School of Occupational Therapy
CONTACT INFORMATION
School of Occupational Therapy
1500 N. Warner St.
CMB 1070
Tacoma, WA
98416-1070
Weyerhaeuser Hall
253.879.3281
253.879.3518 (fax)
ot@pugetsound.edu
Contact the Program Director
tomlin@pugetsound.edu
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, telephone: 301.652.2682. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 12 South Summit Avenue Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, telephone: 301.990.7979, e-mail: info@nbcot.org. After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice, and 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 obtain a state license.)
The School of Occupational Therapy at the University of Puget Sound offers high quality educational opportunities at the master's level for individuals seeking to become an occupational therapist (entry level) as well as for occupational therapists who seek to advance their knowledge and skill level (post-professional level). Our entry level program is a two-and-one-half year, master's level course of study for entry into the profession. Our post-professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree is for therapists with a BSOT or equivalent degree and can be completed in one year of full time study.
Puget Sound's program combines the excellence of a dedicated faculty with an on-campus clinic that gives students a unique learning environment for putting theory and skills into practice. Students evaluate and treat clients under the supervision of expert community clinicians. Students also experience rigorous research and program development opportunities. Puget Sound occupational therapy graduates have demonstrated consistently strong educational outcomes. The total number of graduates who passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination as first-time new graduate test-takers in 2009-2011 was 65 of 75, which is a pass rate of 86.7%. The number of grads from the program in 2008, 2009, and 2010, which groups roughly correspond to the cohorts taking the exams in the following year, was 77. The comparable passing rate nationwide (12,321 examinees) was 81.6%. Graduates of the program also enjoy a strong reputation among supervisors as being excellent writers, resourceful therapists, and well-prepared to engage in comtemporary professional practice.
The application process for admission to the occupational therapy class entering fall, 2013, will be based in a centralized OT application service called “OT-CAS.” The OT-CAS site will become active sometime after August 1, 2012. The application deadline this year will be earlier than in the past, namely, DECEMBER 15TH, 2012 9:00PM PST. Please note that in addition to the letters of reference and transcript information applicants will submit to OT-CAS, Puget Sound is requiring a SUPPLEMENTAL application, consisting of an essay addressing certain particular topics. This essay is in addition to the general essay required at the OT-CAS site.
Puget Sound staff and faculty will apply the same care and consideration for every application, that we have done in the past.
