Programs
Undergraduate Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science Program
The WMU Occupational Therapy Department offers undergraduate students an academic program leading to the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a dedicated track in occupational therapy which is then followed by an 18 month Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.
The department provides undergraduate admission opportunities to freshmen, current WMU undergraduate students, and to transfer undergraduate students. Students interested in admission to the undergraduate occupational therapy concentration should contact the College of Health and Human Services advisor - (269) 387-2656 - well in advance of applying to the program.
The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. 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, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
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% |
Programs
Graduate
Western Michigan University is very excited to now offer professional masters programs in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. We are implementing the start up of a Graduate Occupational Therapy Program in Grand Rapids, Michigan beginning fall of 2009. This will be an equivalent program to the Kalamazoo campus and is located in the state of the art facilities centered in the downtown historic Cherry Street district of Grand Rapids. All of the same training and professionalism that students have come to value from our Kalamazoo based program will be available to you in Grand Rapids.
http://gr.wmich.edu/programs/OccupationalTherapy
Professional Master's Program
The entry-level program for non-therapists is designed to prepare the student to treat clients with various disabilities, and be eligible for certification as an occupational therapist after successful completion of the Master of Science degree. This twenty-eight month program of combined academic and clinical education is intended for the student who has a baccalaureate degree in an area of study other than occupational therapy. Upon completion of the academic program, the student participates in six months of internship, which leads to the award of the Master of Science degree and eligibility to take the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy examination. Entry is in the fall semester of each year, and full-time study is expected. The professional component provides a solid preparation for entry-level clinical practice as an occupational therapist.
Accreditation Status
The Kalamazoo entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. 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, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The Grand Rapids entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. Once accreditation of the program has been obtained, 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 successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
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% |
Master's Program Mock Schedule
Master's Program Application