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South Carolina Occupational Therapist School
By allied health world contributing writer
Published: March 25th, 2010
Steps to Become an Occupational Therapist in South Carolina
To become an occupational therapist, a person must have a Bachelor of Science degree, often in the fields of psychology or biology. Then, the prospective occupational therapist must earn a Master’s degree either online or through campus based South Carolina Occupational Therapy schools. Many occupational therapists have gone further in their education and have an MD or PhD.
In South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, located in Charleston, SC, is the only university to offer an entry-level graduate program in this discipline. To be admitted into the program, a candidate must complete an application form, proof of a BA degree, Graduate Record Exam scores, 30 hours of voluntary work experience with documentation, and two letters of recommendation from an instructor or advisor. For more information, check out MUSC’s College of Health Professions Occupational Therapy Program at wbww.musc.edu.
After completing the necessary educational requirements, South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations in Columbia, SC must issue a license before an occupational therapist can practice in the state. To be licensed by the state of South Carolina, an OT must obtain and maintain National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification and stay in good standing with NBCOT. South Carolina has no other board-approved certification program.
Occupational Therapy Professional Associations in South Carolina
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy regulates the licensing of Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the primary professional organization and South Carolina has its own state-specific organization - South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association or SCOTA. Members of SCOTA have access to a list of job opportunities, information on continuing education, professional development and also legislation that impacts their profession. SCOTA can be accessed via www.scota.net.
AOTA also has an accrediting arm – ACOTE or Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education – and a publication – American Journal of Occupational Therapy. OT professionals usually find it beneficial to utilize these organizations to stay current on events impacting their field.