 half-credit (3 unit) course in human anatomy and 1 full-credit (6 unit) course in physiology; or
      • 1 full-credit (6 unit) course in human anatomy and physiology.
  • 1 half-credit (3 units) statistics course or research methods in a health-related field course.
  • 1 half-credit (3 units) humanities or social science course.

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of 3.3 (B+ or 77%) on the ORPAS 4.0 scale, according to the Undergraduate Grade Conversion Table, to be eligible and can occur anytime throughout your academic studies.

Find more details about acceptable and pre-approved prerequisite courses on the McMaster MSc Physiotherapy Program’s admission website (under “Admission Requirements” then “Prerequisite Courses”).

Minimum Academic Requirements:

  • 4-year baccalaureate degree (120 units or credits) or equivalent
  • Minimum sub-GPA of 3.3 on the ORPAS 4.0 scale (B+, 77% or 9.0) in the last 2 years or 60 units of university academic study

References: Not required

Transcripts Required:

  • University
  • College

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

2025 Positions: 32

2024 Applicants: 514

Prerequisites: 

Applicants are required to complete 4 prerequisite courses with a minimum grade in each course of 3.0 (B or 73%) on the ORPAS 4.0 scale, according to the Undergraduate Grade Conversion Table. Each course can be a full credit course (6 units) or half credit (3 units).

  • 1 linguistics course at any level. Acceptable courses include: Phonetics, Syntax, Semantics, Language and Communication, and Speech Acoustics.
  • 1 psychology course at the second-year level or above. Acceptable courses include: Childhood Development, Developmental Psychology, Aging and Perception, and Cognition.
  • 1 human anatomy or human physiology course at any level. The course must be directly relevant to communication (i.e., must focus on anatomy and physiology related to speaking, hearing, breathing and swallowing).
  • 1 research methods or statistics course at any level.

Minimum Academic Requirements: 

  • 4-year baccalaureate degree (120 units or credits) or equivalent
  • Minimum GPA of 3.3 (B+, 77% or 9.0) in the last 2 years or 60 units of university academic study

References: Not required

Transcripts Required:

  • University
  • College

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

University of Ottawa

Learn more about Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy at the University of Ottawa.

Audiology

2025 Positions: 15

2024 Applicants: 39

Prerequisites:

  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in intermediate-level quantitative statistics or research methods
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in human physiology or anatomy
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in acoustics, or sound/speech analysis
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in psychology in a relevant field (e.g., child development, aging, perception)
  • 3 relevant units (1 half-year course) in linguistics, preferably in general phonetics or phonetics/phonology
    • Note: It is understood that these units must be recognized as units in the study of language in the context of contemporary linguistics, and not in study of a particular language (including the phonology/phonetics of the language in question), or literature, writing, culture or folklore, regardless of the department in which they were offered.

List of accepted course equivalencies for the audiology program.

Minimum Academic Requirements:

  • Hold an honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with an average of at least B (70%) or
  • be in the process of successfully completing 3 years, at a recognized Canadian university, with the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) in an honours 4-year bachelor’s degree program (or equivalent) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the third year or
  • hold a CEGEP diploma and a minimum of 2 years (60 units) of university study in an equivalent program in Q\uebec at the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses per fall and winter terms) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the second year.

References: Not required

Transcripts Required: University

Other requirements:

  • CV
  • Complete the Casper exam (the Casper exam can be taken in French or English, depending on your preference)
  • Complete a language proficiency test, in the other official language than the language of your undergraduate degree. This test is administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) at the University of Ottawa.
    • If English was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take a French proficiency test.
    • If French was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take an English proficiency test.
    • If the language of instruction in your undergraduate program was neither English nor French, you will have to take both language proficiency tests (English and French).
    • If you have completed multiple university degrees, including at least 1 in French and 1 in English, you can request an exemption from the language test by emailing healthsc@uottawa.ca. Please note that the language test requirement will remain in place unless you receive confirmation of this exemption.

