AOTF Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by American Occupational Therapy Foundation

Are you a full-time student in an accredited occupational therapy (OT) program seeking financial assistance to further your studies? The AOTF Scholarship Program is here to help you progress in your education and career. This year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is offering over 50 scholarships, with amounts ranging from $150 to $5,000, to support students like you.

Why should you apply? The AOTF scholarships have already made a significant impact. Over 700 students have benefited from these financial awards, which have eased their journey towards becoming future leaders in the field of occupational therapy. These scholarships are offered in partnership with NBCOT, OT.COM, and state OT associations, reflecting a nationwide commitment to fostering the growth of our profession. Whether you're working towards a degree as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, this program is designed for you.

Applying for the AOTF Scholarship Program is straightforward. With a single application, you'll be considered for all scholarships for which you're eligible. Remember to include your three references in your application!

Key Points to Keep in Mind:

Ensure you submit your application by the specified deadline. Once submitted, no changes can be made to online applications. Therefore, review your application thoroughly before submission to ensure all information is accurate and current. Click the SUBMIT button when you're ready.

Three references are required for your application. Program Directors, Academic and Character references must submit their online forms by the specified deadline.

Applicants are evaluated for all scholarships for which they are eligible, but can only receive one scholarship per year.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to qualify.

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled full-time in an AOTA-accredited or developing professional level (master's or OTD) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program.

Application Instructions for 2024-2025 - Applications for 2026 Open in January 2026

A complete application includes:

1. Contact information of the applicant, including relevant membership details.
2. Academic history.
3. Resume detailing volunteer work, extracurricular activities, honors and awards, and work experience.
4. Essay responses. The essay allows the Scholarship Selection Committee to evaluate an applicant's personal and professional qualities. Please take the time to complete it thoughtfully.
5. References for the AOTF application: Three references are required and must be submitted by the application deadline. These should include an academic reference, a character reference, and a reference from your OT Program Director. Failure to include all three references by the deadline will result in disqualification of your application.
   1. Academic reference: Provide the name and email address of your academic reference. This person should be a current faculty member or faculty advisor who can vouch for your academic capabilities.
   2. Character reference: Provide the name and email address of your character reference. This person should be able to attest to your character.

   3. Program Director Reference: Provide the name and email address of your Program Director. This information will be used to send the completed form to your program director for your reference.

      Advice for successfully communicating with your references: Inform your references and program directors about your application and the deadline via email. It may be helpful to include your resume or a summary of your achievements in the email. A week before the deadline, confirm that your references have submitted their recommendations by checking your AOTF application. If they haven't been submitted, send a reminder email. If your references encounter any issues during the online submission process, please contact David Robertson at scholarships@aotf.org or 240-292-1077.

6. Signature: By agreeing to the terms and conditions before submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of your application information. You are also giving AOTF permission to obtain a Program Director's Statement and to contact the two (2) individuals named for references. This agreement also allows AOTF to publicly announce the names and programs of successful applicants and to contact recipients for information to promote the scholarship program.