Proficiency Testing of Academic and Nonacademic Preparation in Five Therapeutic Activities

Occupational therapy pre-majors at Cleveland State University (CSU) were required to demonstrate proficiency in five craft areas before admission into the program. Proficiency examinations were constructed to determine the students’ level of knowledge in each craft area. Reliability and validity of the examinations were determined. Using these examinations, a study was conducted to compare the knowledge level of the pre-majors at CSU with that of occupational therapy students throughout the United States on the associate, baccalaureate, and entry-level master’s levels of education. The results of the study demonstrated that CSU students scored significantly higher on the examinations than both the associate and baccalaureate students, and at least as well as the entry-level master’s students.