Doctor of Occupational Therapy – California
Occupational Therapy Program Accreditation
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program at SCU (California campus) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652- AOTA 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 this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
National Examination & Licensure
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at SCU provides information pertaining to professional licensure for the program. Students should refer to the information below and contact the appropriate licensing board to ensure they will meet the licensure requirements in the state(s) in which they intend to practice upon graduation.
The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 successfully completing this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program meets the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Some states have requirements in addition to educational requirements – prospective and enrolled students are encouraged to research licensure requirements for the state that they intend to practice in. These licensure requirements vary from state to state.
Neither acceptance for admission into the program nor the subsequent earning of a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree guarantees that a state or a foreign country will grant a graduate a license to practice occupational therapy. Each state and foreign country, through its legislative and administrative process, defines the standards of competency and scope of practice of occupational therapy within its jurisdiction.
Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although SCU will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the licensing agency to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice. Additionally, while progressing through the program, we recommend that you check licensing agency requirements regularly to monitor whether they have changed in a manner that impacts your licensure plans.
All international students are strongly encouraged to check the credentialing requirements in the country where they intend to practice.
Progression and Graduation Requirements
Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn at least a GPA of 2.75 each term in order to progress through the program and retain their student status. Students are required to complete all didactic and experiential coursework including Level I and II Fieldwork, the Mentored Doctoral Experience and a Doctoral Capstone Project within 5 years of matriculation and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75.