They are not legally separate entities. ACOTE is part of AOTA. ACOTE is required by USDE, in order to be recognized as an accrediting body, to be separate and
independent in accreditation decision making. The USDE requirements though allow for them to be part of AOTA and to share resources with AOTA. There is a cost savings to the profession for them to do this. Having a separate website does not necessarily
reflect relationship. If you go to CAPTE’s page you will see that APTA is branded and the point of contact for CAPTE questions is an APTA email. They have a cooperative agreement similar to the AOTA and ACOTE MOU. This is what is required.
The bottom line, USDE requires that AOTA not have undue influence in the accreditation decision making process of ACOTE. This separation is reflected in our
Association bylaws and further detailed in the MOU which has been in place and unchallenged since 2005. This is the documentation ACOTE provides to USDE and CHEA as evidence of being separate and independent in decision making. Violation of this can result
in ACOTE losing its recognition by USDE.
From: ot-pd@aotalists.org [mailto:ot-pd@aotalists.org]
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2018 12:44 PM
To: ot-pd@aotalists.org
Subject: RE: [OT-PD List - AOTA] - ACOTE Update on Entry Level Education
If AOTA and ACOTE truly are legally separate entities, why doesn’t ACOTE have its own website instead of being part of the AOTA website under “Accreditation?” CAATE, CAPTE, ACEN & CCNE (nursing has more than one)
all have separate sites. ASHA & CAA are like AOTA & ACOTE and their status is quite complex in some states where graduation from a CAA- accredited program and obtaining the CCC-SLP is not required (e.g., in NY to work in the school system as a “speech therapist”
one needs to have teacher certification and not a license as an SLP).
Best regards,
Dr. Pam
Pamela Story, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, ITOT
Assistant Professor
Director, Division of Allied Health
Program Director and Coordinator of Graduate Academics/Advising
Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy
Dominican College of Blauvelt
845-848-6039
Community EveryDay
Achievement EveryDay
Growth EveryDay
From:
ot-pd@aotalists.org <ot-pd@aotalists.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 12:28 PM
To: ot-pd@aotalists.org
Cc: ACOTE <accred@aota.org>
Subject: RE: [OT-PD List - AOTA] - ACOTE Update on Entry Level Education
Hello all,
This email from ACOTE is of grave concern to me and I believe also to our profession. The sitting President of AOTA approached the ACOTE Council and expressed disagreement
with a decision the Council made related to the OTD mandate. The crux of this disagreement rests with AOTA questioning whether ACOTE can set degree requirements as part of their accrediting function. As outlined in this correspondence from ACOTE, decisions
related to degree requirements have been considered the purview of ACOTE for 20 years and have not only gone unquestioned by AOTA but have in fact been applauded.
I am hard pressed to believe that when push comes to shove any outside person/entity would not say there is more than substantial precedent and evidence that AOTA recognizes these decisions to be a part of ACOTE’s accrediting function.
What is not debatable in this conversation is that it is clear from the correspondence we are seeing that AOTA and ACOTE are disagreeing on this point and ACOTE views AOTA’s
involvement as improper. We are headed toward legal action and USDE involvement into this matter. Worst case scenario ACOTE loses its USDE recognition and we no longer have professional accreditation. Best case scenario this will be a costly process
without any tangible benefit----costly directly in the legal costs associated with both AOTA and ACOTE legal fees and also indirectly in the changes in public perception of our profession.
The only potential outcome is to maintain two points of entry. Changes in bylaws, in the MOU, fighting in the legal arena…..if any of that is somehow successful in this outcome
ACOTE has and will always maintain the ability to set standards and accredit programs. They can indirectly phase out OTM regardless. This will not be resolved quickly and ACOTE has clearly indicated they are not changing their mind. Programs can’t afford
to not abide by the mandate and will transition regardless of what legal infighting will occur in the interim.
In my assessment, our profession is headed toward a futile showdown with ourselves without any potential benefit. There is nothing positive that will come from this action being taken by the AOTA Board. I know there are mixed feelings among our group
related to the OTD mandate, but this action will not do anything to change the ultimate outcome and will only serve to weaken us all as a profession.
We have pretty solid precedent that infighting within our profession has not served as well in the past. We should be working together to prevent it now before we spend the
majority of the next two decades trying to overcome the consequences of it for yet another time.
Best wishes all,
Tim
Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Missouri
810 Clark Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-8403
From:
ot-pd@aotalists.org [mailto:ot-pd@aotalists.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2018 9:18 PM
To: ot-pd@aotalists.org
Subject: [OT-PD List - AOTA] - ACOTE Update on Entry Level Education
Please see the attached ACOTE update on entry level education.