Unit 5: Professional Organizations Flashcards
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
The national professional association for occupational therapy in the United States. It was founded in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of the OT profession.
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
A subsidiary of AOTA, ACOTE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting agency for all occupational therapy higher education programs (both OTR and OTA) in the United States.
American Occupation Therapy Foundation (AOTF)
The charitable, scientific education organization that supports occupational therapy research and promotes understanding of the field, through evidence and research, among the general public.
American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC)
An unincorporated committee comprised of members of AOTA, AOTPAC’s purpose is to further federal legislation that supports the profession of occupational therapy through lobbying efforts.
Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD)
Meeting annually, this committee has a representative from each OT And OTA educational program that represents their peers. The ASD provides a forum for OT students to express concerns and have input in AOTA and its related affairs.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
The national not-for-profit organization that provides certification for occupational therapy professionals from the initial certification exam through certification renewal.
World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)
This organization represents occupational therapists worldwide. They are a network of 101 other member organizations (including AOTA) and serve to promote practice on a global level through research and education.
State Licensure Boards
Each state has its own occupational therapy licensure board that governs the way OTs and OTAs are licensed and practice in each state. Please visit your preferred state to check out the regulations and laws on OT practice.
When students and practitioners from a profession come together to discuss mutual challenges and opportunities, what is formed?
The nucleus of a Professional Organization (association, society, or federation)
-These shared interests and relationships create the core of a profession
Professional Organizations
Work as a formal collective to define and advance the interests of practitioners to better serve the public needs
-Usually nonprofit organizations with evolving structures and functions that strengthen and unite the profession around a shared mission, vision, and shared initiatives.
What are the strategic initiatives of Professional Organizations in OT?
- Setting standards for education and practice
- Defining and promoting a code of ethics
- Providing opportunities for professional education and networking
- Legislative advocacy for practitioners and clients, and promotion of the profession
ACOTE
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
AOTF
American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTPAC
American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee
ASAP
Affiliated State Association Presidents
AOTA
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
ASD
Assembly of Student Delegates
CCCPD
Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development
COE
Commission on Education
COP
Commission on Practice
COP
Commission on Practice
RA
Representative Assembly
EC
Ethics Commission
SIS
Special Interest Section
NBCOT
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
OT
Occupational Therapy
OTA
Occupational Therapy Assistant
WFOT
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Regulation
Key element of a profession that protects the public from harm
-Regulatory bodies provide a legal mechanism to ensure that persons who represents themselves as OT practitioners actually are educated, credentialed, ethical, and competent.
Apply specialized knowledge and skills (what makes OT a profession)
OT knowledge, skills and know-how applied to the art and science of practice
Have advanced education and training (what makes OT a profession)
Accreditation standards for OT education and opportunities for continuing education and professional development
Have demonstrated competency and have completed the requirements to be admitted to or maintained in the profession (what makes OT a profession)
Certification examination, field-based performance, continuing competence requirements
Have the support of a professional association (what makes OT a profession)
State, national, and international occupational therapy organizations
Are bound by a code of conduct or ethics (what makes OT a profession)
National Associations and WFOT have codes of ethics
Feel a sense of responsibility for serving the public (what makes OT a profession)
Individual and collective ethos as well as regulation to protect the public.
Purpose (Relationship of Associations, Regulatory Bodies, and Educational Standards)
OT Professional Member Association: Build and promote the profession to serve societal needs
Regulatory Bodies for OT Practice: Protect the public from harm
OT Education Standards: Establish minimum standards for education in the profession
State/Territory/Province (Relationship of Associations, Regulatory Bodies, and Educational Standards)
OT Professional Member Association: OT association within states, territories or provinces
Regulatory Bodies for OT Practice: State/regional licensure or certification board
OT Education Standards: n/a
National (Relationship of Associations, Regulatory Bodies, and Educational Standards)
OT Professional Member Association: Over 85 countries have national associations. Some countries have union membership, whereas others have only regional associations
Regulatory Bodies for OT Practice: 62 countries have gov regulation, Usually entails a fee and often registration with the Ministry of health. In the US, passing the NBCOT exam is required to enter the profession. (ongoing NBCOT registration is elective for most states
OT Education Standards: Some nations have curriculum standards and others accept the standards from the world fed. In the US, AOTA’s accreditation council for OT education sets standards for OTA programs and masters/doctorate entry level programs for OTs.
