Occupational Therapy

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Program Information

The Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's  entry level Master of Science (MS) degree in occupational therapy is currently in a teach-out phase, to be replaced by the Occupational Therapy Doctorate entry level track, which will be implemented in Summer 2021.  The last admitted master's degree cohort was fall term 2020; those students will graduate in fall term 2022.

M.S. in Occupational Therapy

The MS in Occupational Therapy entry-level, or professional program, is a full-time day program.

Accreditation

The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)® of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)®, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449; telephone: (301)652-6611 ext 2914.

Credentials Conferred

The Master of Science degree is awarded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Professional Certification

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national occupational therapist certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)®; website: www.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; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Applicants should be aware that fieldwork placement sites, professional licensing agencies and prospective employers frequently require criminal history disclosures and background checks, although convictions do not necessarily disqualify someone for licensure or employment. Applicants with criminal convictions should recognize that such convictions may impede eventual licensure or employment and that the University of Alabama at Birmingham cannot predict the future decisions of fieldwork sites, licensing agencies, or employers. An individual who is considering, or who has entered, an occupational therapy educational program can have his/her background reviewed by requesting an Early Determination Review from NBCOT at http://www.nbcot.org/early-determination-character-review.

Length of Study

Entry level program: Minimum of 7 semesters (2 1/2 years) as a full-time student.

Program Entrance Date

Students are admitted in fall semester.

Application Deadline

This program participates in the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).  Please consult www.otcas.org for more information regarding specific OTCAS application requirements, procedures, and fees.  Applicants should send all application materials directly to OTCAS.  OTCAS will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program. 

Contact Information for OTCAS:

Web:  https://portal.otcas.org/ Phone: (617) 612-2860 -- Monday through Friday 9:00 -- 5:00 EST Email: otcasinfo@otcas.org

International Students

See Occupational Therapy Entry Level Admissions Checklist on the Overview page, in addition to these items:

• Complete and submit UAB Graduate School International application;
• Request one (1) official transcript to be mailed by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School; a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org) is required;
• Take and receive an acceptable score on the TOEFL or the IELTS, if the student is from a country where English is not the official and primary language;
• Submit official TOEFL test score: Institution code: 1856 or official IELTS score (provide the Graduate School's mailing address to the testing company/center; and
• Mail Financial Affidavit of Support.

Requirements for Admission

The applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in a field other than occupational therapy.  Acceptance will be based on the student's academic ability, aptitude for a career as an occupational therapist, and an interview.  The candidate is expected to satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete the OTCAS application.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than occupational therapy from an accredited college or university; or receive a baccalaureate degree by June 1st of the admission year;
• Take the GRE, or report scores of the GRE taken within the last 5 years;
• Completion of prerequisite coursework by June 1st of the admission year.
• Have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 as calculated by OTCAS or a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework;
• Have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or better for all prerequisite courses.
• If invited, participate in an interview with faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy.  The interview is scheduled once all applications are reviewed.  Interviews are typically held in January and February.

Procedures Following Acceptance

Once accepted, students will be allowed to enroll into the program in the desired entry year only if the following requirements are met:

• Medical clearance requirements met as posted at www.uab.edu/studenthealth/;  
• Application to and acceptance by the Graduate School (online) (www.uab.edu/graduate/online-forms) including the fee;
• Signed Letter of Intent received by the Department of Occupational Therapy; with,
• $300 nonrefundable deposit to reserve a seat in the program (deposit will be applied to tuition).
• Complete a criminal background check and drug screen at program admission and again prior to fieldwork placement as required by school policy.

Essential Requirements

Prior to enrollment, students must certify their ability to complete the essential tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation, associated with performing as an occupational therapy student.  Reasonable accommodation refers to ways in which the University can assist students with disabilities to accomplish these tasks (for example, providing extra time to complete an examination or enhancing the sound system in a classroom).  Reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities will be exempt from certain tasks; it does mean that the Department of Occupational Therapy will work with students with disabilities to determine whether there are ways to assist the student with completion of the required tasks.

