Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapy

Preface demic requirements of an educational program for

occupational therapy assistants that is accredited by
This document defines minimum standards for the practice
ACOTE® or predecessor organizations;
of occupational therapy. The Standards of Practice for
• has passed a nationally recognized entry-level exami-
Occupational Therapy are requirements for occupational
nation for occupational therapy assistants; and
therapists and occupational therapy assistants for the deliv-
• fulfills state requirements for licensure, certification,
ery of occupational therapy services. The Reference Manual
or registration.
of Official Documents contains documents that clarify and
support occupational therapy practice (American Occupa-
tional Therapy Association [AOTA, 2004]). These docu- Definitions
ments are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis for
their applicability. Assessment. Specific tools or instruments that are used dur-
ing the evaluation process.
Client. A person, group, program, organization, or commu-
Education, Examination, and Licensure nity for whom the occupational therapy practitioner is pro-
Requirements viding services.
All occupational therapists and occupational therapy assis- Evaluation. The process of obtaining and interpreting data
tants must practice under federal and state law. necessary for intervention. This includes planning for and
To practice as an occupational therapist, the individual documenting the evaluation process and results.
trained in the United States
• has graduated from an occupational therapy program Screening. Obtaining and reviewing data relevant to a
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupa- potential client to determine the need for further evaluation
tional Therapy Education (ACOTE®) or predecessor and intervention.
organizations;
• has successfully completed a period of supervised
fieldwork experience required by the recognized Standard I: Professional Standing
educational institution where the applicant met the and Responsibility
academic requirements of an educational program for 1. An occupational therapy practitioner (occupational ther-
occupational therapists that is accredited by apist or occupational therapy assistant) delivers occupa-
ACOTE® or predecessor organizations; tional therapy services that reflect the philosophical base
• has passed a nationally recognized entry-level exami- of occupational therapy and are consistent with the estab-
nation for occupational therapists; and lished principles and concepts of theory and practice.
• fulfills state requirements for licensure, certification, 2. An occupational therapy practitioner is knowledgeable
or registration. about and delivers occupational therapy services in
To practice as an occupational therapy assistant, the accordance with AOTA standards, policies, and guide-
individual trained in the United States lines, and state and federal requirements relevant to prac-
• has graduated from an associate- or certificate-level tice and service delivery.
occupational therapy assistant program accredited by 3. An occupational therapy practitioner maintains current
ACOTE® or predecessor organizations; licensure, registration, or certification as required by law
• has successfully completed a period of supervised or regulation.
fieldwork experience required by the recognized edu- 4. An occupational therapy practitioner abides by the AOTA
cational institution where the applicant met the aca- Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (AOTA, 2000).
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 663
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 5. An occupational therapy practitioner abides by the 7. An occupational therapy practitioner communicates
AOTA Standards for Continuing Competence (AOTA, screening, evaluation, and re-evaluation results within
1999) by establishing, maintaining, and updating pro- the boundaries of client confidentiality to the appropri-
fessional performance, knowledge, and skills. ate person, group, or organization.
6. An occupational therapist is responsible for all aspects of 8. An occupational therapist recommends additional con-
occupational therapy service delivery and is accountable sultations or refers clients to appropriate resources when
for the safety and effectiveness of the occupational ther- the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise
apy service delivery process. of other professionals or services.
7. An occupational therapy assistant is responsible for pro- 9. An occupational therapy practitioner educates current
viding safe and effective occupational therapy services and potential referral sources about the scope of occupa-
under the supervision of and in partnership with the tional therapy services and the process of initiating occu-
occupational therapist and in accordance with laws or pational therapy services.
regulations and AOTA documents.
8. An occupational therapy practitioner maintains current Standard III: Intervention
knowledge of legislative, political, social, cultural, and
1. An occupational therapist has overall responsibility for
reimbursement issues that affect clients and the practice
the development, documentation, and implementation
of occupational therapy.
of the occupational therapy intervention based on the
9. An occupational therapy practitioner is knowledgeable
evaluation, client goals, current best evidence, and clini-
about evidence-based research and applies it ethically
cal reasoning.
and appropriately to the occupational therapy process.
2. An occupational therapist ensures that the intervention
plan is documented within the time frames, formats, and
Standard II: Screening, Evaluation, standards established by the practice settings, agencies,
and Re-evaluation external accreditation programs, and payers.
3. An occupational therapy assistant selects, implements,
1. An occupational therapist accepts and responds to refer-
and makes modifications to therapeutic activities and
