Ethics for OTs – New Online CE Course

Ethics for OTs is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that teaches Occupational Therapists (OTs) how to address ethical and moral dilemmas in practice.

Ethics for OTs is a new 3-hour online CE/CEU course that teaches Occupational Therapists (OTs) how to address ethical and moral dilemmas in practice.

Ethical and moral issues pervade our lives and healthcare professionals are constantly confronted with a variety of ethical and moral dilemmas. Decisions can have long-range effects professionally and personally, not only for the healthcare professional, but for patients, clients, healthcare entities, and society. Why does one decision win out over another? What constitutes the decision-making process? How do decisions impact those involved?

Occupational therapists are engaged in an “ethic of care,” where activities of daily living are not just a function, but also an expression of values. Helping people maintain their maximum possible functioning is seen in relation to society and the common good of all persons (Taylor, 2015). This is an abstract ideal that must be put into practice in an imperfect world. How does the occupational therapist make decisions about what is best for the person when there are difficult choices to make?

This course will discuss the common moral and ethical dilemmas that occupational therapists face. The course is based on the 2020 Code of Ethics of the American Occupational Therapy Association and research that offers evidence-based practice strategies. Note that the field of ethics changes over time. The AOTA states that the Code of Ethics “is designed to reflect the dynamic nature of the occupational therapy profession, the evolving health care environment, and emerging technologies that can present potential ethical concerns in practice, research, education, and policy” (AOTA, 2020). This course is updated every few years, but there will always be new information that affects the ethical practice of occupational therapy, and this must be considered during the decision-making process. Course #31-44 | 2022 | 56 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more about Ethics for OTs

Ethics for OTs is an online course that provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation. Click here to learn more.


Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

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