Pre-registration programmes
Pre-registration (or qualifying) programmes are formal programmes of study that lead to a qualification in occupational therapy. They are delivered by higher education institutions and offered at either undergraduate or postgraduate level of study viz. undergraduate honours degree, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's degree.
The majority of programmes are delivered on campus via different pathways, namely 2 years full time for those who hold a first degree, 3 years full-time and 4 years part-time. One university offers a work-based full-time honours degree programme lasting 2 years and 10 weeks for those employed locally in health and social care. Most programmes start in September while a few programmes start in January/February.
Programmes comprise both academic and practice education components, the latter being normally delivered in healthcare and social care settings. Opportunities for placements in other settings where there may not be occupational therapists on site may be possible. For a directory of all pre registration programmes and further information, please visit the OT as a Career section.
Accreditation
The College of Occupational Therapists accredits pre-registration programmes in the UK. College accredited programmes are approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). The accreditation system ensures that new practitioners are able to meet the College's standards for professional practice, and to develop their practice from a continuously evolving professional evidence base that is above the threshold required for registration with the Health Professions Council. HEIs that adhere to the COT Standards for Pre-Registration Education (2003) can be assured that they will be enabling future occupational therapists to be confident, effective, and reflective members of the profession.
Detail on the criteria and process of the Accreditation scheme (218KB 
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