The occupational therapist requirements start with a four-year, full-time degree in occupational therapy, then a year of community service before you register to practise independently with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA Professional Board for Occupational Therapy). Entry to the degree is competitive, and each university sets its own subject levels and selection rules.
This page compares what Wits course finder, UCT and UKZN publish for the occupational therapist degree. Check your own university for the 2027 and 2028 intakes.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Degree: a four-year BSc or Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Wits and UCT list four years).
- Mathematics: Wits asks for Level 4 and UKZN for Level 3. UCT asks for 60%, or Mathematical Literacy at 70%.
- Science: Life Sciences or Physical Sciences. Wits accepts either or both at Level 4, and UCT and UKZN accept one or the other.
- English: Level 4 at Wits and UKZN, and 65% at UCT.
- Selection: places are limited, so meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.
- After the degree: one year of community service, then HPCSA registration (UCT).
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The national floor for a bachelor’s degree applies first. An NSC holder needs at least 30% in the institution’s language of learning and teaching and an achievement rating of 4 (50–59%) or better in four 20-credit NSC subjects, according to Government Gazette 42100 (GN 1369). Universities may add programme requirements, and occupational therapy adds many.
The degree is four years. UKZN states that the HPCSA requires at least 1,000 hours of clinical work before a student is eligible to graduate, and Wits also requires 1,000 hours of clinical work across varied sites.
Registration is with the HPCSA. Its occupational therapy board registers occupational therapists and occupational therapy technicians; the assistant and supplementary categories take no new intake. Registered occupational therapists pay an annual fee, gazetted at R1 909 for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Confirm the registration steps and any registration fee with the HPCSA Professional Board for Occupational Therapy.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The three universities below publish different minimums, so a learner who qualifies at one may not at another.
- Wits: English (Home or First Additional Language) Level 4, Mathematics Level 4, and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences Level 4 (Wits course finder).
- UCT: English 65%, Mathematics 60% (or Mathematical Literacy 70%), Physical Science or Life Science 65%, your next three best subjects (excluding Life Orientation) 60% each, and an APS of at least 340. NBT results must fall in the intermediate range (UCT).
- UKZN: an NSC with a degree pass, English Level 4, Life Orientation Level 4, Mathematics Level 3, and Life Sciences or Physical Science Level 3. You need at least 30 points excluding Life Orientation (UKZN).
Other universities also offer occupational therapy. The University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch and the Free State publish their own figures; check their faculty pages for your intake year rather than relying on the three examples above.
Documents and Application Requirements
Wits requires a job-shadowing certificate of attendance from observing a registered occupational therapist. The Wits course finder states 16 hours, and only hours completed after 1 July 2025 count. The Wits occupational therapy admissions page states 15 hours, so confirm the number with the department before you book your shadowing.
Wits also requires National Benchmark Test (NBT) results, and they must be written in person; online results are not considered. UCT lists NBT results too.
- Your ID or passport and your latest school results.
- NBT results, where the university asks for them.
- The job-shadowing certificate, for Wits.
- Any further documents listed on the university’s own application page.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Wits ranks Health Sciences applicants on a Composite Index. Your average over five NSC subjects carries 75% and your NBT scores carry 25%. The Wits occupational therapy admissions page notes that there are only 60 first-year places, so competition is intense. The Wits course finder showed a closing date of 30 June 2026 for the 2027 intake, which has passed; check the next closing date before you plan. UCT also warns that meeting its minimums does not guarantee a place because selection is competitive.
Apply early, apply to every university that offers the programme, and complete any shadowing and NBT requirements before the closing date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the occupational therapist degree?
It is a four-year, full-time degree: a BSc (Occupational Therapy) at Wits and UCT, and a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at UKZN. It includes at least 1,000 hours of clinical work.
How long is the degree?
Four years. At UCT, graduates then complete one year of community service before they can register with the HPCSA and practise independently.
Is Mathematical Literacy accepted?
It depends on the university. UCT accepts Mathematical Literacy at 70% as an alternative to Mathematics at 60%. Wits and UKZN require Mathematics, at Level 4 and Level 3 respectively.
Do I need Life Sciences or Physical Sciences?
You need one of them. Wits accepts Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences at Level 4, while UCT and UKZN accept either Life Sciences or Physical Science.
What are the NBT and job-shadowing requirements?
Wits weights the NBT at 25% of its Composite Index and requires the test to be written in person. Wits also requires a job-shadowing certificate; confirm whether the department wants 15 or 16 hours.
Admission rules change with each intake, and registration is set by the HPCSA Professional Board for Occupational Therapy. Confirm current figures with the university and the council. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.