Occupational Therapy Department

Occupational therapists are skilled healthcare professionals who work with patients to regain or develop daily life skills.

As an occupational therapist, you can work in many areas from neonatal intensive care units to skilled nursing facilities, to help patients restore function. Occupational therapy is expected to experience rapid growth as a profession over the next decade as the demand for various services increases, especially among the aged.

You will be prepared to become a registered occupational therapist by taking the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, administered by the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT). Most states, including New York, require licensure to practice. State licensure is typically based on the results of the NBCOT certification exam, but must be applied for separately in the state in which you plan to practice.

Pathways to Earn an Master's Degree

D'Youville offers 2 pathways to earn a master's degree in Occupational Therapy (MS).

Enter our combined degree program as a freshman. You'll gain direct admission into the master's program with no need to re-apply and complete your degree in 5 years.
If you already have a bachelor's degree in another area of study, enter our Master's degree in Occupational Therapy (MS) and complete your degree in 3 years.

Our Mission

The Occupational Therapy (OT) Department provides innovative occupation-based programs with a faculty of scholars and clinicians dedicated to developing highly respected, dynamic practitioners, and professional leaders.

D'Youville's Occupational Therapy programs prepare students to assume these roles within educational, medical, and community-based settings. Emphasizing theory, scholarship, clinical skills, and professionalism, the programs foster competencies to meet the challenges of serving people in an ever-changing global environment.

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is fully approved and registered by the New York State Education Department. The program offers two curriculum paths (BS/MS-OT & MS-OT) that culminate in the entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
Telephone: 301-652-AOTA (2682)
Web: 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 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 ACOTE accreditation standards provide the basis for the occupational therapy degree program competencies.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)

The D'Youville Occupational Therapy Program is also approved by The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

More information about WFOT can be found on www.wfot.org.

Fieldwork

Our Occupational Therapy program provides local and international fieldwork experiences for students, made possible by clinical partnerships with over 300 centers.

D’Youville offers a five-year occupational therapy program leading to a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree featuring strong professional involvement and an ongoing curriculum review. The Master of Science degree in occupational therapy is an entry-level degree created for students with a BA or BS in another area of study. The three-year degree program includes courses in occupational therapy theory and practice, six months of supervised fieldwork, and research.

We welcome you as a clinical fieldwork coordinator and/or fieldwork educator for students in the D’Youville Occupational Therapy programs. We appreciate the time and expertise you bring to the fieldwork experience and hope that the materials contained in this website will be useful to you.

Please take the time to become familiar with this information. We welcome any feedback you may have and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to a successful and ongoing educational alliance with you and your facility.