Professional suitability of students at the point of selection: what is it realistic to assess

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.