Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Professional Ethics and Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization is responsible for certifying occupational therapy assistants in the United States?
- AOTA
- NBCOT (Correct answer)
- ACOTE
- OSHA
Correct answer: NBCOT
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) administers the OTA certification exam and maintains certification standards.
Question 2: An OTA discovers a colleague is falsifying patient documentation. According to the AOTA Code of Ethics, the OTA should FIRST:
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Report it directly to the state licensure board
- Address the concern with the colleague or immediate supervisor (Correct answer)
- Document the observation in the patient's chart
Correct answer: Address the concern with the colleague or immediate supervisor
The AOTA Code of Ethics principle of Veracity requires OTAs to address suspected ethical violations through appropriate internal channels before escalating externally.
Question 3: Under NBCOT certification standards, a COTA must complete how many professional development units (PDUs) every three years to maintain certification?
- 18 PDUs
- 24 PDUs (Correct answer)
- 36 PDUs
- 48 PDUs
Correct answer: 24 PDUs
NBCOT requires 36 PDUs every three-year certification renewal cycle for COTAs to maintain their COTA credential.
Question 4: Which ethical principle requires an OTA to act in the best interest of the patient, even when it conflicts with the OTA's personal preferences?
- Autonomy
- Nonmaleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence obligates OT practitioners to promote the well-being of clients and take positive actions that benefit them.
Question 5: An OTA working in a school setting is asked by a teacher to share a student's confidential therapy notes. The OTA should:
- Share the notes because the teacher is part of the educational team
- Refuse to share any information under any circumstances
- Verify that appropriate FERPA-compliant consent or need-to-know exists before sharing (Correct answer)
- Ask the supervising OT to share the notes instead
Correct answer: Verify that appropriate FERPA-compliant consent or need-to-know exists before sharing
In educational settings, FERPA governs student records, and OTAs must ensure proper authorization exists before disclosing therapy-related information.
Question 6: The AOTA Code of Ethics principle of 'Fidelity' primarily requires OTA practitioners to:
- Avoid causing harm to clients
- Treat all clients with equal access to services
- Be honest and keep commitments to clients, colleagues, and the profession (Correct answer)
- Respect the client's right to make their own decisions
Correct answer: Be honest and keep commitments to clients, colleagues, and the profession
Fidelity requires OT practitioners to be trustworthy, honor commitments, and maintain honesty in all professional relationships.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Professional Ethics and Standards 1
Which organization is responsible for certifying occupational therapy assistants in the United States?