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NBCOT Practice Standards/Code of
Conduct
NBCOT has a responsibility to promote and maintain standards of professional conduct in the practice of
occupational therapy. In order to protect the public, those applying for NBCOT certification must abide by
the code of conduct.
Certificants or certification applicants who do not meet the code of conduct standards are subject to the
Procedures for the Enforcement of the NBCOT Code of Conduct. These procedures enable NBCOT to protect
the rights of candidates and certificants while upholding NBCOT’s responsibilities as a certifying agency to
the public.
Preamble
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (“NBCOT,” formerly known as “AOTCB”) is
a professional organization that supports and promotes occupational therapy practitioner certification. This
Candidate/Certificant Code of Conduct enables NBCOT to define and clarify the standards of personal and
professional conduct required for eligibility for both initial and continued certification, i.e., OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPIST REGISTERED OTR® (OTR) henceforth OTR, and CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
COTA® (COTA) henceforth COTA. Where the term “certificant is used, the term “applicant or candidate” is
included in its scope.
It is vital that NBCOT certificants conduct their work in a professional manner to earn and maintain the
confidence and respect of recipients of occupational therapy, colleagues, employers, students, and the
public.
As certified professionals in the field of occupational therapy, NBCOT certificants will at all times act with
integrity; adhere to high standards for personal and professional conduct; accept responsibility for their
actions, both personally and professionally; continually seek to enhance their professional capabilities;
practice in a competent, fair, honest, equitable, and just manner; abide by all federal, state, and local
laws and regulations; and encourage others to act in a professional manner consistent with the practice
standards and responsibilities set forth below.
Principle 1
Certificants shall provide accurate, truthful, and timely representations to NBCOT, including, but not limited
to:
• The submission of information on the exam application, certification renewal applications,
or the renewal audit form;
• Answers to character review questions and, once certified, the disclosure of any criminal,
legal, or other disciplinary matters within 60 days of any such matter;
• The submission of information requested by NBCOT for alleged violations of NBCOT’s
policies, requirements, and standards. Certificants shall cooperate with NBCOT concerning
investigations and requests for relevant information; and
• The submission of information regarding her/his/their credential(s), professional license(s),
and/or education.