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Select this package

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

Select this package

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo Registration

Special gift for AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in-person attendee

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo Registration

Special gift for AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in-person attendee

All members receive access to the following core benefits

Elevate your practice

Essential, everyday practice guidance

Digital access to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process

OT Practice magazine and The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT)

Grow continuously

Special member rates for AOTA's CE, publications, and practice resources. Members save up to 30%

Member rates for the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo

AOTA's job board, OTJobLink

Stay engaged

CommunOT, our online community to discuss best practices, managing work/life demands, and advancing your career

Special Interest Sections

Advocacy and policy work that impacts your everyday practice, from billing and compensation to the scope and reach of occupational therapy

Enjoy member perks

Personal and professional insurance

Product discounts

Membership Types

Explore AOTA's flexible membership options to meet you where you are on your journey.

Student Membership

Retiree Membership

Associate Membership

Gift Membership

Student Membership

Student Membership

$78 Annually*

OT and OTA students get access to many of the benefits of our most popular Plus+ package, including

member savings of 30% on AOTA's NBCOT® Exam Prep-the most comprehensive and effective prep program on the market,

digital subscriptions to OT Practice magazine and SIS Quarterly Practice Connections,

and special student rates to AOTA INSPIRE | Annual Conference and Expo.

Student membership is available to any individual who is enrolled in an occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant educational program that is accredited, approved, or pending approval or accreditation by ACOTE®, is enrolled in a PhD or Post-Professional doctorate program with an emphasis on the study in occupational therapy, or is less than one year post-graduation.
For more information about how to navigate student resources and maximize your AOTA benefits, visit aota.org/students.
* Note: Some schools cover student membership or may require AOTA membership to be paid via their enrollment process. Please check with your school's program director for more information.

Retiree Membership

Retiree Membership

Retired persons who are age 65 or older, no longer employed, and have a current AOTA membership are eligible to enjoy the benefits of any membership level for half the regular dues.

Basic

OT Dues $77.50 annually or $7.25 per month
OTA Dues $65 annually or $6.25 per month

Plus+

OT Dues $112.50 annually or $10.25 per month
OTA Dues $100 annually or $9.25 per month

Premium

OT Dues $352.50 annually or $30.25 per month
OTA Dues $317.50 annually or $27.50 per month

Associate Membership

Associate Memberships

Individual Associate

$158 annually, or payments of $14.75 per month

Open to any individual who is not a U.S.-certified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, and to an occupational therapist who is certified exclusively in a foreign country. An individual Associate gets access to all the benefits of the Basic package, with the exception of voting privileges.

Organizational Associate

$395 annually

Open to non-occupational therapy health organizations and institutions, and to nonprofit facilities, libraries, and educational programs. Membership includes subscriptions to the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, OT Practice magazine, SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, discounts on AOTA publications and products, and one registration to AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo at the member price.

Gift Membership

Gift Membership

Any time is the right time to give the gift of an AOTA membership. Everyone is eligible to give and receive a gift membership. Whether you're looking for a special way to thank a practitioner, encourage their boundless potential, or support their network, the gift of membership is incredibly valuable and appreciated.

Complete this form to get a gift membership started. Our Customer Service department will send you an electronic invoice that can be paid online. Once paid, the member will be contacted.
Note: If the recipient is already an AOTA member, we'll simply extend their membership benefits for an additional year.

Select this package

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

Select this package

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo Registration

Special gift for AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in-person attendee

Core Benefits - See all of the details below

Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses

Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine

AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports

AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo Registration

Special gift for AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in-person attendee

All members receive access to the following core benefits

Elevate your practice

Essential, everyday practice guidance

Digital access to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process

OT Practice magazine and The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT)

Grow continuously

Special member rates for AOTA's CE, publications, and practice resources. Members save up to 30%

Member rates for the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo

AOTA's job board, OTJobLink

Stay engaged

CommunOT, our online community to discuss best practices, managing work/life demands, and advancing your career

Special Interest Sections

Advocacy and policy work that impacts your everyday practice, from billing and compensation to the scope and reach of occupational therapy

Enjoy member perks

Personal and professional insurance

Product discounts

Membership Types

Explore AOTA's flexible membership options to meet you where you are on your journey.

