Training and Certification
Education
Certification
Standards of Practice
Code of Ethics
Education
- The occupational therapist enters the field with a baccalaureate degree
or post baccalaureate degree in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational
Therapy Association (AOTA) accredited program. A post baccalaureate degree
may be at a masters or doctoral level, and requires prior completion of
a bachelors degree in another field.
- Beginning January 1, 2007 all accredited programs will be at a post baccalaureate
level and the baccalaureate degree will no longer exist.
- The course of study includes human growth and development with a specific
emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness.
- The education includes supervised clinical internships in a variety of
health care and/or community settings. This includes the completion of at
least two extensive fieldwork internships, each is 13 weeks of 40-hour/week
supervised clinical work.
- A list of AOTA accredited occupational therapy programs is available from the AOTA website.
Certification
Upon completion of an accredited educational program, the student is eligible to sit the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy. Successful completion of the examination results in national certification.
Most states have their own additional credentialing and/or licensure for occupational therapists. This generally requires an annual or bi-annual fee and proof of continuing education per the individual state requirements.
Standards of Practice in Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics
Principle 1 (Beneficence/Autonomy): Occupational Therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the welfare and dignity of the recipient of their services
Principle 2 (Competence): Occupational therapy personnel shall actively maintain high standards of professional competence
Principle 3 (Compliance with Laws and Regulations): Occupational therapy personnel shall comply with laws and Association policies guiding the profession of occupational therapy
Principle 4 (Public Information): Occupational therapy personnel shall provide accurate information concerning occupational therapy services
Principle 5 (Professional Relationships): Occupational therapy personnel shall function with discretion and integrity in relations with colleagues and other professionals and shall be concerned with the quality of their services
Principle 6 (Professional Conduct): Occupational therpay personnel shall not engage in any form of conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest or that adversely reflects on the profession
NOTE: separate to sub-sections? or just anchor?
Center on Human Development and Disability,
Clinical Training Unit, University of Washington,
Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195-7920 lend@u.washington.edu