The cost of the examination and the tests is the responsibility of the candidate.

Occupational Therapy

2025 Positions: 40

2024 Applicants: 157

Prerequisites: None

Minimum Academic Requirements:

  • Hold an honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with an average of at least B (70%) or
  • be in the process of successfully completing 3 years, at a recognized Canadian university, with the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) in an honours 4-year bachelor’s degree program (or equivalent) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the third year or
  • hold a CEGEP diploma and a minimum of 2 years (60 units) of university study in an equivalent program in Q\uebec at the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the second year.

References: Not required

Transcripts Required: University

Other requirements:

  • CV
  • Volunteering
  • Complete the Casper exam (the Casper exam can be taken in French or English, depending on your preference)
  • Complete a language proficiency test, in the other official language than the language of your undergraduate degree. This test is administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) at the University of Ottawa.
    • If English was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take a French proficiency test.
    • If French was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take an English proficiency test.
    • If the language of instruction in your undergraduate program was neither English nor French, you will have to take both language proficiency tests (English and French).
    • If you have completed multiple university degrees, including at least 1 in French and 1 in English, you can request an exemption from the language test by emailing healthsc@uottawa.ca. Please note that the language test requirement will remain in place unless you receive confirmation of this exemption.

The cost of the examination and the test is the responsibility of the candidate.

Physiotherapy

2025 Positions: 41

2024 Applicants: 244

Prerequisites:

  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in general anatomy or human physiology
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in musculoskeletal system anatomy
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in human psychology
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in research methodology or statistics

List of accepted course equivalencies for the physiotherapy program.

Minimum Academic Requirements:

  • Hold an honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with an average of at least B+ (75%) or
  • be in the process of successfully completing 3 years, at a recognized Canadian university, with the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) in an honours 4-year bachelor’s degree program (or equivalent) with  a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the third year or
  • hold a CEGEP diploma and a minimum of 2 years (60 units) of university study in an equivalent program in Q\uebec at the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the second year.

References: Not required

Transcripts Required: University

Other requirements:

  • CV
  • Complete the Casper exam (the Casper exam can be taken in French or English, depending on your preference)
  • Complete a language proficiency test, in the other official language than the language of your undergraduate degree. This test is administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) at the University of Ottawa.
    • If English was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take a French proficiency test.
    • If French was the language of instruction in your undergraduate program, you will need to take an English proficiency test.
    • If the language of instruction in your undergraduate program was neither English nor French, you will have to take both language proficiency tests (English and French).
    • If you completed multiple university degrees, including at least 1 in French and 1 in English, you can request an exemption from the language test by emailing healthsc@uottawa.ca. The language test requirement will remain in place unless you receive confirmation of this exemption.

The cost of the examination and the tests is the responsibility of the candidate.

Speech-Language Pathology

2025 Positions: 25

2024 Applicants: 81

Prerequisites:

  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in intermediate-level quantitative statistics or research methods
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in human physiology or anatomy
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in acoustics, or sound/speech analysis
  • 3 units (1 half-year course) in child developmental psychology or in the psychology of normal development across the lifespan
  • 9 units in linguistics, including:
    • 3 units (1 half-year course) in general phonetics or phonetics/phonology
    • 3 units (1 half-year course) in syntax (or morphology or morphosyntax)
    • 3 relevant units (1 half-year course) at an advanced undergraduate level in linguistics, preferably in semantics, language acquisition, bilingualism, neurolinguistics or psycholinguistics
      • Note: Units in linguistics must be recognized as units in the study of language from the perspective of modern linguistics, and not in the study of a specific language (including the phonology and phonetics of the language), literature, writing, culture or folklore, regardless of the department in which they were taken.

List of accepted course equivalencies for the speech-language pathology program.

