To advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research through standard-setting and advocacy on behalf of its members, the profession, and the public.

Professional development: aota supports a wide range of services to support the profession of occupational therapy ("ot"). Broadly speaking, these fall into three major categories: education, accreditation and professional standards. Education is the first area of professional development for the occupational therapist. The development can be for those entering the profession, enhancing the skills of those in the profession and supporting the quality of programs that provide education services to therapists. Most importantly, this includes aota's annual conference & exposition-the premiere education event held for therapists. The conference was attended by 12,457 therapists from around the country. In the course of the conference, a therapist is able to meet their requirement for continuing education. Pre-conference day-long institutes and seminars are offered for those wishing to participate. During conference, covering four days over 1,100 educational sessions are offered. Additionally, the conference exposition hall displays the latest in technology, job offerings, products and educational opportunities to attendees. Aota also puts on specialty conferences to improve skills in specific areas. During the year two specialty conferences were held on autism and chronic conditions. In the other areas of professional development and licensure support, aota offers online educational courses. Aota developed 70 continuing education courses during the year. Aota provides additional board and specialty certification in several areas of the profession with sixty-eight certifications being earned during the year, bringing the total number of certificates to 376. In fy17, the fifth cohort emerging leaders program was held over two days for 15 ot's. To date, there have been 289 participants in the program. Related to this area, a program for middle managers was offered with 17 participants. In terms of field work educators, thirty-seven certification programs were conducted during the year, with 1,110 practitioners being awarded certificates. More than 2,510 practitioners have completed the certification program. Second, aota, through accreditation council for occupational therapy education, ("acote") accredits 528 academic programs offered by junior colleges, colleges and universities that offer a course of study in occupational therapy. This accreditation process involves the establishment of criteria for the schools and monitoring their compliance against requirements and program offerings to students. Schools are visited during the review process; in fy17 there were 65 accreditation on-site evaluations and 26 initial accreditation visits. Acote is recognized by both chia and usde as a specialized accreditor. The council on higher education accreditation ("chea") granted acote re-recognition for a five year period. Occupational therapy residencies are designed to advance a practitioner's performance and interpersonal skills, critical and ethical reasoning, and overall expertise in a focused area of practice. Residency programs offer opportunities for didactic learning, mentored practice, and scholarship for occupational therapists that have graduated and completed the requirements for licensure. By participating in a residency program, individuals have the opportunity to advance their clinical skills and become more marketable in the field of occupational therapy as specialized practitioners. Nine schools have been recognized during the year. The final area is the development of professional standards as it relates to practice, ethics, evidence and standards. Aota maintains several committees and commissions that are charged with development and promulgation of practice standards. Aota publishes two practice guidelines, one on cancer rehabilitation with adults and the second on practice guidelines for adults with alzheimer's disease. Aota also maintains an ethics commission which provides guidance in the conduct of practice