title: The entry-level occupational therapy clinical doctorate: The next education wave of change in Canada?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, Canada and the United States are the only two countries that mandate entry to the occupational therapy profession at the master's level. There was a recommendation considered by the American Occupational Therapy Association that by 2025 all education programs would move to the clinical doctorate level. In August 2015, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education made the formal decision that for now, the entry-level qualification for occupational therapists in the United States will remain at both the master's and clinical doctorate levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article presents an overview of the types of doctorates available, the pros and cons of moving to the clinical doctorate, and some potential questions that will need to be considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Is the next step in the educational progression of occupational therapy in Canada the entry-level clinical doctorate? What are the potential implications for the profession, our clients, and funders?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further discourse and investigation of this issue is needed.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Crabtree
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Keli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mu
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000592:standards*; D002170:Canada; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Allied Health Occupations; Education; Graduate education; Professional education; Students; enseignement; enseignement aux cycles supérieurs; formation professionnelle; professions paramédicales; étudiants