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Membership in professional organizations is viewed not only as a right but as a professional responsibility. Since professionalism begins during the college years - not just upon graduation or licensure - all students are encouraged to join and be an active participant in national, state, and local organizations. These organizations include:

• National
  • American Occupational Therapy Association - (AOTA)

    AOTA was established in 1917 to promote the profession of OT and to foster excellence in practice. It does so through many routes such as:

    • standards for practice and education

    • accreditation of educational programs (ACOTE: Accreditation Council for OT Education)

    • continuing education

    • consumer education

    • political action

    AOTA’s future depends upon the active involvement of all of its members, particularly our future OTs, our present students. Student membership benefits include:

    • membership in the American Student Committee of the OT Association (ASCOTA)

    • subscription to the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (A JOT) and OT Week.

    • reduced rates for attendance at national conferences and other continuing education events

    • AOTA member handbook

    • reduced rates for AOTA books and other publications access to low-cost insurance, special promotions assistance from National Office staff on professional issues and concerns

    • privilege of listing membership in AOTA on resumes, applications, etc.

    • membership in one special interest section (SIS) and periodic newsletter from that SIS

  • Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD)

    This is the collective body whose purpose is to provide a means whereby student members may effectively give input to AOTA decision making, promote the well-being of students involved in OT education and enhance their knowledge of OT and AOTA through participation in the affairs of AOTA. Membership is automatic when joining as a student member of AOTA. ASD cannot be joined independently of AOTA.

• State:

  Each state has its own professional organization, also with local affiliates. The student has the choice of being a member of the PA group while here as a student or joining the state organization from their home state. Information on contacts for other state organizations not mentioned here may be obtained from AOTA.

  • Pennsylvania OT Association - (POTA)

    POTA supports its membership by providing opportunities for professional networking, education and recognition of achievement. It is linked to AOTA to address state issues and to share resources and knowledge to benefit OT practice. POTA works to increase practice diversity and opportunity by keeping members up-to-date on state health care issues and to maintain relationships with other disciplines, health care agencies, third party reimbursement agencies, legislative and consumer groups. Membership in the POTA automatically includes membership in a local POTA affiliate which is organized to address similar issues on a local regional basis. Members can also take advantage of a regular state and local newsletter, reduced fees for continuing education and participation in regular local professional meetings. Membership information can be obtained by calling:1-800-URI-POTA.

  • New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA)

  • Ohio Occupational Therapy Association (OOTA)

• Local Organizations
  • Gannon University Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)

    An organization limited solely to OT students at Gannon University. The organization is student governed and maintained. It has a set of by-laws and its purposes include education, service and social issues. SOTA has elected officers and class reps as well as a "big-brother/big-sister" system to assist new students in learning about OT as well as Gannon. Meetings are generally held every other week on campus.

• Certification and Licensing Bodies

  Occupational Therapists in the United States must be at least initially certified by the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and then, in most states, licensed. The following links include NBCOT and the licensure boards for the states nearest Gannon. Addresses for boards from other states can be found at AOTA and NBCOT, or do a search for "occupational therapy license" along with the state name on any standard search engine.

  • National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

  • State Licensure Boards
    • Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy
    • New York State Board of Occupational Therapy
    • Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Atheletic Trainers Board