Overview

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) engages members in discussions about the professional standards for practice and the ethical and professional conduct expectations of the profession. Through this process, we decide the level for ‘fitness for the profession’ by stating the professional and educational standards for occupational therapy.

Our Learning and development standards for pre-registration education (2019), sets the expectations for occupational therapy pre-registration programmes.

As an education provider you must meet our Learning and development standards for pre-registration education when delivering an occupational therapy pre-registration programme in the UK. We manage an accreditation process using the standards to assess occupational therapy pre-registration programmes and ensure quality in their design and delivery.

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is a federation of occupational therapy organisations recognised by the United Nations, with official standing with the World Health Organization. WFOT sets the minimum standards for occupational therapy practice internationally. RCOT, as an organisational member of WFOT, has the authority to apply WFOT approval. This ensures that graduates of an RCOT accredited pre-registration programme hold a qualification recognised in most WFOT-member countries.

Our accreditation process ensures that UK occupational therapy pre-registration programmes:

• meet the education standards set by the profession
• meet the education standards set by the international community
• are responsive to current and predicted local, national and global issues which may affect the profession
• produce graduates who are fit for academic award, practice, purpose and the profession
• produce graduates who hold a qualification recognised in any WFOT member country.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the regulatory body for the allied health professions in the UK, established by the UK Government to protect the public. The HCPC maintains a register of health and care professionals who meet its standards of conduct, performance and ethics, the profession-specific standards of proficiency and the standards of continuing professional development.

They also set standards for education and training, which are used to assess pre-registration programmes. These ensure that an individual who successfully completes their education meets the standards of proficiency and is eligible to apply to register with the HCPC.

While the HCPC determines ‘fitness to practise’, we determine ‘fitness for the profession’. This is above and beyond the expectations of the HCPC.

HCPC approval of a pre-registration programme is a pre-requisite for RCOT accreditation.

Accreditation is an opportunity for you to reflect on, evaluate, and review your curriculum?, content and direction with full involvement from your senior management, stakeholders, and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

We offer comprehensive support and guidance to you when undertaking this process. This includes advice on interpreting our Learning and development standards for pre-registration education.

You’ll find the benefits and services we offer to pre-registration programme providers and their learners in the downloadable 2024-2025 accreditation package document. These services have an annual fee. Find out more by contacting our Education team at qa@rcot.co.uk.

There is an annual fee for accreditation. You’ll find details of the services we provide for this fee in section 1.4. This fee is reviewed regularly and aligned with the benefits and services of RCOT accreditation. 

In addition, education providers are invited to cover the costs of their learners joining RCOT as student and apprentice members. Should education providers not cover the costs of RCOT membership, individual learners are able to apply to be members directly with RCOT.

Find out more about the benefits of RCOT membership

Before each academic year, the accreditation fee and associated services covered by the fee, will be made available to all education providers.