Minimum Academic Requirements:

  • Hold an honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with an average of at least B (70%) or
  • be in the process of successfully completing 3 years, at a recognized Canadian university, with the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) in an honours 4-year bachelor’s degree program (or equivalent) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the third year or
  • hold a CEGEP diploma and a minimum of 2 years (60 units) of university study in an equivalent program in Q\uebec at the equivalent of 15 units per term (i.e., 5 courses of 3 units per fall and winter terms) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of A (85%) after the winter term of the second year.

References: Not required

Transcripts Required: University

Other requirements:

  • CV
  • Complete the Casper exam (the Casper exam can be taken in French or English, depending on your preference)
  • Complete two language proficiency tests, 1 in French and 1 in English. These mandatory tests are administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) at the University of Ottawa.
  • Have an excellent knowledge of spoken and written French.
  • Able to communicate orally in English and understand scientific articles written in this language.

The cost of the examination and the tests is the responsibility of the candidate.

Queen’s University

More about the MScOT and MScPT programs at Queen’s University.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

2025 Positions: 68

2024 Applicants: 762

Prerequisites: No prerequisites for Queen’s MScOT program

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year baccalaureate degree

References: 2 Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs) (1 academic and 1 academic or professional)

Transcripts Required:

  • University
  • CEGEP

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

  • Resumé
  • Statement of Intent (Personal Submissions)
  • TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable)

Physical Therapy (PT)

2025 Positions: 68

2024 Applicants: 928

Prerequisites:

  • Human Psychology (minimum half‑year credit)
  • Human Anatomy (minimum half‑year credit)
  • Human Physiology (minimum half‑year credit)
  • Statistics and/or Research Methods (minimum half-year credit)

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year baccalaureate degree

References:

Transcripts Required:

  • University
  • CEGEP

Non-academic Requirements: Casper

Other Requirements:

  • Personal Information Submission
  • Prerequisites
  • Prerequisite course descriptions or syllabi
  • TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable)
  • References

University of Toronto

More about OT, PT and SLP programs at the University of Toronto.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

2025 Positions: 90 in Toronto, 40 in Mississauga

2024 Applicants: 1,019

Prerequisites:

  • None
  • Prior study in Statistics, Physiology/Biology (vertebrate) and Psychology may enhance students’ learning in the program.

Minimum Academic Requirements: You must have completed an appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university with a mid‑B average or better in your final year (i.e., 5 full-course equivalents [FCEs] at the senior level).

References: 1 academic and 1 professional

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP (if applicable)
  • University

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

  • Personal Submission
  • Confidential Assessment Forms
  • Resumé
  • TOEFL score (if applicable)

Physical Therapy (PT)

2025 Positions: 110

2024 Applicants: 1,306

Prerequisites:

  • 0.5 FCE (e.g., 1 half course) in Human Physiology
  • 0.5 FCE (e.g., 1 half course) in Human Anatomy
  • 1.0 FCE (e.g., 2 half courses) in Life and/or Physical Sciences
  • 1.0 FCE (e.g., 2 half courses) in Social Science and/or Humanities and/or Language
  • 0.5 FCE (e.g., 1 half course) in Statistics or Research Methods

All prerequisite courses must be completed within the last 7 years or no earlier than September 2017 and no later than May 31, 2024.

A minimum grade of B- (or 70%) in all prerequisite courses is required, as per the grade recorded on the transcript.

Minimum Academic Requirements: You must have completed an appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university with a mid‑B average or better in your final year (i.e., 5 FCEs at the senior level).

References: 1 academic and 1 professional

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • University

Non-academic Requirements: Casper

Other Requirements:

  • Computer Administered Profile
  • Prerequisites
  • TOEFL score (if applicable)

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

2025 Positions: 60

2024 Applicants: 314

Prerequisites:

  • Child Development (0.5 FCE)
  • Elementary Statistics (0.5 FCE)
  • General Linguistics (0.5 FCE)
  • Human Physiology (1.0 FCE)
  • Phonetics (0.5 FCE)
  • Research Methods (0.5 FCE)

Minimum Academic Requirements: You must have completed an appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university with a mid‑B average or better in your final year (i.e., 5 FCEs at the senior level). A minimum of a B+ in each prerequisite course is required.