After enrollment, a student with a disability who wishes reasonable accommodation contacts Disability Support Services (205) 934-4205 or (205) 934-4248 (TDD) or visit 9th Avenue Office Bldg. 1701 9th Ave., provides appropriate and current documentation substantiating the claimed disability, meets the requirements of a disability as described in the ADA, and identifies the needed accommodation. Reasonable accommodation in classroom and in practice settings cannot be provided without the formal request and the required documentation of the ADA defined disability. (Visit http://www.uab.edu/dss )

Essential Tasks and Skills

The student must possess sufficient cognitive skills to:

• Acquire, process, retain and apply knowledge through a variety of instructional methods such as:  written materials (i.e. texts, journals, documentation and other written sources), oral delivery, visual demonstrations, laboratory experiences, clinical experiences and independent learning.
• Complete reading assignments, search and analyze professional literature, and apply information gained to guide practice.
• Process (measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize and evaluate) large amounts of complex information; apply theoretical concepts to practice activities and perform clinical problem-solving in a logical and timely manner.
• Perceive and understand three-dimensional relationships and spatial relationships necessary for education and practice related tasks such a moving in a variety of environments, designing treatment equipment, and fabricating splints.
• Maintain attention for 2-4 hours; tolerate days when classes or fieldwork may last 8-10 hours.
• Take and pass test/quizzes in a variety of formats.
• Complete written assignments and produce written documentation in standard and organized English.
• Apply knowledge and judgment required to demonstrate ethical reasoning and behavior.
• Apply safety knowledge and judgment to a variety of situations.
• Comply with University, Program, and fieldwork site rules and regulations.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills and judgment necessary to modify evaluation or intervention methods when necessary to address the specific needs of individuals (behavioral, cultural, etc.), in order to maximize client performance.
• Apply clinical reasoning and judgment necessary for interpretation of evaluation data and development of treatment plans.
• Identify and select occupations that are goal directed and motivate and challenge clients.
• Demonstrate judgment necessary to establish priorities and develop and use strategies.

The student must possess sufficient interpersonal skills, communication skills, and affective learning skills to:

• Demonstrate positive sufficient interpersonal skills including, but not limited to, cooperation, flexibility, tact, empathy, and confidence.
• Collaborate with classmates, clients, family members, significant others, and team members.
• Function successfully in supervisory, and instructor-student relationships; change and adjust behavior and performance in the classroom, laboratory, or clinic on the basis of instructor feedback.
• Participate equitably in cooperative group learning activities; actively participate in class discussions and as a member of a team.
• Sustain the mental and emotional rigors of a demanding educational program in occupational therapy that includes academic and clinical components that occur within set time constraints and often concurrently.
• Orally present information to groups of people.
• Communicate in the English language effectively and clearly in oral and written forms, using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar to explain procedures and teach skills. 
• Use language appropriate to the recipient, with faculty, peers, clients, and other health professionals from different social and cultural backgrounds; use communication skills needed to practice safely.
• Obtain information from clients, peers, faculty, supervisors, and other professionals.
• Use therapeutic communication skills such as attending and active listening during therapeutic interactions; and motivating and facilitating client behaviors in order to maximize client performance.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally; elicit and describe factual information and perceive information derived from verbal and non-verbal communication and social cues.
• Be appropriately assertive as required to speak in class, initiate and guide the therapy process, establish limits as needed for the safety of self and clients and establish professional identity within complex systems.
• Utilize the computer for communication and class assignments.
• Observe persons and scenarios and elicit relevant information for use in assessment and intervention.
• Plan, guide and implement both individual and group interventions.

The student must possess sufficient professional behavior to:

• Demonstrate respect for diversity, including but not limited to, socio-cultural, socioeconomic, spiritual, and lifestyle choices.
• Function successfully in supervisory and instructor-student relationships; change and adjust behavior and performance in the classroom, laboratory, or clinic on the basis of instructor feedback.
• Exhibit professional demeanor including appropriate language and dress, acceptance of responsibility for conduct.
• Demonstrate organizational and time management skills and ability to prioritize activities effectively as needed to attend class and fulfill class requirements.
• Exhibit flexibility and adapt to changing environments and expectations.
• Cope with stresses encountered in the intensive educational process as well as clinical practice environments.
• Demonstrate consistent work behaviors including initiative, preparedness, dependability, punctual attendance and work site maintenance.
• Tolerate working in environments where there is exposure to disability, illness, pain, and death.
• Maintain general good health and self-care in order not to jeopardize the health and safety of self and others in the academic and clinical settings.
• Maintain ethical standards including honesty, integrity, and confidentiality, at all times.
• Produce the required volume of work in the expected time frame.

