Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a health profession that uses engagement in meaningful activities, or occupations, to help individuals promote health and well-being, prevent illness or injury, and improve their ability to participate fully in life. Services are provided to people of all ages whose lives have been disrupted by life circumstances, including illness, injury, developmental or transition challenges, environmental changes, social or psychological dysfunction, or the aging process. The primary goal is to empower individuals to attain their maximum functioning potential and independence in areas such as work, school, independent living, or play.
Educational Pathway
To become a practicing occupational therapist in the United States, a master's degree in occupational therapy (MOT or MSOT) or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from an accredited program is the minimum educational requirement.
- Undergraduate Preparation: Prospective students must first earn a bachelor's degree in any major, provided they complete required prerequisite courses in subjects like biology, psychology, anatomy/physiology, development, social science, and statistics. Popular undergraduate majors include biology, psychology, engineering and exercise science, though there is much diversity in background and experience among occupational therapy practitioners. The pre-requisite courses listed in this plan of study fulfill the requirements for most MOT and OTD programs, including Augustana’s OTD. It is strongly advised that students identify required courses for programs that they are interested in as there is some variability across campuses. These may change over time, so pay attention to those websites.
- Graduate Education: Students must apply to a graduate-level program accredited or in the initial accreditation process as outlined by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). These programs typically take 2-3 years for a master's or doctorate, are available in multiple format options, all including rigorous coursework and required supervised fieldwork hours (and additional capstone project for doctorate) before graduation.
- Certification and Licensure: Upon graduation from an ACOTE-accredited program, individuals must pass the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to use the title "Occupational Therapist Registered" (OTR). All states then require licensure to practice, which is typically based on the results of the NBCOT exam and may require additional credentials such as Physical Agent Modalities (PAM) and/or an Ethics Exam.