While this may seem a completely harmless topic, I have found that people tend to have very strong opinions over what type of degree OT should be. So, I preface this by saying...I am American (don't shoot me!) and in the US you must have a masters to practice. I am currently studying my masters in Scotland, and here in the UK you can practice with a bachelors.
Coming to the UK from the US was a substantial transition in regards to my degree experience. In the states, to start a masters OT program, you have to take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam - standardised post-grad entry exam) and have taken a checklist of pre-requisite courses. These courses may vary slightly depending on the school, but often times include; anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology, and statistics. My undergrad degree is in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech and Language Pathology, therefore I had taken many of these courses already. For me, coming to uni in the UK and having lectures on topics such as 'the lobes of the brain' or 'Maslow's hierarchy of needs' was redundant; I began questioning if I had made the right decision.
I have since changed my tune, and have been generally very satisfied with my degree so far. My practice placements have been invaluable learning opportunities, and I feel I have a strong foundation in OT theory. I must admit, I didn't expect to feel this way a year ago. All this 'independent learning' was difficult for me, coming from an education system where you quickly memorized facts in order to regurgitate them on a quiz or exam every week. As part of my degree here in the UK, I have learned important core, transferable skills such as problem solving, searching for information, and how to critique. I no longer take things at face value just because its what is taught, and that is truly a remarkable and liberating frame of mind to be in.
In the midst of this 'enlightenment' where everthing just clicked, I learned the American licensing boards and OT association implemented a review system for internationally educated students. Now, I not only have to take a very intimidating licensing exam to practice back home, the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), I must also PROVE through a lengthy and expensive review process I am even eligible to take it. I have to evidence that my MSc degree here is comparable to what I would have obtained back in the states...but what if it's not? To me it's comparing apples and oranges – I don't think one system is better than another, but they are certainly different. I feel quite lucky I have the background I have, and am now able to experience another type of education here in the UK. I'm getting the best of both worlds, and I truly think it will make me a more well-rounded clinician wherever I am practicing. I just don't know if the American OT Association will see it that way, especially after the horror stories I am already hearing from some who are currently going through this review process. It used to be that as long as you got your degree at a WFOT accredited institution, you were good to go. Alas, that has clearly changed.
But I digress. The point is that this experience has made me reflect on OT as a degree. I was also stunned when a young OT student told one of my classmates she didn't think we should need a degree to be an OT. That says to me - we are not doing a good enough job selling our unique skill set and contribution. The more we talk about it, the more innovative ideas we will have as a community to overcome this issue. Personally, I think OT is viewed very differently in different cultures based on this history of the profession in that locale. What contributes to this difference in view? Or am I totally 'full of it', and you think OT is viewed the same everywhere? What is the best combination of educational elements to foster the new generation of OTs? I have my opinions, but what are yours?
Therefore, the main questions I want to ask are the following;
What elements do you think are necessary in an entry-level OT degree?
Countries like the US and Canada already require a masters to practice, do you think this is the way to go?
Do you think the UK and other nations will move in this direction? What would be the pros and cons of this?
Is there anything you think is missing in what students are currently getting as part of their degree regardless of where? This question is especially relevant to those of you who are practice educators and have interactions with students on placement.
Now, I do not want to hear anything on individual institutions – let's keep this broad and non-confrontational. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts and opinions on this topic, it is imperative that we are continuously asking questions and challenging the status quo.
Be the change you want to see in the world
**Disclaimer - all thoughts and opinions are my own and do not represent any professional body or organization I am a part of.
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