Virginia Commonwealth University

OT@VCU

FACTS about the VCU Occupational Therapy Department

- Educating Occupational Therapists since 1942 U.S. News Rankings
- First OT Program in the country to offer an entry-level OT degree at the Masters degree level
- Ranked 13th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report (2008)
- Only top 20 OT program in the state of Virginia
- Awarded 10-year term of accreditation by ACOTE in 2001 (the highest term of accreditation possible).
- Only OT program in the state to offer an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree and to offer entry-level students an opportunity to use a portion of their entry-level course work toward that degree.
- Internationally and nationally recognized faculty
- Eight of 9 faculty members hold doctoral degrees

NBCOT Certification Exam Pass Rate:
From 2010-2012 , the total number of program graduates: 114
1. The total number of program graduates who took the NBCOT exam for the 1st time: 114
2. The total number of 1st time test takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: 95
3. The percentage of 1st time test takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: 83%
4. The total number of repeat takers who took the NBCOT certification exam: 19
5. The total number of repeat takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: 19
6. Total number of known 1st time and repeat takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: 114 (100%)


The VCU Occupational Therapy Department awards three degrees in occupational therapy:

Entry-Level Program: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.)
- Prepares students from a wide variety of backgrounds to become practicing occupational therapists
- Provides community-based learning throughout the program at Fieldwork I and service learning sites
- Develops research skills through a faculty-guided small group research practicum

Distance Education program for current OTRs: Post-professional Master of Science (M.S.)
- Provide theory-and evidence-based practice
- Develop advanced clinical research skills
- Requires completion a thesis on a topic of mutual interest to you and your advisor

Distance Education program for current OTRs: Occupational Therapy Doctorate (O.T.D.)
- A clinical doctorate that focuses on the development of leadership
- Designed to appeal to working practitioners who are adult learners
- Enhances critical analysis skills in practice and the design of fundable projects geared toward evidence based practice
- Develops knowledge of the complexity of occupation and practice
- Requires completion of a Capstone Leadership
- Small classes for optimum student/faculty interaction offered in an urban setting rich in professional and cultural opportunities.
- Provide state-of-the art computer laboratory and assistive technology.
- VCU Medical Center, the hospitals, clinics and health sciences schools of VCU, form one of the leading academic medical research centers in the country.

Department contact information
Dianne F. Simons, Ph.D., OTR/L Shelly J. Lane, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
Director, Entry-Level Graduate Program Director, Post-Professional Graduate Programs
dfsimons@vcu.edu sjlane@vcu.edu


The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. The telephone number for ACOTE (c/o AOTA) is: 301-652-AOTA.

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