Student Membership

Retiree Membership

Associate Membership

Gift Membership

Student Membership

Student Membership

$78 Annually*

OT and OTA students get access to many of the benefits of our most popular Plus+ package, including

member savings of 30% on AOTA's NBCOT® Exam Prep-the most comprehensive and effective prep program on the market,

digital subscriptions to OT Practice magazine and SIS Quarterly Practice Connections,

and special student rates to AOTA INSPIRE | Annual Conference and Expo.

Student membership is available to any individual who is enrolled in an occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant educational program that is accredited, approved, or pending approval or accreditation by ACOTE®, is enrolled in a PhD or Post-Professional doctorate program with an emphasis on the study in occupational therapy, or is less than one year post-graduation.
For more information about how to navigate student resources and maximize your AOTA benefits, visit aota.org/students.
* Note: Some schools cover student membership or may require AOTA membership to be paid via their enrollment process. Please check with your school's program director for more information.

Retiree Membership

Retiree Membership

Retired persons who are age 65 or older, no longer employed, and have a current AOTA membership are eligible to enjoy the benefits of any membership level for half the regular dues.

Basic

OT Dues $77.50 annually or $7.25 per month
OTA Dues $65 annually or $6.25 per month

Plus+

OT Dues $112.50 annually or $10.25 per month
OTA Dues $100 annually or $9.25 per month

Premium

OT Dues $352.50 annually or $30.25 per month
OTA Dues $317.50 annually or $27.50 per month

Associate Membership

Associate Memberships

Individual Associate

$158 annually, or payments of $14.75 per month

Open to any individual who is not a U.S.-certified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, and to an occupational therapist who is certified exclusively in a foreign country. An individual Associate gets access to all the benefits of the Basic package, with the exception of voting privileges.

Organizational Associate

$395 annually

Open to non-occupational therapy health organizations and institutions, and to nonprofit facilities, libraries, and educational programs. Membership includes subscriptions to the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, OT Practice magazine, SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, discounts on AOTA publications and products, and one registration to AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo at the member price.

Gift Membership

Gift Membership

Any time is the right time to give the gift of an AOTA membership. Everyone is eligible to give and receive a gift membership. Whether you're looking for a special way to thank a practitioner, encourage their boundless potential, or support their network, the gift of membership is incredibly valuable and appreciated.

Complete this form to get a gift membership started. Our Customer Service department will send you an electronic invoice that can be paid online. Once paid, the member will be contacted.
Note: If the recipient is already an AOTA member, we'll simply extend their membership benefits for an additional year.

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Select this package Core Benefits - See all of the details below Unlimited access to over 200 online continuing education courses Digital and print subscription to OT Practice magazine AOTA Salary & Workforce Survey and custom reports Select this package Core Benefits - See all of the details below Unlimited

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Click HERE to View Webpage

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Happy Occupational Therapy Month! During April, let people know why you love being an Occupational Therapist. If you are looking for a way to start a conversation about OT, use one of these facts about our profession. Enjoy! Cheryl Hall, OT Author and Illustrator, Occupational Therapy Toolkit Occupational therapy techniques...Read more

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Want to Be a Good OT? Remember What you Learned In Kindergarten?

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Want to Be a Good OT? Remember What you Learned In Kindergarten?

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Click HERE to View Webpage

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Want to Be a Good OT? Remember What You Learned in Kindergarten!

by Cheryl Hall on March 14th, 2020

I ran across a copy of Robert Fulghum's best selling book All You Really Need to Know You Learned in Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. Published more than 30 years ago, it was published at the start of my OT career. I remember thinking how his wonderful advice rang true for me . So, here are five kindergarten lessons included in Robert Fulghum's book that contributed to my OT career.

