Last August, the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education introduced a mandate requiring entry-level occupational therapy assistants to obtain bachelor’s degrees. The mandate is being re-evaluated due to criticism from practitioners, and for good reason: The proposed change, which may not even produce substantive gain for patients or therapists, would close off valuable opportunities for those unable or unwilling to obtain a four-year degree.

Worst of all, this is part of a damaging trend toward raising degree requirements across the employment market.