The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has updated its standards for pre-registration education, which are applicable to providers of occupational therapy courses across the UK.
The new standards will support the profession to meet the future demands of an ever-evolving heath and care landscape and ensure that education providers are drawing upon the latest evidence, techniques and technology to educate learners taking the various pre-registration pathways to enter the profession.
The learning and development standards for pre-registration education describe the expectations of the profession that education providers must meet when delivering an occupational therapy programme in the UK, however they also permit flexibility in the way the individual institution chooses to design and deliver their programmes.
RCOT accreditation ensures that pre-registration programmes meet rigorous professional standards to support the delivery of a high level of quality, safe and effective occupational therapy services.
The 2019 standards have been updated in consultation with education providers, occupational therapists and other key stakeholders.
RCOT Assistant Director - Education and Research, Dr Jo Watson said:
“The health and care environment in the UK is rapidly evolving and the way established occupational therapists and new entrants to our profession are educated needs to keep pace. The new pre-registration standards we have launched will ensure that budding occupational therapists are educated to the highest standards. They will enable graduates to work creatively and effectively in a complex landscape to meet the needs of the individuals, groups and communities they work with and help to position the profession for the 21st century.”
RCOT will support education providers’ move to the new standards and all providers will be expected to begin using the new standards by April 2020.