Share
Whether it's a peer, coworker, student, caregiver or patient- share your experience,
resources and expertise. By sharing, you help build the occupational therapy profession, you help patients achieve their occupation-based goals and you become a better OT.

Live a Balanced Life
As OTs we give, give, give all day long. We work long past the minute we leave a patient continually thinking about their challenges. To counter these demands, we need to find a way to balance our lives. Make time for something you love each day - get outside, listen to music, have a cup of tea, play with your pet, or read a book. By seeking balance, you will have more to give to your OT patients.

Be Aware of Wonder
Hold on to your childlike sense of wonder about the world as a way to stay curious. Ask "why" a lot! A curious OT is a creative OT, and a better OT!

Life is Short
(I am paraphrasing here - Fulghum was a little more direct!) Depending on the population you help, you are going to have to deal with losing patients. While you never stop mourning those who pass, hang on to the good you did for those patients. Handling these losses with grace and strength helps your colleagues and the family.

Remember the Most Important Word "LOOK"
Never operate on automatic pilot. Really look at your patients, their challenges, their environment, their hopes and dreams, their caregivers and their progress. All these will impact the way you approach the patient's plan of care so keep looking.

Have you read All You Really Need to Know You Learned in Kindergarten? Are there other lessons you learned in kindergarten that you apply to your OT career? Let me know!

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Want to Be a Good OT? Remember What You Learned in Kindergarten!

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I ran across a copy of Robert Fulghum's best selling book All You Really Need to Know You Learned in Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. Published more than 30 years ago, it was published at the start of my OT career.

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Click HERE to View Webpage

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by Cheryl Hall on March 15th, 2019

Look at the headlines and you will quickly see that the word "caregiver" is associated with a lot of negative words...burden...stress...crisis...burnout...exhausted. Caregivers play a vital role whether they are assisting with ADLs or IDALs, communicating and advocating with health care providers, providing some nursing care, or just staying current with health needs and management. So take time to mindfully build a strong relationship with the caregiver in your patient's life.

Make Caregivers Part of the Team
As Occupational Therapy professionals, we can intentionally build a strong partnership with caregivers to maximize patient independence and well-being. Include caregivers in assessments and appointments; build rapport with the person who is central to the patient's daily life, and approach the care as a team. Written materials and handouts will help the caregiver reinforce your patient's goals between therapy sessions.

Teach the "Why" and "How" of Modifications and Adaptations
Instruct both patients and caregivers on all modifications and adaptations that you recommend. Patients may not have the capacity to even make the simplest modifications, like removing throw rugs to reduce the risk of falls, so caregivers are the key to carrying out the work. The use of adaptive equipment to increase mobility and independence benefits the patient and the caregiver, many times in equal measure, so the caregiver needs to understand the purpose and proper use of equipment as much as the patient does.

Provide Motivational Tools
The caregiver is the one that will be with the patient day in and day out and should be given the tools to motivate and encourage the patient to live the most independent and fulfilling life possible. When the caregiver understands and supports the short and long term goals of therapy, they can be the cheerleader at home to make sure the daily steps are taken to reach the goal. They are also in a great position to monitor and chart daily progress not only to report to the health care team but to motivate the patient.

Help Manage the Daily Details
Managing appointments, medications and lifestyle is many times up to the caregivers. Acute conditions in particular can leave the family in need of tools to manage the new reality. Occupational Therapists can provide strategies to manage medications and appointments, share the latest information on the condition or disease, and encourage positive lifestyle changes that the patient can implement with assistance from their caregiver.

Promote Self Care
Without the help and support of informal caregivers, many patients would be in crisis. Yet, each of us have only so much to give and that includes even the most dedicated of caregivers. To help, make sure your patient's caregiver is well connected to the resources available like case management services, respite care, in home care, support groups or financial assistance.

Team building, explaining why, providing tools to manage and motivate, and promoting self-care all will help your caregivers. Ultimately, care for the caregiver will mean better care for your patient and better outcomes. Even caregivers need a little OT!

