Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.

Graduate Program Director: Julie Patrick Bonham
Phone: (540) 568-2399
Website: http://healthprof.jmu.edu/ot/index.html

About the Program

The Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) program is full-time and designed to prepare students for professional entry-level practice with clients across the lifespan in current and emerging practice settings.

The program anticipates admitting one cohort of 24 students each year. Classes typically begin in early June after orientation. The program is two and a half years long, with two years of coursework including Level I fieldwork experiences. Completion of the comprehensive competency exam is followed by six months of full-time Level II fieldwork, culminating in the 2.5 years of the program. Successful completion of 79 graduate credits and all associated program and university responsibilities will fulfill the requirements to earn the M.O.T. degree.

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be 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 this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). 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.

Mission

Through engaged learning, advocacy, competency-focused education, community partnerships and scholarship, graduates of JMU’s MOT program promote health and well-being through the therapeutic use of occupations and the transformation of environmental factors. Each graduate will:

• Demonstrate the distinct value of occupation to promote health, wellness and quality of life with people, groups and populations. 
• Employ competent professional skills and knowledge for practice in current and emerging settings throughout the lifespan.
• Exemplify professional attitudes and behaviors indicative of the Occupational Therapy Core Values and the Code of Conduct. 
• Articulate theory, data and evidence in professional reasoning to communicate the value of occupational therapy services to various stakeholders and professionals. 
• Advocate and serve regionally to promote health, equity, sustainable change and increased capacity for resilience.
• Engage with national and international professional literature for evidence-based practice, lifelong learning and scholarly endeavors. 

Accreditation and Certification

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is https://www.acoteonline.org.

Occupational therapy students and practitioners must uphold professional codes of conduct. See the AOTA Code of Ethics.

Graduates of this ACOTE-accredited program will be 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 this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all 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. For more information, please visit NBCOT Character Review and NBCOT Professional Conduct.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: (301) 990-7979
Website: www.nbcot.org

Students are advised to check the licensing requirements for each state in which they wish to practice. The licensing and regulatory authority in Virginia is the Virginia Board of Medicine-Department of Health Professions. For more information about licensure, please visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website.

Virginia Board of Medicine
Occupational Therapy Advisory Board
Perimeter Center
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463
Phone: (804) 367-4600
Website: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Default.htm

Licensure/Certification

This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please refer to the JMU Professional Licensure Program Status by Jurisdiction Index to determine if this JMU program meets the educational requirements specified by the associated licensing or certification agency in the state or territory in which you are located and other states and territories. Requirements vary by state and are subject to change. The information provided is current as of the review date indicated in the table.

Admission Requirements

The MOT program offers two decision options for applicants: early (fall) and regular (late fall/spring) decisions. Information about those options and instructions for applying to the MOT program are available on the Admissions Overview webpage. Admissions applications open late July. The early admission deadline is September 1, and the regular admission deadline is December 1. Priority consideration is given to applications that are submitted by November 1.

To be considered for admission to the MOT program, candidates must successfully complete the requirements of the Graduate School and the MOT program by the program’s deadline.

• Meet all JMU Graduate School requirements.
• Submit all application materials electronically by the program’s deadline.
• Demonstrate proficiency communicating (verbal and written) in English. If the applicant completed course work internationally, they must submit an official copy of the TOEFL or IELTS verification. Please see the International Admissions website for details.
• Submit all final college or university transcripts to the JMU Graduate School at time of enrollment.
• Earn a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university and complete all prerequisites by the start of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program.
• Demonstrate a history of strong academic performance. The program gives preference to applicants with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
• Complete the anatomy and physiology course(s), or separate anatomy and physiology courses with a minimum grade of “B-” (2.7 on a 4-point scale). All other prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0).
• Complete and submit verification of at least 20 shadowing hours under supervision by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or complete verification of at least 10 shadowing hours that are combined with an online observation experience, with rationale provided.
• Complete a video essay up to 4 minutes long addressing program-specific questions and submit to the JMU program. 
• Demonstrate proficiency communicating (verbal and written) in English. If the applicant completed course work internationally, they must submit an official copy of the TOEFL or IELTS verification. Please see the International Admissions website for details.
• Submit all final college or university transcripts to the JMU Graduate School at time of enrollment.
• Perform the essential functions required of occupational therapists that are listed in the MOT Program Technical Standards. Should an applicant have questions prior to applying, they should contact the occupational therapy program directly at otprogram@jmu.edu.
• Have a portable computer or tablet with a keyboard, a web-camera, microphone, wireless card and consistent access to a stable internet connection. Experience with word processing and presentation software (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs or Slides) is highly recommended.
• Please see the MOT Admission Requirements webpage for more details about the above requirements. 

The JMU MOT program is a graduate-level clinical program. Based on Code of Virginia § 23.1-407.1, the James Madison University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program will not deny admission to any applicant solely on the basis of criminal history. However, for any applicant who has been admitted, but not yet enrolled, the MOT program may inquire about the applicant’s criminal history. The MOT Program may subsequently withdraw an offer of admission to anyone who James Madison University determines “to have a criminal history that poses a threat to the institution’s community.”

Criminal history and sexual offender checks are required to be obtained prior to the start of the first summer session.  At times additional checks may be required based on Level II Fieldwork clinical placements.  The cost of these background checks will be the sole responsibility of the student.

It is imperative to understand that if a criminal history or sexual offender check reveals an infraction, it is possible that the student may not be able to be placed at certain clinical sites. The program will do its best to place the student at alternative sites; however, it is possible that program completion would be in jeopardy if all fieldwork placements cannot be completed.  Additionally, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy conducts a background check on individuals applying to take the board examination as part of their Character Review.

Application Process

The entire application, including the four parts listed below must be completed by Friday December 1 at 11:59 pm to be considered for admission to the MOT program.

