Guide to Classification of Occupational Therapy Personnel.

The "Guide to Classification of Occupational Therapy Personnel" has been developed as a resource for the American Occupational Therapy Association and for health care administrators and others requiring the services of occupational therapy personnel. The guide to common job roles of occupational therapy describes the qualifications and performance expectations of associated roles. The job roles are referred to as classifications; the classifications addressed are a) staff occupational therapist, registered (OTR), including entry level, intermediate, and advanced; b) staff certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), including entry level, intermediate, and advanced; c) occupational therapy supervisor; and d) occupational therapy department manager/director. This listing represents roles found typically in departmen ts of institutions and is not intended to address the other roles occupational therapists perform in health care and educational settings. Other roles not addressed include, but are not limited to, private practitioner, consultant, faculty member, researcher, clinical coordinator, and administrator of multiservice departments. The document describes performance areas that assist in the definition of job roles and responsibilities of various occupational therapy personnel. The levels of personnel were chosen to reflect advancement with those who provide direct treatment services. The terms intermediate and advanced were specifically selected to reflect the degree of clinical expertise rather than longevity within the profession. The levels of management personnel (supervisor, department manager/director) also were chosen to reflect advancement in administrative roles.