Clarification of Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)Scope of Practice regarding “school certification” in New Jersey school districts In June, 2016, New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA) and American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) joined forces to resolve the following issue: Are OTA’s in NJ required to obtain school certification to provide OT services to students in NJ school districts? Both NJOTA & AOTA were concerned that any ambiguity relating to this issue could have unintended repercussions on OTA recruitment, job security, and adequate access to OT services by NJ students. On August 5, 2016, delegates from NJOTA and AOTA met in Trenton, NJ, with New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) representatives to obtain clarification on this important issue. |