Step One: Application to the JMU Graduate School

After completing the Graduate School application, applicants must download the document and save it as a PDF file. Applicants should not submit letters of recommendation, transcripts or other documents in the Graduate School application.

Step Two: Application to the MOT program in OTCAS

All applicants must complete an application to the MOT program through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) by December 1 by 11:59pm. OTCAS includes the personal statement and evaluations for all programs.  In OTCAS, applicants must submit three evaluations (references) from individuals such as university professors, employers / supervisors, or healthcare professionals who have observed them working or volunteering in a practice environment.  Recommendations from occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants are encouraged.  For consideration by the MOT program, the online application must be verified by OTCAS by January 10.

The MOT programs requires applicants to upload the following additional information in the Program “Documents” section in OTCAS for JMU: the PDF of the JMU Graduate School application, unofficial transcripts, and forms verifying completion of occupational therapy practice shadowing hours. Applicants may upload course descriptions when the title of the course does not clearly indicate the course content for prerequisites.

For more information, please see MOT Admission.

Step Three: Submit a video essay to the MOT program.

Applicants must submit a link to a brief (four minutes or less) video essay in YouTube by email to the MOT program at otprogram@jmu.edu by December 1. Video essay questions are outlined within the “Steps to Apply” on the program’s website.

Prerequisite Courses and Related Policies

• Applicants may be enrolled in a maximum of three prerequisite courses during the spring semester prior to the start of the MOT program. The courses must be completed by the end of spring semester as enrollment for the program is early June

Biomechanics/Physics and Medical Terminology are no longer required but are recommended to enhance the individual’s application. 

*Human Physiology & Anatomy courses and Anatomy courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “B-.” Applicants must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all other coursework. A grade of “C-” does not meet this requirement. The program will accept online (virtual) labs for anatomy – and anatomy and physiology – courses completed from Spring 2020 through Spring semester 2022, that otherwise meet our requirements. Anatomy labs taken after Spring 2022 must be in person.

**JMU course numbers and prefixes are only listed as examples for references purposes. Applicants from other colleges or universities may check the JMU undergraduate catalog to see JMU course descriptions to help them determine the fit of their courses with the program requirements.

For additional information, contact the Occupational Therapy program office at otprogram@jmu.edu.

Application Evaluation Criteria

Candidate applications are evaluated through a holistic process that includes academic and non-academic factors. The following sources are considered:

• Evidence of academic preparation (overall GPA, prerequisite GPA)
• Personal statement (in OTCAS) that demonstrates the applicants’ communication skills and analysis of how they will contribute to OT and JMU
• Video essay that supports their understanding of occupational therapy and the JMU program.
• Evaluations supporting the applicants’ future success in the OT program
• Completed verification of shadowing hours of in-person occupational therapy practice. If virtual hours are used to supplement in-person shadowing, additional documentation must be uploaded. See program website for details.
• Fit with the program mission and goals

If you are offered admission to the MOT program, you must send all final official college or university transcripts to the JMU Graduate School prior to the start of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program.

Program Policies

To protect the community, incoming JMU students are required to submit proof of vaccinations for certain conditions. For further information, visit the University Health Center—Incoming Students webpage. The program maintains additional requirements for students to comply with placement contracts.

Students must complete Basic Life Support or Professional Rescuer CPR training prior to starting Level I fieldwork and maintain active credentials. Students are required to obtain malpractice insurance for some sites. Additional documentation requirements are shared with admitted students during program orientation.

Academic Standards: Satisfactory progress for graduate students enrolled in the occupational therapy program is defined as earning a minimum grade of “B” or 3.0 in all courses. Students who earn a grade of “C” will be referred to the OT Program Academic Review Committee. The Graduate School policies also apply.

Adherence to Professional & Ethical Codes of Conduct: Students admitted into the MOT program must abide by and uphold professional and ethical codes of conduct. These include the JMU Honor Code and the NBCOT Code of Conduct.

Scheduling: The MOT curriculum is designed for full-time enrollment in person, on campus. The courses must be taken in the sequence and semester assigned. Exceptions are rare and are made at the discretion of the OT Program Director.

Experiential Learning and Fieldworks: Experiential learning occurs through formal and informal engagement in the community associated with course requirements, fieldworks and volunteer experiences that help to build competence and confidence for future work as an occupational therapy practitioner.

Fieldwork experiences are assigned at the discretion of the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Students are responsible for additional costs that may be required such as transportation, housing, uniforms and other site-specific requirements. Many fieldwork placements require proof of health insurance.

Two types of fieldwork are completed in the OT Program:

• Level I fieldwork experiences are experiences designed to introduce students to fieldwork, provide opportunities to apply knowledge to practice settings and help students understand needs of clients (ACOTE, 2018). There are three Level I fieldwork experiences embedded within the curriculum.
• Level II fieldwork experiences are twelve-week full-time assignments and are designed to prepare students to be entry-level generalist occupational therapists (ACOTE, 2018). Level II fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of completion of didactic course work.

Accreditation and Certification

The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is https://www.acoteonline.org.

Occupational therapy students and practitioners must uphold professional codes of conduct. See the AOTA Code of Ethics.

Graduates of this ACOTE-accredited program will be 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 this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all 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. For more information, please visit NBCOT Character Review and NBCOT Professional Conduct.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: (301) 990-7979
Website: www.nbcot.org

Students are advised to check the licensing requirements for each state in which they wish to practice. The licensing and regulatory authority in Virginia is the Virginia Board of Medicine-Department of Health Professions. For more information about licensure, please visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website.

Virginia Board of Medicine
Occupational Therapy Advisory Board
Perimeter Center
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463
Phone: (804) 367-4600
Website: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Default.htm