What Do Certified Occupational Therapy Professionals Do? 

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and at all stages of life. They may provide interventions to children who have autism, a developmental disability, or motor skill difficulties; adults who are recovering from a stroke or a brain injury; or senior citizens who are overcoming a health setback or learning to cope with the aging process.

Occupational therapy professionals help people to regain function or adapt to health changes by assessing and addressing all aspects of recovery.

What Does It Mean to Be a Nationally Certified OT?

OTR
COTA

Occupational therapy professionals who choose to maintain their certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) will have one of the following federally registered, national credentials:

  • OTR® – Occupational Therapist Registered
  • COTA® – Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

OTR and COTA professionals have completed occupational therapy education and have passed a national certification exam. They have agreed to follow the NBCOT Practice Standards and the NBCOT Code of Conduct, and to fulfill continual professional development requirements. Only those who maintain an Active in Good Standing status with NBCOT can use the OTR or COTA credential.

The OTR and COTA certifications signify that the professional who may be treating you or a loved one has demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.

OTRs and COTAs are also state licensed professionals.

Look for the OTR or COTA certification when seeking an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant for yourself or a loved one.

For additional information about the profession, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA®). For more information on the education required to be eligible to earn occupational therapy certification, please visit the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). To learn more about research in occupational therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF).

Verify Your OT Provider Is Certified 

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Sanna, OTR
Montana

“I work with children and I feel that my OTR credential offers trust to the parents. It underscores for parents that I’ve put the extra time and effort into staying on top of effective treatment strategies.”

Chris, OTR
New York

“No matter where a person is in his or her life span, occupational therapy can help them do the things that are meaningful to live.”

Teresa, OTR
Maryland

“The certification is a sign to the public that I’m doing everything I can to be the best OT I can be. It gives patients extra assurance about the care they’re receiving.”

Questions to Ask Your Occupational Therapy Professional

Did you recently learn that you, or a loved one, need occupational therapy? Making any decision that affects your health and well-being, or that of a loved one, can seem daunting. When it comes to making choices for occupational therapy, here are some questions that you may ask to decide if a person or facility is right for you.

All OTRs and COTAs have graduated from an accredited occupational therapy program, have passed a national certification exam, and have agreed to abide by the NBCOT Code of Conduct. Initial certification is granted for a three-year period. To maintain certification, your OTR or COTA must complete professional development activities and agree to abide by NBCOT’s practice standards and code of conduct. Certification renewal recognizes that your OTR or COTA has met a national standard for professionalism and promotes continued professional development. You can verify the current certification status of your therapist here.

When seeking occupational therapy services, it is natural to want to know how much experience your therapist has with your particular injury or condition. All OTR and COTA professionals have graduated from an accredited occupational therapy program, have completed many hours of clinical experience in the field, and have passed a national certification exam. OTRs and COTAs keep up-to-date on injuries/conditions and best treatment practices by participating in professional development activities, collaborating with team members and experts in the field, and reading professional journals.

Your OTR or COTA will work collaboratively with you to understand which everyday activities are most important for you. To best facilitate this process, you could

  • talk with your therapist about your goals and have them included in the plan of care,
  • ask your therapist if there are tasks you can complete in between therapy sessions to help with your progress, and
  • tell your therapist any concerns you might have about an intervention that is used during the session.

The therapy process should always be collaborative. OTR and COTA professionals provide services in union with the client, not to the client. If your family member or friend would like you to be involved with their therapy, you can

  • let the therapist know about activities that are important to your family member or friend,
  • provide insight into things you are noticing your family member or friend are having difficulties with,
  • request to sit in on therapy sessions,
  • encourage your family member or friend to follow their home program,
  • help with daily tasks that are too challenging for the family member or friend at the current time, and
  • request to be invited to any discharge planning or training sessions.

Your OTR will first complete an evaluation to identify the challenges you are having with everyday activities. From this evaluation, your OTR will collaborate with you to identify goals that you would like to achieve through therapy. An intervention plan is then designed to help you reach your goals. Throughout your time in therapy, your OTR will monitor your progress, reevaluate your intervention plan, and collaborate with you and your family or friends to help you reach your therapy goals. You may work with a COTA who will implement and document the interventions planned by the OTR.

Depending upon your health condition, your OTR or COTA professionals will be working with you or your loved one to help you gain or regain as much function and independence as possible so you can participate in the activities that are important to you.

An OTR who has an interest in a specific area of therapy may hold certification(s) related to a specialized area of practice. Earning additional certifications shows that the OTR has committed to obtaining specific skills and knowledge in an area of specialization. Some examples of specialty certifications include

  • Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS®)
  • Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)
  • Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
  • Certified Autism Specialist™ (CAS)

During your therapy sessions, the OTR will collaborate with you and your family or friends to understand your distinct needs. As a result, the OTR may provide you and your family or friends with information about community resources and support services that can help you

  • have a successful discharge,
  • manage your current and future performance needs, and
  • optimize your ability to participate in activities that are important to you.

To determine any potential out-of-pocket expense for occupational therapy, it is important to understand what is covered by your health insurance plan. It may be necessary to communicate with your health insurance provider and the therapy provider to know what services are covered and to confirm the cost of your therapy sessions.

Accreditation means that the facility, clinic, or hospital where you are participating in occupational therapy has demonstrated a commitment to providing high-quality services. An occupational therapy professional or other personnel who work at the facility will be able to provide information about the facility’s accreditation status or direct you to where the information can be found.

Amanda, OTR
Minnesota

“Maintaining my OTR certification holds me to a higher standard. It demonstrates to my employer and my patients that I have kept up with advances in treatment strategies and have continued to grow as a practitioner.”

Christie, COTA
Pennsylvania

“Every profession experiences continual change. There are always new techniques and interventions to learn. I need to stay at the top of my game to ensure I am always providing my patients with quality care and maintaining my COTA certification helps me do that.”

Jason, OTR
Virginia

“Maintaining my OTR credential shows that I’m staying current and that I’m a level up in my profession.”