Occupational Therapy at Saint Francis University The Saint Francis University Occupational Therapy program, an entry-level master's degree program was established in 1997. It is the latest addition to the University's quality health care curriculum.  The Master of Occupational Therapy curriculum is designed to provide a solid professional education rooted in the liberal arts tradition. The "three plus two" program provides three-years of pre-professional course work in which the student completes the general education core and required collateral courses, followed by two years of concentrated Occupational Therapy study. The Master of Occupational Therapy Program was awarded accreditation in December, 2000, by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-2682. Students who enter the program as freshmen will earn both Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Master of Occupational Therapy degrees. NOTE: Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for 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, 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. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to determine eligibility.
Victory! Congress Passes the Higher Education Opportunity Act
Occupational Therapists Eligible for Loan Forgiveness
Legislative Update: August 1, 2008
The House and Senate have passed the Higher Education Opportunity Act by wide bi-partisan margins in both the House and Senate. The bill makes several improvements to federal higher education law but most importantly, it includes occupational therapy as a profession of national need and as such makes occupational therapists working with children, adolescents and veterans eligible for loan repayment.
The provision most important to occupational therapists is found in Section 430 and authorizes the loan forgiveness of up to $2000 per year for up to five years of employment which would total $10,000 of loan forgiveness. It is important to note that this legislation would authorize funds for loan forgiveness, but the program will take time to implement and Congress will need to appropriate the necessary resources. AOTA will be working on that effort as the appropriations process moves forward and will need grassroots advocacy to take advantage of the inclusion of occupational therapy in the bill.
Last Update: July 21, 2009 | 
Stephanie L. Kunko, MOT Class of ‘06 "The Occupational Therapy Program at Saint Francis University has helped to prepare me for my career ahead as a new Occupational Therapist to the field. The faculty has a genuine care for the students and their success. Thanks to the SFU OT Department, I know my education will take me far in the future. " |