UAB’s entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is fully accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®).

Note: UAB’s Department of Occupational Therapy has transitioned its entry-level program to a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. As a result, the UAB entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is “Accreditation – Inactive.” Inactive status is a special status applied only to programs that are not currently enrolling new students and do not plan to enroll new students in the future.

ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE® is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Graduation Rates

The total number of graduates from UAB’s entry-level Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program during the 3-year period of 2022-2024 was 60 with an overall graduation rate of 95%.

UAB Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

3:2 Pathway - UAB Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Note: non-completion is due to one of the following reasons:

• Withdrawing due to medical or family issues
• Not meeting academic standards

Numbers also include students who returned to program following leave of absence.

Certification

Graduates of UAB’s entry-level MSOT program are 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 the examination, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most 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. Graduates should contact specific state’s board of licensure for occupational therapy for current eligibility requirements.

To learn more, visit the NBCOT website.

NBCOT Success Rate

Over the past three years (2022–2024), UAB graduates have achieved an overall pass rate of 97% on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination within the stipulated reporting window of one year from graduation.

For official NBCOT® data results, visit the NBCOT® website.

Requirements for Admission

Acceptance is based on the students’ academic ability, aptitude for a career as an occupational therapist, interview and personal statement.

Potential students will:

• 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 within the last five years.
• Have an overall minimum GPA 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.
• Complete all prerequisite coursework by June 1st of the admission year.

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be completed in the last 8 years with a grade of "B" or better or must be scheduled for completion no later than June 1st of the admission year. Transfer equivalents for UAB can be found on the Undergraduate Admissions site.

Transfer of Credit Policy

The Department adheres to the credit transfer policy established by the UAB Graduate School.

You will also find specific policy wording in the current Occupational Therapy Student Handbook.

In keeping with this University policy, requests for transfer of graduate credit from another entry-level occupational therapy program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), will be considered on an individual case basis and will require approval from the program director and the department chair before it is submitted for approval to the Graduate School Dean. Each course submitted for review will be evaluated for equivalency to the required department course by the faculty member currently teaching the course, and the program director. Course syllabi must be provided for equivalence review, and a competency test may be administered at the program director's discretion.

Application Process

Additional Information

For information regarding admissions to the Master of Science program in the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy, please contact Kerry McAlpine at (205) 934-5420 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.