A perspective on occupational therapy education.

The Commission on Education (COE) is designated in the Bylaws of AOTA as one of the standing commissions of the Representative Assembly (RA) (1). Its purpose is to promote the quality of education and educational standards for occu pational therapy assistants. To accomplish this purpose, the COE's functions include the following: 1. developing, interpreting, and reviewing educational standards (the ESSENTIALS) for technical and professional education; 2. providing consultation for developing and ongoing technical, professional, and graduate programs; 3. reviewing and editing documents about education; 4. developing and implementing continuing education opportunities for educators; 5. reporting to the RA. The COE comprises representatives from each technical, professional, and advanced professional educational program. Each program has one academic, one student, and one clinical representative. There are currently 55 approved technical education programs, 56 accredited professional educational programs, and 22 postprofessional educational programs, bringing the total of the COE to 399 members. During 1982 there were 9,848 students and 714 faculty engaged in technical, professional, and postprofessional occupational therapy educational programs, along with approximately H. Kay Grant, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is Chair, Commission on Education, and Director, Occupational Therapy Division, School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State Unive;'sity, Columbus, Ohio.