Educators and practitioners involved in the selection of occupational therapy students are required to make judgements in relation to academic and non-academic elements to assess suitability for a programme of study and for future professional practice. The increasing attention surrounding the professionalism of health professionals, and the need to be responsive to changing applicant motivations, means that the assessment of non-academic elements, often equated to indicators of professional suitability, is of ongoing importance. This opinion piece suggests that there are many challenges with understanding professional suitability, particularly at the point of selection, and encourages debate to contribute to shared professional understanding.
BrearPDorrianJ (2010) Does professional suitability matter? A national survey of Australian counselling educators in undergraduate and post-graduate training programs. International Journal of Advanced Counselling, 32(1), 1–13.
4.
College of Occupational Therapists (2010a) Professional suitability. London: COT.
5.
College of Occupational Therapists (2010b) Code of ethics and professional conduct. London: COT.
KoenigKJohnsonCMoranoCDucetteJ (2003) Development and validation of a professional behaviour assessment. Journal of Allied Health, 32(2), 86–91.
14.
LafranceJGrayE (2004) Gate keeping for professional social work practice. Social Work Education, 23(3), 325–40.
15.
LysaghtRDonnellyCVilleneuveM (2009) Factors predicting applicant outcomes in occupational therapy education. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(1), 38–46.
16.
McKennaKScholtesAFlemingJGilbertJ (2001) The journey through an undergraduate course: Does it change students' attitudes, perceptions and career plans?Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 48(4), 157–69.
17.
McLaughlanJ (2010) Measuring conscientiousness and professionalism in undergraduate medical students. The Clinical Teacher, 7(1), 37–40.
18.
MezirowJ (2000) Learning as transformation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
19.
MillerJKoerinB (1998) Can we assess suitability at admission? A review of MSW application procedures. Journal of Social Work Education, 34(3), 437–53.
20.
ParkerM (2006) Assessing professionalism: Theory and practice. Medical Teacher, 28(5), 399–403.
21.
TamDColemanH (2009) Construction and validation of a professional suitability scale for social work practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(1), 47–63.
22.
UnsworthJ (2011) Student professional suitability: Lessons from how the regulator handles fitness to practise cases. Nurse Education Today, 31(5), 466–71.
