Methodology
Rankings are useful only when readers can understand them.
Every score on The OT Index includes source data, weighting, update date, follow-up notes, and a clear separation between official measures and score factors.
Primary sourcesVisible weightsMissing-data rulesUpdate cadence
Scoring discipline
The ranking contract
Every ranking on The OT Index follows the same publishing standard, regardless of whether it covers schools, cities, employers, specialties, or tools.
- 1Start with official data
Prefer public primary sources: ACOTE, NBCOT, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, BLS OOH, CMS Provider Data, and state board records. - 2Normalize before scoring
Convert raw measures into comparable signals, adjust for cohort size and missing data, and keep the source timestamp visible. - 3Rank for decisions, not vanity
Every ranking answers a specific decision for an applicant, new grad, experienced clinician, employer, or private practice owner. - 4Separate facts from judgment
Published rankings show official source data separately from score factors so readers can see what drives the result. - 5Show evidence depth
Each ranking row identifies source strength, missing data, and the practical context behind the score.
School ranking audit
Exactly which programs are included
The school system uses a complete ACOTE directory snapshot reviewed August 7, 2026, then matches NBCOT school-performance rows for 2021-2025. Coverage rules differ between national rankings and state comparisons by design.
| Layer | Coverage | Inclusion rule | What missing evidence means |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACOTE directory | 667 current rows | OT, OTA, active, pipeline, inactive, and additional-location records stay discoverable. | Directory presence is not treated as active accreditation; the exact ACOTE status is displayed. |
| National OT rankings | 163 active primary programs | Active accreditation, a primary location, and five complete matched NBCOT years are required. | Newer and unmatched programs are not forced into a score built on invented outcomes. |
| State OT comparisons | All active primary OT programs | Complete five-year programs appear first, followed by limited-history and no-match evidence tiers. | Every accredited option remains visible, but partial evidence is never presented as equivalent to complete history. |
| Cost and value | Matched public profiles | College Scorecard facts are institution-level context, not OT-program tuition. | The overall ranking uses a disclosed neutral value input when a match is unavailable; readers are told to verify actual program cost. |
Duplicate and status controls
An ACOTE-listed additional location remains in the directory but is not counted as a second independent ranked program. Master's, doctoral, associate, and baccalaureate pathways at the same institution remain separate when NBCOT reports them under different program types. Applicant, candidacy, preaccreditation, and inactive records are verification profiles, not ranked accredited programs.
What is covered
How each data layer is labeled
The OT Index keeps rankings, profile facts, reader feedback, and employer information visibly separated so readers know what each score is using.
- Available nowCareer rankings, school score guides, and ranking hub pages.
- Primary source dataUse ACOTE directory records, NBCOT pass rates, public tuition, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and CMS provider data.
- ProfilesPublish school, metro, state, setting, employer, specialty, and CEU/tool profile pages.
- Reader feedbackAdd validated salary reports, fieldwork reviews, employer reviews, and methodology feedback when it can be reviewed clearly.
Source stack
Primary data before opinions
Source coverage is the foundation. Community and employer feedback improves the model without replacing official data.