The need for occupational therapy educational standards reform: Addressing the real problem behind the push for a doctoral mandate

As a profession, occupational therapists have been spending time talking about opposing the motion to mandate the doctorate – but we need to spend time trying to solve the problem that is bringing this issue to the table.I believe that we have a specific problem (too many credits in masters programs) and some of our colleagues are trying to justify the escalated degree solution by conflating the real problem with a lot of side issues that may not be accurate (e.g. doctorates will give us a seat at the table, doctorates will make us more respected, doctorates will maintain parity with other professions, doctorates will make people practice at the top of their license etc - all evidence-free platitudes).We should try to address the Credit Problem by reforming curriculum, reforming ACOTE standards, removing excess from those systems - and that will solve the REAL underlying problem.Here are some ideas that Caroline Alterio and I generated and that she posted on the AOTA forums the other day. Let ’s contribute to a REAL solution by encouraging dialogue around the REAL problem:What can be trimmed from the standards? A lot.1. Requirements for escalation in Bloom ' s taxonomy. Every time that we escalate the complexity of Bloom levels we add to the curriculum. Much can be trimmed on a standard by standard basis based on Bloom complexity. We do not need frontline practitioners, our primary outcome objective, being able to analyze and evaluate for societal determinants of health o...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - Category: Occupational Health Tags: OT Education OT practice Source Type: blogs