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Illinois Occupational Therapy Aides

What is the definition of an aide?

An aide in occupational therapy may also be called an occupational therapy technician (tech) or occupational therapy paraprofessional.  This is a person who is not licensed by the Board and provides supportive services to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants that may include client-related and non-client related duties and that do not require the knowledge, skills or judgment of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant

What tasks can an aide perform?

Any duties assigned to an aide in occupational therapy must be determined and appropriately supervised by an occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant and must not exceed the level of training, knowledge, skill and competence of the individual being supervised.

Duties and/or functions that aides in occupational therapy may perform include, but are not limited to:

Under supervision:

    • Routine department maintenance work;
    • Transportation of individuals/patients/clients;
    • Preparation or setting up of treatment equipment and work areas;
    • Taking care of individuals'/patients'/clients' personal needs during treatment that are not part of occupational therapy treatment;
    • Clerical, secretarial, administrative activities; and
    • Assisting in the construction of adaptive equipment.

On-site supervision and within the visual field of the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant:

    • Following up with selected routine activity or exercise; and
    • Aiding the occupational therapist and/or the occupational therapy assistant during occupational therapy treatment of the individual, patient or client.

What is an aide expressly prohibited from doing?

Duties or functions that aides in occupational therapy shall not perform include, but are not limited to:

    • Initiate and/or interpret referrals for occupational therapy services;
    • Perform evaluative/assessment procedures;
    • Develop, plan, adjust or modify treatment procedures;
    • Act on behalf of the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant in any matter related to direct individual/patient/client care that requires judgment or decisionmaking;
    • Document services reported as occupational therapy; or
    • Represent himself or herself as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.
    • An aide in occupational therapy may not provide direct individual/patient/client treatment.

What are the responsibilities of the OT when delegating to an aide?

An occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant may delegate to an aide in occupational therapy only specific tasks, which are neither evaluative, selective nor recommending in nature, only after insuring that the aide has been appropriately trained for the performance of the task.

What type of supervision is required?

An aide in occupational therapy works under the direct on-site supervision of an occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant who is ultimately responsible for the use of aides in occupational therapy.

Reference

68 Ill. Admin. Code § 1315.164



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