Do You Know the Difference

Nevada Occupational Therapy Association (NOTA) is the state association primarily for occupational therapy practitioners. Membership is voluntary and you must contact the association to obtain membership details.

Mission statement: “To improve, advance and advocate for the profession and practice of Occupational Therapy. NOTA, also, strives to further educational opportunities, support research and maintain the standards of practice as established by the American Occupational Therapy Association.”

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the national association primarily for occupational therapy practitioners and occupational therapy students. Membership is voluntary and you must contact the association to obtain membership details.

Mission statement: “To support a professional community of members and to develop and preserve the viability and relevance of the profession. The organization serves the interest of its members, represents the profession to the public and promotes access to occupational therapy services.” AOTA offers its members a wide variety of support staff and regulatory boards with guidelines that assist in the regulation of occupational therapy practitioners.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the national certification board. NBCOT administers the entry-level examination for both occupational therapists and therapy assistants. Registration and certification are mandatory if you choose to use the “R” in OTR and “C” in COTA. Those acronyms are trademarked by NBCOT.

Mission statement: “Above all else the mission of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy is to serve the public interest. We provide a world-class standard for certification of occupational therapy practitioners. NBCOT will develop, administer and continually review the certification process based on current and valid standards that provide reliable indicators of competence for the practice of occupational therapy.”

State of Nevada, Board of Occupational Therapy is the licensing board for the state. All occupational therapy practitioners must maintain licensure in order to practice.

Mission statement: “To protect the public health, safety and welfare by ensuring that only competent occupational therapy practitioners are licensed in the state and that those licensed practitioners maintain the highest level of professional conduct. This includes ensuring the competency of occupational therapy practitioners by requiring annual continuing education courses; and to provide the public with a means by which they can pursue administrative legal recourse.”