The Department of Occupational Therapy

The professional program is an entry-level program in occupational therapy for individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy. The program is full-time and meets the requirements for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Professional Certification
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national occupational therapist certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the examination, the individual will be 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. A publication on the programs pass rate average (NBCOT exam) for the last three years is available on request. Contact the program to receive a copy of the publication.

Applicants should be aware that fieldwork placement sites, professional licensing agencies, and prospective employers frequently require criminal history disclosures and background checks, although convictions do not necessarily disqualify someone for licensure or employment. Applicants with criminal convictions should recognize that such convictions may impede eventual licensure or employment and that UAB cannot predict the future decisions of fieldwork sites, licensing agencies, or employers.