Occupational Therapy
Advisory Notice:
Certain changes to the law governing the practice of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants have been made that will take effect on February 13, 2012. These include a requirement that applicants for authorization to practice as an occupational therapy assistant pass the examination offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). The License Requirements have been updated to reflect these changes.
Occupational therapists are licensed rehabilitation care professionals who work to restore or improve physical abilities, promote behavioral changes, adapt surroundings, and teach new skills; the goal is to have the individual achieve her or his best physical and/or mental functioning in daily life tasks. Occupational therapists provide these services on the referral or prescription of a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
Occupational
therapy assistants provide treatment according to a plan developed
by or in collaboration with a licensed occupational therapist. They must
work under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or a licensed
physician.
Occupational therapy practitioners help people adapt to a variety
of challenges:
- developmental disabilities
- learning disabilities
- job-related injuries
- neurological problems
- orthopedic injuries
- birth defects
- stroke
- psychosocial disorders
- chemical dependency
- age-related disorders
They help with:
- impaired physical functioning which hampers the ability to perform daily life tasks
- psychosocial problems which hamper the ability to function in daily life
- special needs which require modification of the physical environment and/or use of specialized equipment and technologies (e.g., changes in the home or job site for a person in a wheelchair)
