Occupational therapists provide specialized rehabilitation services to maintain, restore or improve the ability of children and adults to perform the occupations of daily life, which may be impaired as a result of illness, injury, congenital or acquired disabilities, or social disadvantage. Occupational therapists focus on adapting the environment or improving the person’s skills, to enhance performance in the areas of self care (eating, dressing, personal hygiene), productivity (household work, employment, school), and leisure activities, thereby improving overall health and quality of life.
- What is the MOT Program?
- How is the MOT Program different from the Research Programs?
- What is the Career Outlook for Occupational Therapy?
- Why the MOT Program?
What is the MOT Program?
The Master of Occupational Therapy Program is a two year professional degree program that provides the education necessary to obtain a license to practice occupational therapy.
For more information about the program please the program curriculum
How is the MOT Program different from the Research Programs?
The MSc and PhD research programs prepare practitioners with advanced research skills and requires completion and defense of a thesis. The MOT degree focuses on a professional knowledge-base and clinical practice skills, and does not require a thesis.
What is the Career Outlook for Occupational Therapy?
With an overall shortage of occupational therapists in Canada, the aging of the occupational therapy workforce and expanding need for health and rehabilitation services, there continues to be a demand for highly skilled graduates. Only graduates of accredited programs are eligible for licensure to practice in British Columbia, elsewhere in Canada and most countries in the world. Graduates from the MOT program at UBC are employed in both public and private sectors primarily in health care but also in other social and industrial areas.
The MOT program at UBC is the only occupational therapy program in British Columbia and one of the smallest of the 14 occupational therapy programs in Canada, admitting 48 students annually. Approximately one-third of BC’s occupational therapists were educated at UBC. Graduates are employed in both public and private sectors, primarily in health care but also in other areas such as schools, housing or social services.
The MOT program integrates occupational therapy theory, research, and practice, and is designed to meet or exceed provincial and national standards of practice. These standards include the ability to use research evidence to make responsible clinical decisions, critique and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy, and develop and evaluate programs independently. The MOT program is consistent with goals in UBC’s vision statement Trek 2010 and the Academic Plan, which aims to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students. If you are interested at knowing more about our MOT program, please click on links under “Students” on the main tab.
