Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE)

Accreditation Statement:

The occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 6116 Executive Blvd. Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD. 20852-4929.  ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-2682 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

 

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the NBCOT exam, the individual becomes an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.  Note that a felony may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.

 

Progression in the program requires students to successfully complete fieldwork. Fieldwork sites require students to show evidence that they meet health, legal and training standards. Students who are unable to meet these requirements cannot progress in the program.

 

All students in the occupational therapy program at Alvernia University must complete Level II Fieldwork within 24 months of completing undergraduate or prerequisite course work. After passing the NBCOT Certification Examination, the student will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) and after attaining state licensure they are entitled to use the designation OTR/L.

 

Accreditation:

The council follow strict rules in the accreditation process, including a review of prepared reports and a campus visit to meet students, faculty, fieldwork educators, and other constituents.  The practices and outcomes of the program are evaluated against national standards for the educating entry-level occupational therapists.  ACOTE is made up of experienced educators and practitioners. They are people who know what quality training to become an occupational therapists is. Graduating from a university with an accredited program is recognition of rigorous learning.

The program holds accreditation status for an entry-level professional master's degree. The next onsite visit from ACOTE is scheduled for academic year 2021-2022.

Contact Information

Elizbeth M. Bentz, OTD, OTR/L, SIPT, RYT
Department Chair, Occupational Therapy
Assistant Professor
Bernardine Hall 114E
610-790-2991
elizabeth.bentz@alvernia.edu

 

For additional information, contact:

ACOTE

c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Blvd. Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
Telephone: (301) 652-2682
Web site: www.acoteonline.org
E-mail: accred@aota.org

NBCOT
12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Telephone: (301) 990-7979
Web site: www.nbcot.org

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)