International (Relationship of Associations, Regulatory Bodies, and Educational Standards)
OT Professional Member Association: WFOT. Member organizations have a national and professional association with construction and a code of ethics. Full members od WFOT must also have an approved educational program in their country. Of the 85 member orgs, 67 are full members
Regulatory Bodies for OT Practice: Not regulation at this level
OT Education Standards: WFOT minimum standards for the education of OT. As of 2015, there were 778 WFOT education programs and 291 non approved. As of 2016, WFOT education is at the bachelors level. The WFOT doesn’t approve OTA programs
Professional societies have made significant contributions as…
Consultants to governments and academia and have played a major role in establishing the profession and broadening the scope of practice and the scientific body of knowledge
Associations are made up of…
Members who elect individuals to fulfill leadership roles, such as president, vice president, directors, etc. If the association has sufficient funds, paid staff enact the administrative functions and strategic priorities (In most cases, volunteers perform many association activities)
A strong association enables a profession to be…
Self-defining in standards and scope rather than have other disciplines or policy makers delineate their role.
Associations provide…
Coherence and advancement of professions through official documents, publications, professional development activities, educational standards, conferences, linkage to core values, and the profession’s code of ethics.
Strong associations promote…
Innovation in practice, monitor societal needs, and advance education standards for entry to the profession and continuing competence
Opportunities for guided interactions with mentors and professional peers are central to…
Students’ professional identity development
How does membership make socialization processes available?
By enabling both the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills required for professional practice as well as the internalization of attitudes, dispositions, and self-identity that connect the individual to the larger profession.
What do members of a professional organization have access to?
Various networks to pursue particular interests and professional goals. These networks are especially important for students or when pursuing a new area of professional interest.
What experiences offer guidance and expertise to enhance professional development?
Conferences, networking meetings, online practice communities, and professional journals. These ultimately to contribute to the advancement of the profession.
Although each professional organization has its own unique benefits, many professional associations offer…
“Members only” access to a variety of publications, resources, conferences, online communities, scholarships, grants, and professional development opportunities that are not available to nonmembers
How do OT associations make money?
Member dues are the major source of revenue and political strength of OT associations, although some also are supported by fees related to publications and continuing education.
How can one benefit from lifelong membership of an OT association?
long membership can have the benefit of providing students and practitioners with access to knowledge, networks, and resources that can advance one’s professional career. (The professional development that occurs through membership and active involvement in professional organizations illustrates the importance of being a lifelong member of state, national, and international professional organizations)
What is the benefit of having active participation in professional associations?
Has the benefit of building leadership in the profession, forming powerful and interconnected collegial networks, and growing OT leaders, education, research, and practice settings.
Why are professional leaders are important to the profession?
Interacting with a diverse range of stakeholders from both inside and outside the profession while scanning the larger environment for emerging trends and opportunities that can benefit OT and the clients served by the profession.
Rather than seeing the future as a minor variation or logical extension of the present, professionals connected to professional organizations see the future as an…
Invention that may require fresh thinking and innovative solutions very different from the current organizational norms.
When was the World Federation of Occupational Therapists The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) created?
Created 1952 as the official international organization for the promotion of OT
Where is the World Federation of Occupational Therapists The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) based out of?
It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Since its inception, WFOT has worked to expand OT worldwide to address the needs of an estimated 1 billion persons worldwide who have disabilities
How many member countries and regional groups does the World Federation of Occupational Therapists The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) have?
It has more than 85 member countries and seven regional groups around the world, representing more than 480,000 OT practitioners around the globe.
How is the World Federation of Occupational Therapists The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) membership coordinated?
The WFOT membership is coordinated through each national association worldwide. (also interacts with national governments on policy and awareness to build the profession in countries where there is no association)
How long has the WFOT been in official relations with The Who?
Since 1959 and is recognized as a nonprofit nongovernmental organization (NGO) by the United Nations (UN)
The WFOT promotes international cooperation for more than…
90 member organizations, and advances the international standards for OT practice, education, and research. The WFOT also coordinates with other international groups
The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) develops and maintains strategic alliances with other international organizations including the following:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Handicap International (HI)
- Rehabilitation International (RI)
- International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Regional groups of WFOT are composed of geopolitical regions of the United Nations:
- Confederación Latinoamericana De Terapeutas Ocupacionales (CLATO)
- Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists (ACOT)
- Asia Pacific Occupational Therapists Regional Group (APOTRG)
- Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC)
- Occupational Therapy Africa Regional Group (OTARG)
- Kuwait Group
- Arabic Occupational Therapy Regional Group (AOTRG)
