Programs
Accreditation and Field Work
Accreditation
The Kalamazoo Campus, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The Grand Rapids Site, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program has been granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The Grand Rapids program will have an onsite accreditation review by ACOTE in January 2010.
For more information, contact:
American Occupational Therapy Association
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone: (301) 652-2682
Graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and are eligible to apply for licensure/registration in those states which regulate occupational therapy practice.
NBCOT Certification Results
For the three most recent calendar years (2006, 2007 and 2008) the performance of the graduates of the occupational therapy program at Western Michigan University were as follows:
Total number of program graduates: |
131 |
Total number of first-time test takers of the NBCOT certification exam: |
131 |
Total number first-time test takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: |
114 |
First time test taker percentage pass rate: |
87% |
Procedure for complaints
When an admitted student believes the program may not be in compliance with the Accreditation Standards for a Master’s-Degree-Level Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist, the student may submit a complaint to the ACOTE Chairperson, c/o the AOTA Accreditation Department, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3425. Information on the policy and procedures for submitting a complaint may be found on the AOTA web-site (aota.org) under Accreditation, Administrative Procedures, Procedure for Complaints.
Fieldwork
Six months of full-time fieldwork is required as a student therapist in two clinical practice sites (one being a medical model site and one being a community model site). Western Michigan University utilizes 600 fieldwork sites primarily in Michigan and the mid-west states with some sites throughout the United States. Fieldwork experiences are full time (40 hours per week) and last for 3 months. Most students fulfill the 2 fieldwork experiences at agencies outside of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Prior to assignment to fieldwork experiences, all students must complete a criminal background check and a drug screening. Unsatisfactory results for the criminal background check or the drug screening will result in cancellation of the fieldwork experience and may result in dismissal from the program. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. All fieldwork must be completed within 24 months following the completion of academic course work.