Occupational Therapists - Qualified Health Care Professionals

AOTA

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

(Google Images)

• U.S. member organization
• Develops and maintains standards and ethics of practice
• New York 1917 - Originally called the Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy 
• 1927 - Name changed to AOTA
• There are a variety of leadership roles and functions of AOTA members
• National office building in Bethesda, Maryland
• Each spring the AOTA holds an Annual Conference and Exposition

(Crepeau et al., 2009)

FOTA

Florida Occupational Therapy Association (FOTA)

• October 7, 1977 incorporated
• Provides sources for online education, continuing education, Florida schools, Job links, information about licensure, etc.
• "The mission of FOTA is to serve as a collective body to support, develop and represent the occupational therapy profession for the advancement of the practice and to better serve the consumer" (Florida Occupational Therapy Association, n.d.).

WFOT

World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT)

 (Google Images)

• Occupational Therapy's official international organization
• 57 countries belong
• AOTA and other countries official associations collaborate to meet common goals and address common concerns

 (Crepeau et al., 2009)

National & State Licensing for OTs and OTAs

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

• Credentialing body for OTs and OTAs
• Initial certification exam following Level II fieldwork
• Exam based on practice analysis of OTs
• Items reflect evaluation and intervention on different populations and environments
  
• Must have a passing score to obtain a license
• Designated OTR for occupational therapist (registered) and COTA for occupational therapy assistants (certified) 

(Crepeau et al., 2009)

 Different states have different licensure and regulation. For Florida:

The Florida Department of Health Regulates the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy 

To be a Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)

• Graduated from Accredited OT program
• Completed minimum 6 months supervised fieldwork
• Passed NBCOT exam (New grads can receive temp license before exam results)

(Florida Department of Health, n.d.)

Professional Education/Credentialing:
Occupational Therapy practitioners are required to have continuing competency.  Competency is indicated by credentials (licensing/registration) that tells the public that the health care practitioner is capable of providing skilled services within the scope of practice (Crepeau et al., 2009).  The field of occupational therapy is continuously growing and changing.  For instance, occupational therapy continues to cross a variety of disciplines, standards and protocols change, research and occupational science become more abundant, new therapeutic interventions are found effective, and new assessments show validity and reliability. Professional development is the process of learning new skills to further career (Crepeau et al., 2009).  An occupational therapist can develop their professional education by taking continuing education courses, attending conferences, doing research, and continuing their formal education (such as getting a DOT). 

Renewal of NBCOT to maintain intials OTR:
Collection and documentation of professional development units  (Crepeau et al., 2009).

Renewal of Florida license to maintain OT/L :

• Every 2 years
• 26 hours of continuing education credits
• Approved continuing education providers at CE broker
• Detailed renewal information: here 

(Florida Department of Health, n.d.)