To kick off April, Occupational Therapy Month, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy(NBCOT) and the American Association of Occupational Therapy(AOTA) have announced that by 2025 all Occupational Therapy programs will be doctoral programs. This comes as little surprise as the move to doctoral programs has been a major topic for debate for several years. What is surprising however is how it will affect current occupational therapy practitioners.
In the past when the program moved to a masters’s degree those who were previously certified by NBCOT were able to continue practicing with no change in degree as long as continuing education was up to date. However, this time it has been decided that after 2025 ALL practitioners must have a doctorate degree or show proof of being enrolled in a doctoral program. This decision comes after much discussion on changing health care practices and using best-practice methods that are considered outdated for those currently holding degrees.