The undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (BSOT) program is a combination of academic and clinical education and intended for the student with a high school diploma who wants to become an occupational therapy assistant practitioner. Bachelor of Science in OT graduates will have access to achieving certification through the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and state licensure post-graduation. This undergraduate professional program is offered in Kalamazoo on the main campus of Western Michigan University.

Accreditation Status

The baccalaureate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). 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.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for regular admission to this program, each applicant must present evidence of the following criteria:

1. Official transcripts for all college work.
2. A cumulative college grade point average of 2.5 or better in undergraduate academic course work.
3. Students may have no more than two prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application and must complete each with a C or better.
4. Because admission is considered competitive, the academic criteria listed above should be considered as minimum standards.

Please note the following:

1. In the admission process, a formula is employed that assigns points for GPA and for the other admission topics. Admission to the program is based on the compilation of all points.
2. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the professional occupational therapy assistant curriculum. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent to the University Admissions Office in time to be processed prior to the department deadline.
3. Occupational therapy is a profession that is regulated on national and state levels, and everyone who wishes to practice as an occupational therapy assistant is required to pass the NBCOT Certification Exam after graduating from an accredited program.
4. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or who have been charged with a felony and convicted of a misdemeanor, while not prohibited from taking the NBCOT certification examination, may not be able to practice based on state laws.