rals in compliance with state laws or other regulatory
interventions that are consistent with the occupational
requirements.
therapy assistant’s demonstrated competency and dele-
2. An occupational therapist, in collaboration with the
gated responsibilities, the intervention plan, and require-
client, evaluates the client’s ability to participate in daily
ments of the practice setting.
life activities by considering the client’s capacities, the
4. An occupational therapy practitioner reviews the inter-
activities, and the environments in which these activities
vention plan with the client and appropriate others
occur.
regarding the rationale, safety issues, and relative benefits
3. An occupational therapist initiates and directs the
and risks of the planned interventions.
screening, evaluation, and re-evaluation process and ana-
5. An occupational therapist modifies the intervention plan
lyzes and interprets the data in accordance with law, reg-
throughout the intervention process and documents
ulatory requirements, and AOTA documents.
changes in the client’s needs, goals, and performance.
4. An occupational therapy assistant contributes to the
6. An occupational therapy assistant contributes to the
screening, evaluation, and re-evaluation process by imple-
modification of the intervention plan by exchanging
menting delegated assessments and by providing verbal
information with and providing documentation to the
and written reports of observations and client capacities
occupational therapist about the client’s responses to and
to the occupational therapist in accordance with law, reg-
communications throughout the intervention.
ulatory requirements, and AOTA documents.
7. An occupational therapy practitioner documents the
5. An occupational therapy practitioner follows defined
occupational therapy services provided within the time
protocols when standardized assessments are used.
frames, formats, and standards established by the prac-
6. An occupational therapist completes and documents
tice settings, agencies, external accreditation programs,
occupational therapy evaluation results. An occupation-
payers, and AOTA documents.
al therapy assistant contributes to the documentation of
evaluation results. An occupational therapy practitioner
abides by the time frames, formats, and standards estab- Standard IV: Outcomes
lished by practice settings, government agencies, external 1. An occupational therapist is responsible for selecting,
accreditation programs, payers, and AOTA documents. measuring, documenting, and interpreting expected or
664 November/December 2005, Volume 59, Number 6
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 achieved outcomes that are related to the client’s ability Authors
to engage in occupations.
The Commission on Practice:
2. An occupational therapist is responsible for document-
Sara Jane Brayman, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA,
ing changes in the client’s performance and capacities
Chairperson
and for discontinuing services when the client has
Susanne Smith Roley, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA,
achieved identified goals, reached maximum benefit, or
Chairperson-Elect
does not desire to continue services.
Gloria Frolek Clark, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
3. An occupational therapist prepares and implements a
Janet V. DeLany, DEd, MSA, OTR/L, FAOTA
discontinuation plan or transition plan based on the
Eileen R. Garza, PhD, OTR, ATP
client’s needs, goals, performance, and appropriate fol-
Mary V. Radomski, MA, OTR/L, FAOTA
low-up resources.
Ruth Ramsey, MS, OTR/L
4. An occupational therapy assistant contributes to the dis-
Carol Siebert, MS, OTR/L
continuation or transition plan by providing informa-
Kristi Voelkerding, BS, COTA/L
tion and documentation to the supervising occupational
Lenna Aird, COTA/L, ASD Liaison
therapist related to the client’s needs, goals, performance,
Patricia D. LaVesser, PhD, OTR/L, SIS Liaison
and appropriate follow-up resources.
Deborah Lieberman, MHSA, OTR/L, FAOTA, AOTA
5. An occupational therapy practitioner facilitates the tran-
Headquarters Liaison
sition process in collaboration with the client, family
members, significant others, team, and community
for
resources and individuals, when appropriate.
6. An occupational therapist is responsible for evaluating
The Commission on Practice
the safety and effectiveness of the occupational therapy
Sara Jane Brayman, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chairperson
processes and interventions within the practice setting.
7. An occupational therapy assistant contributes to evaluat-
Adopted by the Representative Assembly 2005C218
ing the safety and effectiveness of the occupational ther-
apy processes and interventions within the practice
setting.
NOTE: This document replaces the 1994 Standards of
Practice for Occupational Therapy. These standards are
References intended as recommended guidelines to assist occupational
American Occupational Therapy Association. (1999). Standards therapy practitioners in the provision of occupational ther-
for continuing competence. American Journal of Occupa- apy services. These standards serve as a minimum standard
tional Therapy, 53, 599–600. for occupational therapy practice and are applicable to all
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2000). Occupa- individual populations and the programs in which these
tional therapy code of ethics (2000). American Journal of individuals are served.
Occupational Therapy, 54, 614–616.
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2004). The refer-
ence manual of the official documents of the American Previously published and copyrighted in 1998 by the
Occupational Therapy Association (10th ed.). Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association in the
Author. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 866–869.

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 665

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