Excellence on Display as NAU’s Occupational Therapy Program Receives 10-Year Reaccreditation
Reaccreditation may not mean something to most people, but for higher-educational institutions and the communities served, it’s everything. Being an accredited program allows students who graduate to become certified and licensed providers in their fields. That is why NAU’s College of Health and Human Services Occupational Therapy (OT) program, housed at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, has cause to celebrate.
The accrediting body for NAU’s OT program, called the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), granted the program 10-year reaccreditation with no areas of non-compliance. This is the longest reaccreditation any OT program can receive, and along with it came accolades for the program’s dedication to the people of Arizona. ACOTE said that the “program director, faculty, and dedicated librarian are applauded for fostering a culture of community and inclusion as recognized by students and fieldwork educators.” Furthermore, they recognized that, “the interprofessional education experiences that students are immersed in create professionals who can advocate for occupational therapy and verbalize all team members as important factors in bringing health and well-being to individuals and populations served.”
The OT program at NAU is Arizona’s only public and nonprofit graduate OT program, which means reaccreditation is particularly valuable to the healthcare system and communities served statewide. Since the program’s inception, graduates have had a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam and more than 80% of NAU’s OT graduates stay in Arizona for their first job post-graduation.
“This is a great moment for our program, our faculty, and our staff, but especially for our students. It shows that NAU’s OT program is achieving excellence and providing a stellar education that prepares them to enter the workforce and care for our communities,” said Dr. Armstrong-Heimsoth, Occupational Therapy Department Chair.
To learn more about NAU Occupational Therapy, visit nau.edu/occupational-therapy.