Cheryl Hall, OT
Author and Illustrator, Occupational Therapy Toolkit

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Caregivers Need Occupational Therapy Too

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Look at the headlines and you will quickly see that the word "caregiver" is associated with a lot of negative words...burden...stress...crisis...burnout...exhausted.

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Discover OT~ Cincinnati Children's Hospital

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Discover OT~ Cincinnati Children's Hospital

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Discover Occupational Therapy | Cincinnati Children's

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100 Influential People (in OT's 100-Year History)

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100 Influential People (in OT's 100-Year History)

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The 100 Influential Persons were nominated by the public and OTArchive Editorial Board and were selected by the editorial board based on criteria included on the nomination form. Questions and corrections can be sent to OTArchive@aota.org.

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The 100 Influential People of Occupational Therapy's History

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The 100 Influential Persons were nominated by the public and OTArchive Editorial Board and were selected by the editorial board based on criteria included on the nomination form. Questions and corrections can be sent to OTArchive@aota.org.

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AOTA - 32 Creative Ways to Gain OT Experience...

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AOTA - 32 Creative Ways to Gain OT Experience...

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Click HERE to View Webpage

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Considering OT? Hear OT Career Stories from AOTA!

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Considering OT? Hear OT Career Stories from AOTA!

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Click HERE to View Webpage

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What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You? 

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What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You? 

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The American Occupational Therapy Association

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What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?

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The ABC's of OT Specialty Certifications and Credentials

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The ABC's of OT Specialty Certifications and Credentials

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Even among healthcare professionals, it can be difficult to decode the alphabet soup that follows an occupational therapist's name.

Unscrambling which credentials and certifications your Occupational Therapist (OT) holds will help you understand their training and qualifications to meet your particular needs. You may even want to seek out an OT that holds a specific certification.

OTR/L is the standard occupational therapy credential and signifies that the professional is an "OT" who is "R," registered by the national OT credentialing board, and "L," licensed by your particular state.

If your occupational therapist is an OT/L, this indicates that they passed the national certification exam, but has not kept their certification with the board, which requires a fee and proof of continuing education every three years.

There is a good chance that an OT with the OTR/L credential has received their master's, as this is currently the minimum education required for an OT to practicing.

However, if your OT has been practicing since 2007, they may only hold a bachelor's degree. OTs with bachelor's degrees were grandfathered in, in 2007 when entry-level switched from the bachelor's degree to the master's degree.

Some OTs will indicate that they have obtained a master's with the designation MOT, MA, or MS.

The OTD credential indicates that the occupational therapist has received their doctorate in occupational therapy. Doctoral programs are becoming increasingly popular as the profession is contemplating the move toward an entry-level doctorate, though there are currently only seven fully accredited entry-level doctoral programs compared to 161 entry-level masters programs.

An OT with a doctorate will have had about three years of post-baccalaureate education versus an MOT, who would only have about 2.5 years. Doctoral programs vary in their focus, but the OTD practitioner may have had more training in clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development.

COTA stands for a certified occupational therapy assistant. This credential indicates the professional holds an associate degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program and passed the national certification exam. The scope of practice for a COTA varies from state to state, but in general, COTAs must work under the supervision of an occupational therapist, can deliver many of the same treatments, but not plot the overall course of care.

A specialty certification often signifies that an OT has undergone additional training in a particular area, passed an exam, and kept up with continuing education related to the topic.

If you are looking for an OT who specializes in a particular area, here is a list of common certifications:

ATP: Assistive Technology Professional

ATP/SMS: Seating and Mobility Specialist

ATRIC: Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification

C/NDT: Neuro-Developmental Treatment Certification

CAPS: Certified Aging in Place Specialist

CAS: Certified Autism Specialist

CBIS: Certified Brain Injury Specialist

CHT: Certified Hand Therapist

CIEE: Certified Industrial Ergonomic Evaluator

CIRS: Certified Industrial Rehabilitation Specialist

CKTP: Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner

CLT: Certified Lymphedema Therapist

CRDS: Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist

CSRS: Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist

CVLT: Certified Low Vision Therapist

HPSC: Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist

LSVT BIG: Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG

SIPT: Sensory Integration and the Sensory Integration Praxis Test

Different national and international organizations regulate the above certifications. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), which is that national association for occupational therapists, also rewards the following certifications to practitioners who have logged 2,000-5,000 hours of work in a particular area and undertaking continuing education in that area.

