Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Professional Ethics and Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An OTA in a skilled nursing facility is asked by the supervising OT to perform an initial evaluation. The OTA should:
- Complete the evaluation since OTAs are trained to assess patients
- Perform the evaluation and co-sign with the OT afterward
- Inform the OT that evaluation and re-evaluation are within the OT's scope, not the OTA's (Correct answer)
- Complete the evaluation only if the OT is present in the building
Correct answer: Inform the OT that evaluation and re-evaluation are within the OT's scope, not the OTA's
Initial evaluation and re-evaluation are within the OT's scope of practice; the OTA role in evaluation is to contribute data under OT supervision but not to independently perform formal evaluations.
Question 2: Which level of supervision requires the OT to be on-site and immediately available when the OTA is providing services?
- Routine supervision
- General supervision
- Close supervision (Correct answer)
- Minimal supervision
Correct answer: Close supervision
Close supervision requires the supervising OT to be on-site and immediately available to the OTA at all times during service provision.
Question 3: A patient asks an OTA to be their friend on social media. According to professional ethics, the OTA should:
- Accept to maintain therapeutic rapport
- Accept only after discharge
- Decline and explain the professional boundary policy (Correct answer)
- Refer the question to the supervising OT
Correct answer: Decline and explain the professional boundary policy
Professional boundaries prohibit dual relationships that could compromise objectivity or exploit the therapeutic relationship, including social media connections.
Question 4: The NBCOT Candidate/Certificant Code of Conduct prohibits which of the following during the certification exam?
- Using scratch paper provided by the testing center
- Requesting an accommodation for a disability
- Accessing unauthorized materials or electronic devices (Correct answer)
- Taking scheduled breaks during the exam
Correct answer: Accessing unauthorized materials or electronic devices
Accessing unauthorized materials constitutes exam misconduct and violates NBCOT's Code of Conduct, potentially resulting in score cancellation and certification denial.
Question 5: An OTA notices a patient appears to have bruising consistent with physical abuse. Under mandatory reporting laws, the OTA is required to:
- Wait for the supervising OT to decide whether to report
- Document the observation and report to the appropriate adult protective or child protective services agency (Correct answer)
- Keep the information confidential due to HIPAA
- Only report if the patient confirms abuse occurred
Correct answer: Document the observation and report to the appropriate adult protective or child protective services agency
OTAs are mandated reporters in most U.S. states and are required to report suspected abuse to protective services regardless of confirmation from the patient.
Question 6: Which document outlines the minimum educational standards that OTA programs must meet in the United States?
- NBCOT Practice Guidelines
- AOTA Code of Ethics
- ACOTE Standards for OTA Education (Correct answer)
- State Licensure Practice Act
Correct answer: ACOTE Standards for OTA Education
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) publishes and enforces the standards that all accredited OTA programs must meet.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Professional Ethics and Standards 2
An OTA in a skilled nursing facility is asked by the supervising OT to perform an initial evaluation.
The OTA should: