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University of Southern California
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
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Education
Education

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy’s entry-level master’s degree program is fully accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE). USC Chan’s entry-level OTD degree program has been granted Candidacy Status by ACOTE, which indicates that the division’s resource allocation and plan for developing its proposed program appear to demonstrate the ability to meet ACOTE Standards.

ACOTE is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. ACOTE-accredited programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in the US and its territories. ACOTE is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors.

Students graduating from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (please note: a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure).

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education®
c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
acoteonline.org
(301) 652-6611 x2914

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

USC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), one of six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the US Department of Education. View student learning outcomes (PDF) for our academic programs.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT)
Certification Exam Data

The table below displays National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) certification examination results of USC students during the last three years of record. “New Graduates” are defined as anyone taking the exam within one year of graduation, regardless of how many times the exam is taken within the one-year period. For official NBCOT data results, please visit www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.

Exam Period No. of entry-MA graduates No. of new entry-MA graduates who took the exam No. of new entry-MA graduates who passed the exam % of new entry-MA graduates who passed the exam
Jan. – Dec. 2021 137 124 120 97%
Jan. – Dec. 2022 139 134 132 99%
Jan. – Dec. 2023 127 123 121 98%
Total for 2021 – 2023 403 381 373 98%

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

USC Graduation and Retention Rates

The table below displays graduation and retention rates of USC students over the last five years of record.

Entering term
No. of entry-level OTD students entering / graduating No. of bachelor’s-to-entry-OTD students entering / graduating No. of entry-level master’s students entering / graduating No. of bachelor’s-to-master’s students entering / graduating Total no. of professional students entering / graduating Total graduation rate
S/F 2019 N/A N/A 126/121 13/12 139/133 96%
S/F 2020 N/A N/A 123/119 10/9 133/128 96%
S/F 2021 N/A N/A 124/114 14/13 138/127 92%
S/F 2022 144/ * 13/ * N/A § N/A § 157/ * * %
S/F 2023 148/ † 10/ † N/A § N/A § 158/ † † %

* Graduation year 2025
† Graduation year 2026
§ Entry-level master’s program and bachelor’s-to-master’s program no longer admitting new students