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USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program

Sensory Integration as Originated by USC Faculty Emeritus A. Jean Ayres

The USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program provides training in the theory, assessment, and intervention principles of sensory integration as originated by USC Chan faculty member Dr. A. Jean Ayres (1920–1988). Dr. Ayres, who was both an occupational therapist and an educational psychologist, developed a theoretical framework, a set of standardized tests (today known as the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests), and a clinical intervention for identification and remediation of SI problems in children. The material presented in the USC Chan Sensory Integration CE Certificate Program builds on the rich history of sensory integration as originated by Faculty Emeritus A. Jean Ayres at USC.

Global Reach

Over 4,000 participants have taken courses in the USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program. The online format allows participants to complete the course from anywhere and our students have come from around the globe. International courses have also been offered in-person in more than 15 different countries across 4 continents, and USC Chan continues to expand to new countries each year.

Participants

The USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program is open to occupational therapists who have graduated from an occupational therapy program that is recognized/approved by a government agency in the country of education. A limited number of physical therapists and speech therapists may also be eligible to complete the program. CE Course 1 — Theoretical Foundations of Sensory Integration is open to all interested participants. See the course schedule for specific course eligibility.

Participants who have completed the USC Chan Sensory Integration CE Certificate Program are eligible for a digital program certificate and inclusion in our searchable, public database.

Course Format

USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) courses are now offered in-person and online! In-person CE courses will be hosted in locations across the United States and internationally. Detailed course descriptions and our domestic/online course schedule can be found here. For participants interested in taking these courses outside of the United States, please see our international course information page.

Online Courses

CE Course 1 is held over a 5-week period. All other online courses are offered over a 4-week period. The courses do not require any “live” participation, are self-paced, and offer access to an instructor for questions throughout the course. Participants are provided a course notebook, review course video lectures/slides, and complete/submit course exercises. The courses includes module quizzes and a final exam. These courses are designed to be the equivalent to the live courses: i.e., the content covered and quality of instruction will be the same. You may participate in any combination of live and in-person courses when completing the certificate program.

Course Costs

Registration costs for online or domestic courses will be assessed as follows:

• Course 1: $990 USD
• Course 2: $660 USD
• Course 3: $660 USD
• Course 4 Special Topics: $990 USD

Course Instructors

The instructors for the USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program are renowned leaders in sensory integration research, education and practice. Instructors are licensed/registered occupational therapists with a doctoral degree and all core course instructors have at least 15 years of clinical experience. USC provides ongoing mentored training and opportunities for collaborative discourse among instructors to ensure mastery of content and consistency in content delivery across all courses and course locations. Current instructors of the USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program include:

Erna Blanche PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Stefanie Bodison OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Sharon Cermak EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Michaelann Gabriele OTD, OTR/L
Linsey Grunes OTD, OTR/L
Janet Gunter OTD, OTR/L
Juliana Gutierrez OTD, OTR/L
Dominique Kiefer OTD, OTR/L
Merry Lee OTD, OTR/L, SWC
Diane Parham PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Gustavo Reinoso PhD, OTR/L
Joan Surfus OTD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC

Special Information for Past Participants of the USC/WPS Sensory Integration Certification Program

Occupational therapists who completed the USC/WPS Sensory Integration Certification Program in the last 10 years can apply for “special consideration” towards completion of USC’s Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate. Specifically, past participants can apply completion of USC/WPS Course 1 to the USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Course 1; and completion of USC/WPS Course 4 to the USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Course 3.

This means that the only courses required to obtain the new USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate are CE Course 2 (21 hours) and Course 4 Special Topics (28 hours) in Sensory Integration.

Individuals interested in applying past courses toward completion of this new program should complete the Special consideration toward completion of USC Chan Sensory Integration CE Certificate Program form and return it to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Note that in order to fill this form electronically, you will need to open it using Abobe Acrobat Reader.

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.