AOTA-SUPERVISION-ETHICS — AOTA Advisory: Ethical Supervision in Occupational Therapy
What does AOTA-SUPERVISION-ETHICS say?
Supervision in OT involves ethical obligations for both supervisors and supervisees. Key guidance from the 2025 Code (Standards of Conduct — Professional Competence, Education, Supervision, and Training): (1) Supervisors must be competent in both the clinical area and supervision practices. (2) OTAs must practice under OTR supervision as required by state law and AOTA guidelines. (3) Level of supervision should be based on the supervisee's competence, client complexity, and practice setting. (4) Students providing OT services must be supervised according to educational program requirements and state regulations. (5) Supervisors are responsible for the quality of services provided by supervisees. (6) Honest, timely, and constructive feedback is an ethical obligation of supervisors. (7) When a supervisee's performance endangers client welfare, the supervisor must intervene promptly. (8) The supervisor-supervisee relationship involves a power differential that must be managed ethically — exploitation, harassment, or dual relationships are prohibited. (9) Supervision of entry-level OTRs should support transition to independent practice. (10) Documentation of supervision activities, including frequency, content, and outcomes, is required. Related Principles: Beneficence (promoting client welfare), Nonmaleficence (preventing harm), Fidelity (professional obligations).
Official source: read the full text in the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2025) (official document).