UAB’s entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is fully accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®).

Note: UAB’s Department of Occupational Therapy has transitioned its entry-level program to a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. As a result, the UAB entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is “Accreditation – Inactive.” Inactive status is a special status applied only to programs that are not currently enrolling new students and do not plan to enroll new students in the future.

ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE® is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Graduation Rates

The total number of graduates from UAB’s entry-level Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program during the 3-year period of 2019-2021 was 171 with an overall graduation rate of 99%.

UAB Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

3:2 Pathway - UAB Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Note: non-completion is due to one of the following reasons:

• Withdrawing due to medical or family issues
• Not meeting academic standards

Numbers also include students who returned to program following leave of absence.

Certification

Graduates of UAB’s entry-level MSOT 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®). After successful completion of the examination, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure. Graduates should contact specific state’s board of licensure for occupational therapy for current eligibility requirements.

To learn more, visit the NBCOT website.

NBCOT Success Rate

Over the past three years (2021–2023), UAB graduates have achieved an overall pass rate of 95% on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination within the stipulated reporting window of one year from graduation.

For official NBCOT® data results, visit the NBCOT® website.