References: 2 academic and 1 clinical

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • University
  • College

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

  • Statement of Intent
  • Prerequisites
  • Minimum 14 hours clinical experience (waived for 2025 fall admission)
  • TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable)
  • Certified translations of transcripts (if applicable)
  • 2 Confidential Assessment Forms
  • 1 Clinical Reference Form (waived for 2025 fall admission)
  • Prerequisite pre-approval receipts (if applicable)

Western University

More about OT, PT, AUD and SLP programs at Western University.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

2025 Positions: 75

2024 Applicants: 841

Prerequisites: None

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year university undergraduate degree from a recognized university

References: None

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • University
  • College

Non-academic Requirements: Casper

Other Requirements:

  • English language test score (if applicable)
  • Personal Submission

Physical Therapy (PT)

2025 Positions: 120

2024 Applicants: 1,329

Prerequisites:

  • 1 half course in Human/Mammalian/Vertebrate Physiology. (We do not accept Animal Physiology, Invertebrate Physiology or Exercise Physiology to fulfill this requirement.)
  • 1 half course in Human Anatomy.
  • 1 half course in Science (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Biomechanics, or Exercise Physiology). (We do not accept Earth Science [e.g., Geography, Geology, Astronomy] or Health Science [e.g., Health Promotion] courses to fulfill this requirement.)
  • 1 half course in Statistics, Research Methods or Research Design.
  • 1 full course (or 2 half courses) in Social Science (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Economics, History, Geography, Anthropology) or Liberal Arts (e.g., Languages, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Ethics, Classical Studies, Film Studies, Comparative Literature, Humanities, Music, Dance, Visual Arts); or any combination of these 2.
  • 1 half course or online certificate in Indigenous History.
    • This requirement can be satisfied by taking a for-credit half course in Indigenous History.
    • This requirement can also be satisfied by taking the for-certificate course, Indigenous Canada, a Massive Open Online Course.
    • Submit a course completion certificate by June 30 of the application year.

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year baccalaureate degree with high academic standing from a recognized university

References: 1 academic and 1 professional

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • University

Non-academic Requirements: Casper

Other Requirements:

  • English language test score (if applicable)
  • Personal Submission

Audiology

2025 Positions: 32

2024 Applicants: 147

Prerequisites: 1 half course in each of:

  • Developmental Psychology or Normal Lifespan Development
  • Statistics
  • Human Anatomy or Human Physiology
  • Social Science, Psychology or Linguistics

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year undergraduate degree with a minimum B average (3.0 on the ORPAS 4.0 scale) in 10 most recent full-year courses (or 20 half-year courses)

References: 2 academic and 1 clinical (More about the change to a professional or personal reference letter for fall 2025 admission to Western’s Audiology program.)

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • College
  • University
  • If not in English, must be officially translated to English.

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements: English language test score (if applicable)

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

2025 Positions: 50

2024 Applicants: 506

Prerequisites: 1 half course in each of:

  • Developmental Psychology or Normal Lifespan Development
  • Introduction to Linguistics
  • Statistics
  • Human Anatomy or Human Physiology
  • Life, Biomedical or General Science
  • Social Science, Psychology or Linguistics

Minimum Academic Requirements: 4-year undergraduate degree with a minimum B average (3.0 on the ORPAS 4.0 scale) in 10 most recent full-year courses (or 20 half-year courses)

References: 2 academic and 1 professional (More about the change to a professional or personal reference letter for fall 2025 admission to Western’s SLP program.)

Transcripts Required:

  • CEGEP
  • College
  • University
  • If not in English, must be officially translated to English.

Non-academic Requirements: Not required

Other Requirements:

  • Statement of Intent
  • Prerequisites
  • English language test score (if applicable)

In French only:

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