RCOT welcomes new Earn and Learn Occupational Therapy pilot programme

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has welcomed the announcement of a new Occupational Therapy Earn and Learn (EAYL) pilot programme, designed to create a flexible route into the profession for healthcare support workers and help address workforce challenges across Scotland's rural and island communities. The programme will accept applications for cohort start dates in early 2027.

The pilot has been made possible through a commitment in the Scottish Government's National Islands Plan, with priority being given to applicants from island and rural backgrounds. The initiative aims to improve access to occupational therapy careers for people who may otherwise face barriers to traditional university-based study and strengthen local workforce capacity in communities where recruitment and retention can be particularly challenging.

The new work-based pathway will allow healthcare support workers to remain in employment while studying to become registered occupational therapists. Delivered in partnership with Robert Gordon University (RGU), the programme combines online digital learning, practice placements and face-to-face skills sessions, making it more accessible for those living and working in remote and rural areas. 

The pathway takes five years to complete and consists of two stages:

• A two-year Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) in Developing Support Worker Practice. 
• A further three years of study through Stage 2 of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (Online) programme. *1

On successful completion, graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as occupational therapists.

1* Subject to Validation

Katie MacGregor, Policy and Public Affairs Lead at RCOT Scotland, said:

"We warmly welcome this innovative new Earn and Learn occupational therapy pilot. We know that people living in Scotland's rural and island communities often face additional barriers when accessing higher education and professional training opportunities.

"By providing a flexible route that allows healthcare support workers to continue earning while they learn, this programme has the potential to widen participation in occupational therapy and support people to build professional careers within their own communities.

"Importantly, the pilot is funded by Scottish Government through a commitment in the National Islands Plan and will prioritise applicants from island and rural backgrounds. This is a positive and practical step towards developing a sustainable occupational therapy workforce in areas where recruitment and retention can be particularly difficult.

"This pilot is about more than creating new career opportunities. It is about ensuring island and rural communities have the occupational therapy workforce they need to keep people independent, support timely discharge from hospital and improve the flow of patients through the health and care system.

Occupational therapists are central to reducing delayed discharge because they help people transition safely from hospital to home, putting in place the support, equipment and rehabilitation needed for recovery. By growing the workforce in areas where recruitment has traditionally been challenging, this programme can help address local workforce pressures while improving outcomes for patients and making the health and care system more efficient.

Nic Richardson, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for Scotland, said:

I am delighted that the Scottish Government has been able to support the development of this innovative pilot programme for Occupational Therapy. This pilot offers experienced healthcare support workers who have been unable to undertake traditional education programmes a new access route to training and registration as an Occupational Therapist, growing and developing the healthcare workforce of the future.

The National Islands Plan has committed to this pilot in recognition of the significant impact Occupational Therapy has on the health outcomes of the population and the impact the profession has on the health and care system delivery. Increasing the capacity of this profession will benefit the whole health and social care system including improving discharge from hospital to home. 

Whilst this programme will prioritise those from rural and island backgrounds there is significant interest from all areas of Scotland. This pre-registration education will be delivered by Robert Gordon University and is supported by Scottish boards who already work to support high-quality practice-based learning for students from all 14 allied health professions. We are delighted to have such collective support for this pilot as we continue to advance and diversify routes to registration for Allied Health Professions in Scotland.

The programme is primarily delivered online and is designed around employment, with learners expected to undertake approximately one protected study day per week alongside independent study. Practice placements are integrated throughout the five-year pathway, with placements arranged as close as possible to learners' home or workplace locations wherever feasible. 

RCOT said the pilot represents an important opportunity to diversify routes into the profession, strengthen recruitment and retention in underserved areas, and support wider health and social care priorities through a sustainable occupational therapy workforce.

RCOT’s Education Enhancement Service is working with Robert Gordon University to support the programme through the RCOT accreditation process, helping to assure the quality of occupational therapy education and preparation for professional practice.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Occupational Therapy Earn and Learn (EAYL) pathway is a five-year work-based route for Healthcare Support Workers wishing to become registered occupational therapists. 
• The pathway consists of a two-year DipHE Developing Support Worker Practice followed by three years in Stage 2 of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme. 
• The programme is delivered primarily through online learning combined with practice placements and face-to-face skills blocks. 
• Applicants must be employed in a Healthcare Support Worker role and have employer support to undertake the programme. 
• Applications will be accepted for course starts in 2027. 
• Priority will be given to applicants from Scotland's island and rural communities through funding provided via the National Islands Plan.

Media enquiries:
RCOT Press Office