OT Education in Singapore
Occupational Therapy Education in Singapore
The Occupational Therapy (OT) education program in Singapore was established in 1992 housed in Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). After adapting the original curriculum from the University of Sydney, the NYP Diploma in Occupational Therapy has remained accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists ever since its inception. The program has seen 25 batches of occupational therapists from 1992 – 2018. The last cohort of NYP Diploma in Occupational Therapy students graduated in 2018. After many years of pushing for a recognised four-year bachelors program, Singapore finally started its first degree programme in 2016 in Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). The OT education in Singapore started out with a small cohort of 13 students in NYP in 1992 and has since grown to over 100 students per cohort intake in SIT.
Image: 1st batch of NYP OT program graduates with their lecturers. Photo credit: Mr Patrick Ker
Image: 1st batch of graduates from SIT Bachelors in Occupational Therapy Program. Photo credit: Prof Tan Bhing Leet
The undergraduate Occupational Therapy program in SIT integrates both theory and practical application in the local Singapore context. Upon graduation, graduates will need to apply for registration under Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and will need to be employed in Singapore in order to practice in the country. Aspiring occupational therapists can find out more about the SIT Occupational Therapy program, the modules offered and application procedures here.
If you are interested in getting an overseas OT education, you can refer to the list of recognised qualifications on AHPC’s website.