Career Center

The AOTA Fellowship Program

The AOTA Fellowship Program cultivates, promotes, and recognizes post-professional training programs that advance the knowledge and skills of licensed occupational therapists in various focused areas of practice.

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For potential Fellows

Why complete an AOTA Accredited Fellowship Program?

Explore the benefits of completing an AOTA Accredited Fellowship Program and what sets these programs apart from the rest. Take your occupational therapy practice to the next level and become a leader in the field!

Learn more and apply!
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AOTA Fellowship Directory

View the current list of AOTA's Fellowship Programs by focused area of practice and stage in the recognition process.

 

Explore the Directory

AOTA Fellowship Program criteria

The AOTA Fellowship Program provides sponsoring organizations with a comprehensive framework to develop a fellowship program in a specific focused area of practice. Each fellowship will incorporate both the Fellowship Program criteria and the Fellowship Program Learning Objectives (FPLOs) (based on the AOTA Standards of Continuing Competence developed by the AOTA Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development [CCCPD]).

AOTA Residency Program

The FPLOs outline five key areas of knowledge and skills listed below to be acquired by a fellow are:

  • body of knowledge,
  • reasoning and performance skills,
  • ethical practice skills,
  • interpersonal skills, and
  • scholarly and/or professional activities.

The curriculum will incorporate in-depth mentored practice, coupled with clinical caseloads in their focused area of practice that includes

  • direct exposure to targeted evidence-based research and clinical practice,
  • providing occupational therapists the opportunity to improve and advance their clinical skills in a focused area of practice, and also
  • increasing their future marketability as specialized therapists.
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Prospective and current fellowship program

Is your organization interested in seeking AOTA recognition for an existing or new fellowship? Learn the steps you need to take to better understand the requirements and recognition process.

View steps
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Schedule of fees

Learn more about the current AOTA Fellowship Program fee schedule, along with the various types of fees and how to pay.

 

View fees

Prospective and Current Fellowship Programs 

The initial process for recognition starts with submitting:

  • an Intent to Seek Recognition form by one of the review cycle deadlines—May 1, September 1, or December 1.
  • a Candidacy Application by no more than 18 months past the submission date of the ISA.

The Intent to Seek Recognition form and Candidacy Application can be accessed through the Open Water portal. 

Please contact the AOTA Fellowship Program at fellowship@aota.org for additional questions.