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Occupational Therapy

Where Do Occupational Therapists Work?

The term "occupation" means all the activities that occupy meaningful day-to-day living, including work, self-care, and leisure. Occupational Therapy is a health profession that helps people who have been affected by accident or injury, disease, aging, developmental delay, or psychological disability to make the necessary lifestyle changes to become more self-sufficient and independent.

A career in Occupational Therapy offers the opportunity to work in an exciting and growing health care field. In addition to working in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes, therapists work in public and private schools, day care facilities, patient homes, corporations, and private practice.

Occupational Therapists apply their knowledge to treat diverse individuals, such as:

Certification and Registration

After successful completion of the educational program, students are eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Successful completion of the examination admits the candidate to national certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) and qualification for California licensing.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150

California Board of Occupational Therapy
444 North 3rd Street, Suite 410
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-322-3394
fax 916-445-6167

A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and may preclude attainment of state licensure.

Changes to National Certification Education Requirements

As of 2007, all new graduates will be required to have an entry-level post baccalaureate degree (such as, master's degree) in order to sit for the national certification examination. Therefore, San José State will be adding 30 graduate units to the current program of study for juniors and junior transfers within the occupational therapy program. When successfully completed, students will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination and to practice as an OTR (occupational therapist, registered). For further information, contact the Occupational Therapy Department Office at 408-924-3070.

The Occupational Therapy Program, founded in 1943, provides an education that enables its students to become competent clinicians who are effective problem solvers and communicators, and active leaders prepared to work in a culturally diverse society. The strong emphasis on teaching and advising assures that the program retains its reputation for graduating excellent practioners. Students study with faculty who are nationally recognized for their excellence in such areas as: adolescent and community mental health, gerontology, independent living skills, pediatrics, psychological adjustment to disability, work evaluation, leadership and physical dysfunction.
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditiation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD. 20814-3425 - Phone number (301) 652-2682.

Admission Procedures:

A first semester freshman or upper division transfer student may apply directly to San José State University, Office of Admissions. The student declares a major of B.S. Occupational Therapy. Applications are accepted beginning November 1 for the subsequent Fall semester and beginning August 1 for the subsequent Spring semester.
Once admitted to San José State University, students must submit the following documents directly to the Department of Occupational Therapy: 1) transcripts of all higher education institutions attended, 2) verification of all volunteer or work experience on the departmental form, and 3) personal data form.

Requirements to enroll in the Occupational Therapy Courses.

* Acceptance to the University as an Occupational Therapy Major
* Completion of all lower division general education requirements
* Documentation of the successful completion of 80 hours of volunteer work - 40 hours under the supervision of an occupational therapist and 40 hours under the supervision of a community agency supervisior. Volunteer hours should be completed within 3 years of planned enrollment in the Occupational Therapy major courses.
* Completion of required courses for the major

Required Courses in the Major

Students must earn a C (2.0) or better in each of the following courses, and may repeat each course only once. The courses should be completed within 7 years of planned enrollment in the Occupational Therapy major courses.

BIOL 065 Human Anatomy
Note: Although the corresponding transfer course may indicate equivalency with SJSU's Biol 65, Human Anatomy, student's who have not completed a stand alone ANATOMY course with sufficient laboratory exposure to human cadavers will be required to take SJSU's Biol 65 Laboratory (Human Anatomy Lab) ONLY. A department faculty advisor shall evaluate each transfer student's lab experience at the time of matriculation to the program.
BIOL 066 Human Physiology
PHYS 001 Elementary Physics
<i>Campuses which do not have articulation with our Physics 1 will need to instruct their students to complete the 2 semesters or 3 quarters of the general P</i><i>hysics sequence at their campus.</i>
SOCI 080 Social Problems
or
ANTH 011 Cultural Anthropology
PSYC 001 General Psychology
STAT 095 Elementary Statistics
or
HS 067 Introductory Health Statistics

Abnormal Psychology:

A Community College course in Abnormal Psychology will be acceptable (Psyc 110 at SJSU).

One Studio Arts Course:

A college level course such as ceramics, painting, weaving, or woodworking which requires the use of tools and materials to create a product (such as SJSU's ART 046).
The catalog is available at http://info.sjsu.edu

All students must satisfy the following prerequisite (or equivalent) prior to registering for the WST and 100W courses at SJSU {Academic Senate policy S05-8}:

ENGL 001B Composition 2
A "C" or better is required in English 1B (a "C-" is not acceptable).
or
Second Semester English Composition Equivalent Course
A course articulated to SJSU's English 1B is recommended, however any course approved for the IGETC second semester composition area would be accepted to meet this requirement (a grade of "C" or better is required).

Courses in Residence

Students will be required to take SJSU Studies (upper division) courses at SJSU including Written Communication II (HP 100W). Junior transfers are advised to take the (WST) Writing skills Test immediately upon acceptance so that they may enroll in upper division courses.

Certification and Registration

As of 2007, all new graduates will be required to have an entry-level post baccalaureate degree in order to sit for the national certification examination.
Therefore, San José State added 30 graduate units to the current program of study for junior/junior transfers within the occupational therapy program. When successfully completed, students will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination and to practice as an OTR (Occupational Therapist, registered).
Successful completion of the examination admits the candidate to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), (800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Taithersburg, MD 20877-4150) as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) and qualifies the individual for CA licensing (California Board of Occupational Therapy, 444 North 3rd Street, Suite 410, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3394; fax (916) 445-6167).
A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and may preclude attainment of state licensure.