Graduation and Credentialing

The Department of Occupational Therapy monitors student academic progress, including cumulative degree grade point average.

To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 (B average). The GPA is the average of all grades, including all entry-level OTD courses and electives. A grade of less than C in any required course (including a grade of unsatisfactory) will result in a recommendation for dismissal from the entry-level OTD program, even if the cumulative GPA is above 3.0. Students may appeal their dismissal to the department’s Academic Standing Committee.

A cumulative GPA below 3.0 will result in academic probation. Students are allowed two enrolled academic terms to raise their GPA and leave probation. Students who fail to raise their GPA to 3.0 or otherwise fulfill the terms of their probation within the deadline will be dismissed from the university.

Exceptions may be considered by the UIC OT Academic Standing Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Students must be in good academic standing to graduate, even if all other requirements have been met.

Students graduating with an entry-level OTD will be required to satisfy all the departmental, college, and university graduation requirements.

All entry-level OTD students are required to successfully complete 38 required courses (Refer to the What To Expect webpage)  for a total of 110 credits to meet graduation requirements and to be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy^® (NBCOT^®). The 38 required courses include 26 didactic courses, 7 fieldwork courses, 2 seminar courses, a 14-week capstone experience, and 2 capstone project courses.

To graduate, students must maintain an acceptable level of academic achievement, defined as follows:

• All required or elective courses graded A-F must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students who earn below a C in a required or elective course are dismissed. Students have the right to appeal a course grade and/or dismissal decision, following departmental, college and university guidelines.
• All required or elective courses graded on a “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis (e.g., Level I Fieldwork, Level II Fieldwork), must be completed with a grade of “Satisfactory”. Students who earn an Unsatisfactory grade in an S/U course are dismissed. As above, students have the right to appeal a course grade and/or dismissal decision, following departmental, college and university guidelines.
• Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all required entry-level OTD courses and electives during their OTD matriculation and at graduation. When the OTD GPA falls below 3.00, students are informed that they have two additional terms of registration (including summer, if registered) after the warning term to raise the GPA to 3.00. Students who raise their GPA to 3.00 or above within the deadline will be removed from probation.
• A student with a degree GPA less than 3.0 will not be approved for graduation.  Approval for graduation is achieved by raising the OTD GPA to 3.0 or greater prior to the end of the last term required for graduation.
• Students on probation who fail to raise their average to 3.00 or to otherwise fulfill the terms of their probation within the deadline will be dismissed. As above, students have the right to appeal a course grade and/or dismissal decision, following departmental, college and university guidelines.

The entry-level OTD is a professional program. A thesis or dissertation is not required. However, students are required to complete a capstone project, per ACOTE^® requirements.

1. All elements of the program must be completed within 6 years.
2. Students must start Fieldwork Level II within 12 months of completing its prerequisites.
3. Fieldwork Level II (24 weeks, total) must be completed within 24 months after it begins.
4. An individual 14-week capstone experience must be completed within 24 months after it begins.
5. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework pre-requisite coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
6. Leaves of absence beyond one year are not routinely considered.

Exceptions may be considered by the UIC OT Academic Standing Committee on a case-by-case basis.

The program is usually completed on a full-time basis. Part-time status is granted only by petition to the Academic Standing Committee, including a formal plan that complies with the following time limits:

1. Students must start Fieldwork Level II within 12 months of completing its prerequisites.
2. Fieldwork Level II must be completed within 24 months after it begins.
3. Leaves of absence beyond one year are not routinely considered at any point of progression in the program.

Exceptions may be considered by the UIC OT Academic Standing Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Graduates of the entry-level OTD program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam for occupational therapist. After successful completion of the exam, the graduate will be a registered occupational therapist (OTR).

All states require licensure to practice and each state has specific requirements. State licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

A felony conviction or academic disciplinary action may affect a graduate’s ability to take the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure.

NBCOT conducts background checks for certification exam applicants who have affirmative responses to one or more of the character review questions:

1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (NOTE: Applicants must answer affirmatively even if convictions have been pardoned, expunged, released, or sealed.)
2. Do you currently have a felony charge or charges against you?
3. Have you ever surrendered any professional license, registration, or certification or had one denied, revoked, suspended, or subject to probationary conditions by a regulatory authority or certification board, including NBCOT?
4. Do you currently have a professional license, registration, or certification under review for possible disciplinary action?
5. Have you ever been found by any court, administrative, or disciplinary proceeding to have committed negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct which resulted in harm to another?
6. Do you currently have a charge(s) of negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct that resulted in harm to another against you?
7. Have you ever been suspended and/or expelled from a college or university?
8. Are you currently under active investigation that could lead to being suspended and/or expelled from a college or university?

A detailed, written explanation regarding the incident(s), and documentation pertaining to probation or parole are required as part of the NBCOT Character Review.

NBCOT offers the Early Determination Review for prospective or current OT students to learn if a past issue will affect their certification exam eligibility before they undertake or complete their studies.