BCG: Board Certification in Gerontology

BCMH: Board Certification in Mental Health

BCP: Board Certification in Pediatrics

BCPR: Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation

SCDCM: Specialty Certification in Driving and Community Mobility

SCEM: Specialty Certification in Environmental Modification

SCFES: Specialty Certification in Feeding, Eating and Swallowing

SCLV: Specialty Certification in Low Vision

SCSS: Specialty Certification in School Systems

FAOTA: Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association

The FAOTA certification is an exception as it is received through a nomination process. The AOTA awards the nominees the designation for making a significant contribution to the profession by utilizing special skills or knowledge in therapeutic practice, education, research, or administration.

This list is a general guide to credentials and certifications. There are certainly other credentials and certifications that OTs may hold. The best way to learn about your OTs qualification to meet your particular need is to ask them.

Please note that these credentials and certifications apply only to occupational therapists in the United States. Each country has its own system for credentialing and awarding specialty certifications.

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The ABCs of OT Specialty Certifications and Credentials

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Even among healthcare professionals, it can be difficult to decode the alphabet soup that follows an occupational therapist's name. Unscrambling which credentials and certifications your Occupational Therapist (OT) holds will help you understand their training and qualifications to meet your particular needs. You may even want to seek out an OT that holds a specific certification.

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A Day In The Life Of A Pediatric OT in a Hospital Setting 

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A Day In The Life Of A Pediatric OT in a Hospital Setting 

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A Day in the Life of our Occupational Therapists

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OT In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Setting

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OT In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Setting

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Inpatient occupational therapy at Martin Health System

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A Day in the Life of an Acute Care OT with Ashley Hayward | OT Miri

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OT In Hand Therapy: Diane's Perspective 

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OT In Hand Therapy: Diane's Perspective 

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OT In School-Based Setting: Sherri's Perspective 

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OT In School-Based Setting: Sherri's Perspective 

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A Day In The Life Of A Mental Health OT In A Hospital Setting 

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A Day In The Life Of A Mental Health OT In A Hospital Setting 

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Working as a occupational therapist at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

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If you're interested in joining our Trust, visit the careers section on our website here: www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/about-us/join-us

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A Day In The Life Of A Skilled Nursing Facility OT 

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A Day In The Life Of A Skilled Nursing Facility OT 

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A Day in the Life of a SNF OT with Mary Carroll | OT Miri

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Emily's Career as an Occupational Therapist

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OT Potential * Occupational Therapy Resources

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Looking for an occupational therapy quote to share on social media, pin-up in your office, or just refresh your OT spirit?

These quotes are for you.

I believe quotes are vital to our profession. We currently have difficulty defining ourselves. We shrink from the bold statements about the core of our practice- that daily tasks are vital to healing.

This is where quotes come in. They give us the language to articulate what we intuit and build our practices on. You can bet that we are not the only ones to have found meaning in daily activities.

Enjoy! (And feel free to share the images.)

The Value of Daily Activities

From Laura Ingalls to Ana Tijoux ( a French-Chilean hip-hop artist), assertions of the value of daily activities pop-up across literature and art.

Here's some of my favorites:

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20 Occupational Therapy Quotes - OT Potential

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Looking for an occupational therapy quote to share on social media, pin-up in your office, or just refresh your OT spirit? These quotes are for you. I believe quotes are vital to our profession. We currently have difficulty defining ourselves. We shrink from the bold statements about the core of our practice- that daily tasks are vital to healing.

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OT In Academia: Dr. Ching's Perspective 

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OT In Academia: Dr. Ching's Perspective 

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Click HERE to Join the AOTA!