Occupational Therapy

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Winston-Salem State University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. This program is divided into two components: a pre-professional course of study and a professional course of study.

Note: Students will no longer be accepted into the undergraduate Occupational Therapy Program. This program has transitioned to the post-baccalaureate degree level and offers an entry-level Master of Science degree. Prerequisites and admission requirements for the Master of Science program may be obtained through the School of Graduate Studies and Research Admissions Office, the Department of Occupational Therapy, and Winston Salem State University’s website at www.wssu.edu. (See Occupational Therapy Transitional from a BS to entry Level MS Program at the end of this section.)

Accreditation

On August 16, 2000 the occupational therapy program at Winston-Salem State University received full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This accreditation was approved through academic year 2006-2007. With this accreditation, WSSU occupational therapy graduates are able to take the national certification examination. This examination is administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the examination, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). To practice occupational therapy in the United States, most states require licensure; however, state licenses are generally based on results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Contact Information: AOTA is located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Phone # is (301) 652-2682. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) phone # is (301) 652-2686.

Objectives

The Occupational Therapy Program objectives are to produce graduates who:

are competent, caring, ethical health-care providers;
are able to appreciate humans as complex beings in a process of change.;
appreciate cultural diversity and respect individual beliefs and differences;
are actively involved in community service and can lead when the need arises;
value occupation as a tool for growth, connection, treatment and healing;
can manage resources well and are flexible and resourceful;
are competent in clinical reasoning and the use of technology;
value learning and are committed to lifelong learning.

Fieldwork

Students must be prepared to relocate, possibly out of state, during their Level II fieldwork/clinical experience. Students are required to complete two Level II fieldwork experiences. Each Level II is 3 months in duration. Since there are only a few clinical sites in the Winston-Salem area, it is likely that ALL students will need to relocate for at least one Level II fieldwork. Level II Fieldwork is generally completed during the fall and spring semester of the senior year.

Progression Policy

All students are required to successfully complete the professional component of the Occupational Therapy Program with a grade of C or better, or with a Pass in a Pass/Fail course.

A student receiving a grade of D or lower in a professional course will not be allowed to progress until he/she repeats the course with a grade of C or better.
A student receiving two or more Ds or an F during the professional component of the program will be dismissed from the Occupational Therapy Program.
A student receiving a Fail in a Pass/Fail course will be permitted to repeat that course one time. A second fail will result in dismissal from the program.
If dismissed from the program, the student may reapply the following year. The student may appeal the dismissal according to the University’s appeal process.
Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 24 months following the senior summer semester (See exception below under OT transition form BS to Entry-level).

Health Record

Students in the Occupational Therapy Program must keep all health information current take including yearly physical examination, a tuberculin skin test or chest x-ray, and a rubella vaccination. The student is requested to take a series of hepatitis B vaccine prior to entering clinical education. Some clinical education facilities require criminal background checks and drug screens before accepting students.

Special Fees for the Occupational Therapy Student

Student professional association dues.
Student professional liability insurance.
Laboratory expenditures associated with the Gross Anatomy course.
Lab coat and ID badge
Fee for CPR certification
Living expenses and transportation to and from the clinical education facilities

Occupational Therapy Transitioned from a BS to Entry Level MS Program

The accrediting agency for occupational therapy education has mandated that the entry-level education in occupational therapy must be at the master’s level by 2007. The Occupational Therapy program at Winston-Salem State University initiated the Master of Science degree program in August 2005. Students are no longer eligible to enter the program at the baccalaureate level. The last students eligible for the bachelor’s degree were admitted into the program in 2004 and graduated by December 2006. The last students in the Certified Assistant to Occupational Therapy web-weekend program were admitted in January 2005 and graduated by December 2006. There will be no progression of students past this date as all requirements had to be completed including fieldwork.

For further information about the National Certification exam, you may contact the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) at (301) 990-7979. Please note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or obtain state licensure. This is governed by NBCOT.