Occupational Therapist
Developing the occupational therapists of the future.
Occupational therapy is a growing health and social care role in the UK, with people living longer, often with long-term, complex health needs.
This course gives apprentices the tools to help individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life. Trained in both physical and mental health, apprentices learn to assess people’s needs and co-create plans that support their goals – no matter the challenges.
On completion, apprentices can register with the Health & Care Professions Council and work as a qualified occupational therapist.
Why apprenticeships at ARU?
We’ll help you reap the benefits of talent acquisition through apprenticeships.
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Accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
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Validated by the Health & Care Professions Council
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Develop existing staff, emerging talent or new recruits
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See impact in the workplace as your apprentice learns
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Re-invest the levy or get Government funding support
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Instil your organisation's culture and procedures from day one
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
We’ll help you launch your career as an occupational therapist.
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Accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
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On completion, register with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
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Balance theory with practical learning in the workplace
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Gain a BSc (Hons) degree without the tuition fees
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Learn from academic and professional experts
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Deliver impact in the workplace as you learn
received a pay rise since starting their apprenticeship.
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
Talent development
This apprenticeship is right for NHS trusts and other professional practice settings.
As an employer, you want to secure your pipeline of occupational therapists. You can do this by developing apprentices with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to become confident, HCPC-registered therapists.
Recruitment support for employers
Our dedicated apprenticeship team is on hand to help you attract the best candidates for your organisation. We can help with:
- crafting job advertisements
- promoting your vacancy to our quality candidate mailing lists
- adding your vacancy to the National Apprenticeship Service
- sharing opportunities across our social media channels.
Our consultants can also help you to assess candidates' suitability.
Creating a world-class apprenticeship
See how we helped Cambridge University Press recruit for their brand new degree apprenticeship.
When you complete this degree apprenticeship, you’ll be able to register with the HCPC and practice as an occupational therapist.
The course is designed to help you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that employers in the sector say they need.
Programme content
Each module offers your apprentice opportunities to develop and practice their clinical skills to meet the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists (2023).
They will apply the knowledge and skills they've learned in a clinical setting, working with service users, their families and carers. Simulation in the University Skills Laboratory supports practice in a safe environment.
Health & Care Professions Council
Our course is validated by the Health & Care Professions Council. Apprentices can register with the HCPC when they graduate and work as professional occupational therapists.
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Our Occupational Therapy BSc is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Each module offers opportunities to develop and practice your clinical skills to meet the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists (2023).
You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you've learned in a clinical setting, working with service users, their families and carers. Simulation in the University Skills Laboratory supports practice in a safe environment.
Health & Care Professions Council
This course is validated by the Health & Care Professions Council. When you graduate, you can register with the HCPC and work as a professional occupational therapist.
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Our Occupational Therapy BSc is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Entry requirements
Employers set out the person specifications for the role, but apprentices will need to meet our entry requirements to be accepted onto this course.
- Evidence of Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English, eg GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, Functional Skills, or DfE-approved equivalents.
- Evidence of Level 3 study in a relevant field (each case will be considered individually) to include the Senior Healthcare Assistant Apprenticeship
- Apprentices whose first language is not English will be required to undertake language evaluation and demonstrate a good command of the English language (through interview).
- Attend a joint interview with ARU and the employer.
- Demonstrate insight into the occupational therapy profession.
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring System screening prior to registration on the course.
Apprentices could be admitted based on prior credited or prior experiential learning. Each applicant will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to the University tariff framework and national benchmarking criteria. The entry criteria comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
In accordance with RCOT learning and development standards for pre-registration programmes, a maximum of one third of the total pre-registrations programme may be considered for recognition of prior learning (Standard 2.6.3).
All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules applicable at the start of the course. If you have any questions about these entry requirements, please contact [email protected]
Fees and funding
Degree apprenticeships are a smart investment. You can reinvest Levy funds to cover the cost of an apprenticeship or receive funding support from the Government.
If you operate in England and your annual payroll is over £3m, you pay a levy of 0.5% of your payroll into a levy account.
Apprenticeships are paid for by your employer. You won’t pay any tuition fees on this course.
Our team of experts is here to help form your organisation’s apprenticeship offering and guide you through the process.
Speak to your employer about this course and how it could be beneficial for your development.
Our expert consultants can meet with you and your employer to make setting up simple and straightforward.
Finding an apprenticeship role
To start an apprenticeship, you need to be in a suitable role and have the support of your employer.