The student must possess sufficient physical and sensory skills to:

• Tolerate sitting up to 2 hours at a time, over an 8-10 hour period.
• Tolerate periods of physical activity up to 8-10 hours per day.
• Demonstrate coordination, equilibrium, and sensory functioning required to manipulate parts of, or whole bodies of, simulated and real clients for purposes of evaluation and treatment.
• Demonstrate mobility and ability to move within environments adequately to access and maneuver within locations and destinations including classroom, lab, and clinical settings.
• Demonstrate lifting ability sufficient to maneuver an individual's body parts effectively to perform evaluation and treatment techniques including, but not limited to, transferring another person into and out of a wheelchair, to and from the commode or bed, etc.
• Demonstrate sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, eye/hand coordination, and integrated function of the senses of vision, hearing, tactile sense, vestibular (movement sense) and proprioception (sense of muscles and joints) to manipulate and use common occupational therapy equipment, devices, materials, and supplies, and demonstrate competency in the use of these objects within assessment and treatment procedures commonly used in occupational therapy practice.
• Demonstrate motor skill capacities with sufficient levels of strength, endurance and fine and gross motor coordination to safely, accurately, and effectively engage in a wide variety of therapeutic techniques, activities and occupations used in the occupational therapy assessment and intervention process; these capacities would include ability to lift and move objects, adequate manual dexterity, arm and hand function needed to use tools and perform other manipulative activities, use of limbs and trunk in bending, twisting, squatting, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, holding, extending, and rotation.
• Manipulate or guide another person's body in transfers, ambulation, positioning and assisted or facilitated trunk, head, and limb movements.
• Manipulate bolsters, pillows, plinths, mats, assistive/adaptive devices, and other supports or chairs to aid in positioning, moving, or treating a patient/client effectively.
• Legibly record/document evaluations, patient care notes, and referrals, etc., in standard medical charts in clinical settings in a timely manner and consistent with the acceptable norms of clinical settings.
• Demonstrate or complete activities or tests with adequate degree of fine motor dexterity.
• Tolerate physical contact with others; tolerate manipulation of his/her own body by peers or instructors for instructional purposes.
• Demonstrate a sufficiently high degree of coordination of motor skills and vigilance to respond to emergency situations quickly and appropriately, including performance of CPR.
• Travel to various community and fieldwork sites for experiential learning, clinical opportunities, and fieldwork.

Program Prerequisites - UAB Equivalents* 

(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)

Completion of prerequisite coursework within the last 8 years with a grade of “B” or better. No more than two prerequisites may be incomplete at the time of application; however, all courses must be completed by June 1st of the entrance year. Depending on the number and type of outstanding prerequisite courses, you may be accepted into the program early with certain conditions such as a requirement to achieve a grade of B or better in a course.

Have a minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) grade point average (GPA) overall, in the required prerequisite work, and last 60 semester hours.

Requirements		Hours
Prerequisite Courses Required
Intro to Professional Writing (UAB Equivalent EH 315)		3
Biology with Lab (UAB Equivalent BY 123+L)		4
Human Anatomy with lab (UAB Equivalent BY 115+L)		4
Human Physiology with lab (UAB Equivalent BY 116+L)		4
Physics (UAB Equivalent PH 201) or Kinesiology (UAB Equivalent KIN 307)		3
Abnormal Psychology (UAB Equivalent PY 218)		3
Developmental Psychology (must be birth through death) (UAB Equivalent PY 212)		3
Statistics Elective (PY 214, PY 216, MA 180, EPR 214 or HCM 360)		3
Sociology Elective (UAB Equivalent SOC 101) or Anthropology Elective (UAB Equivalent ANTH 101)		3

UAB Entry-level Occupational Therapy Program requires taking the GRE within the last 5 years.

Typical Program

(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)

First Year
FIRST TERM	Hours
OT 595	1
OT 606	3
OT 607	3
OT 620	4
OT 667	3
OT 600	2
	16
Total credit hours: 16

First Year
SECOND TERM	Hours
OT 596	1
OT 605	3
OT 609	3
OT 622	3
OT 623	3
OT 630	1
OT 631	3
	17
Total credit hours: 17

First Year
SUMMER TERM	Hours
OT 597	1
OT 610	3
OT 624	4
OT 632	1
OT 662	4
OT 673	3
OT 698	2
	18
Total credit hours: 18

Second Year
FIRST TERM	Hours
OT 598	1
OT 625	4
OT 633	1
OT 661	3
OT 668	4
OT 670	3
OT 698	2
	18
Total credit hours: 18

Second Year
SECOND TERM	Hours
OT 599	2
OT 634	2
OT 653	3
OT 665	4
OT 674	3
OT 698	2
HA 650	1-3
	17-19
Total credit hours: 17-19

Second Year
SUMMER TERM	Hours
OT 685	10
	10
Total credit hours: 10

Third Year
FIRST TERM	Hours
OT 686	10
	10
Total credit hours: 10

Total Curriculum Hours:  107

*A minimum total of six credit hours Master’s Level Non-Thesis Research must be completed to meet graduation requirements.

For further information contact:
UAB, Department of Occupational Therapy

Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator        
SHPB 352
1716 9th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-1212
Telephone 205-934-3569
E-mail uabOT@uab.edu
Web http://www.uab.edu/shp/ot/