All regulated health professionals follow written standards of practice. The Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada guide the practice of occupational therapists in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. The College has issued written Standards of Practice for occupational therapists that define the standards reasonably expected of an ordinary, competent occupational therapist.
It’s not possible for the College to write a standard for every aspect of occupational therapy practice. Some standards are unwritten. These unwritten standards are part of the expectations for professional conduct. Unwritten standards can be based on publications from the College and guidance about specific areas of practice. They can be based on evidence from experts, what is taught in occupational therapy university programs, and found in academic literature.
What are some unwritten standards of practice for occupational therapists?
Unwritten standards of practice encompass a variety of professional behaviours, decisions, and communications that demonstrate sound judgment and an awareness of context.
Examples might include:
- Giving credit to others and acknowledging with humility when you are learning.
- Recognizing that just because something is “allowed” doesn’t always mean it is appropriate or “right” given the context.
Why it matters?
Professional conduct – maintaining public trust and avoiding unintentional harm or miscommunication with clients – is central to what is reasonably expected of ordinary, competent occupational therapists. Often rooted in core values such as empathy, respect, and discretion, professional conduct is fundamentally about always acting in the client’s best interests.
Examples of professional conduct include:
- Arriving on time for appointments and work shifts
- Knocking before entering a client’s hospital room
- Asking permission before touching or moving items in a client’s home
- Responding promptly to questions or concerns
- Offering a genuine apology when a mistake is made
- Communicating with clients using professional tone and language
- Avoiding negative discussions about the workplace, particularly where clients might overhear
Implications for Practice
Written standards cannot anticipate every practice scenario or potential risk. When the standards do not fully address a situation, occupational therapists are expected to use their professional judgment to bridge those gaps. For example, occupational therapists are expected to “Co-create with clients a shared understanding of scope of services, expectations, and priorities.” (Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada, A1.1) and “Select assessment methods and tools that are most suitable for clients and that consider the scope of services, using current theories, relevant evidence, and best-practice approaches.” (Standard for Assessment and Intervention, 2.2).
To do this,
- Occupational therapists need to think about the parts that are not written out, like the client’s unique needs, possible risks to the client, and workplace or organizational requirements.
- Occupational therapists may also face challenges like heavy workloads, emotional exhaustion, and other job pressures, which do not come with clear guidelines on how to navigate.
Whether there is a written standard or not, continue to use client‑centered communication strategies, seek guidance from peers, review practice situations, and apply an ethical lens to your decision‑making. Reflecting on how your decisions and actions may be perceived can help ensure they align with professional expectations.
Consider asking yourself,
- How might a colleague or employer perceive this decision, action, behaviour, or comment?
- Would a group of occupational therapy peers view it as professionally appropriate?
- How would it be interpreted by the public if it were featured on the news?
All occupational therapists are expected to speak to their practice and provide a rationale for their decision-making and actions that consider both the written and unwritten standards for the profession.
Additional resources such as guidance documents, case studies and Q&As are available to support occupational therapists in following the standards. For questions, please contact our Practice Resource Service at 1-800-890-6570 ext. 240 or practice@coto.org.
