Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy requires one year of academic study and six months of clinical Level II Fieldwork with the requirements listed below. To begin the master’s program in occupational therapy, students must have successfully completed their bachelor’s degree in Health and Occupation. Successful completion of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy affords the student the opportunity to take the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam and to become licensed to practice occupational therapy as an individual state requires. Please note: a felony conviction may affect an individual’s qualification to take the NBCOT certification exam.
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy requires Occupational Therapy 501, 502, 510, 528, 529, 551, 555 and a minimum of nine graduate electives credits. Additional requirements to attain the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree:
Maintain a minimum OT grade point average of 3.00.
Achieve a minimum grade of C- in all graduate courses. College
policies on repeating courses apply to graduate study.
Students must pass both Level II Fieldwork experiences. Only one
Level II failure may be repeated. Students are required to complete
24 weeks of fulltime fieldwork or its equivalent of Level II fieldwork
within 12 months of completing graduate coursework.
Level II Fieldwork
Fieldwork provides the student with the opportunity to apply clinical skills in occupational therapy practice settings. Fieldwork experiences usually occur the summer between the fourth and fifth year and following the fifth year. Elizabeth-town College has established relations with more than 200 clinical sites locally and throughout the United States. Fieldwork Coordinators match students with appropriate settings based primarily on student career goals, student learning needs, and geographical considerations. Additional expenses for living and housing often are incurred as students complete Level II Fieldwork assignments. Individual fieldwork sites also may require students to meet health requirements (e.g., TB test, current immunizations, etc.), participate in training for Universal Precautions, and pass criminal and child safety background checks. Students must achieve a score of “Pass” from clinical supervisors in order to be eligible to attain the Master of Science degree. It is expected that most students would complete the fieldwork within 12 months of finishing course work.
Professional Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy program has maintained a fully-accredited status since the initial in 1976 by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The organization can be contacted c/o American Occupational Therapy Association, Box 31220, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-3425; (phone) 301-652-2910; (fax) 301-652-2682; www.aota.org
