Introduction: The accreditation of occupational therapy (OT) education in the United States has evolved significantly since the profession began in 1917. Educational standards have consistently evolved to meet changing healthcare needs, scientific advancements, societal realities, and global expansion. In 1998, ACOTE expanded to international accreditation with the first international program from Scotland.
Objectives: Understand the evolution of occupational therapy education accreditation. Understand the five distinct time periods emerged that were characterized by distinct shifts in educational Standards, professional identity, and the larger social contexts.
Methods: Through a comprehensive scoping review, this presentation will examines the development of OT accreditation in the United States and beyond.
Results: After analyzing both peer-reviewed literature and gray literature sources, five distinct time periods emerged that were characterized by distinct shifts in educational Standards, professional identity, and the larger social context that all contributed to the changing Standards of OT education.
Conclusion: The accreditation of OT education in the US has evolved significantly since its inception with five time periods of distinct shifts in Standards, professional identity, and the larger social context. The professional of OT and the academic Standards have been responsive to the needs of society and will continue to do so throughout the unforeseen future.