Teresa Brininger
Updates from the ACOTE® January 2022 meeting
2018 STANDARDS INTERPRETATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
Standard A.5.3. Program Length
ACOTE® voted to add an interpretation to the 2018 ACOTE® Standards and Interpretive Guide to clarify Standard A.5.3. Program Length (2018 ACOTE Standards and Interpretive Guide)
In addition, ACOTE® added the following terms to the Glossary:
COMMONLY ACCEPTED ACADEMIC STANDARDS: Program length must be reflective of commonly accepted standards for degree level as informed by the National Center for Education Standards (https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/glossary#m). Specific to occupational therapy entry level education for the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant, ACOTE defines the following:
- Doctoral degree: An entry-level professional degree awarded for successful completion of a program of study as an occupational therapist, including both preprofessional and professional preparation, equaling at least 6 full-time-equivalent academic years to provide the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.
- Master’s degree: An entry-level professional degree awarded for successful completion of a program of study as an occupational therapist, including both preprofessional and professional preparation, generally requiring at least 5 full-time-equivalent academic years, but no more than 6 full-time-equivalent academic years. One or two years must be full-time college-level study beyond the bachelor’s degree to provide the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.
- Bachelor’s degree: An entry-level occupational therapy assistant degree granted for the successful completion of a baccalaureate program of study, usually requiring at least 4 years (or equivalent) of full-time college-level study.
- Associate’s degree: An entry-level occupational therapy assistant degree granted for the successful completion of an associate’s program of study, usually requiring at least 2 years (or equivalent) of full-time college-level study.
The Accreditation Department will hold several information sessions regarding this change on:
Please register for the information sessions on the “Events and Workshops” page of the ACOTE website.
Please submit all questions to accred@aota.org.
