WFOT Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists: Shaping the Profession

Abstract

The article addresses how the WFOT Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists came into being, and their wide-ranging influence on the development of the profession. It is suggested that having Minimum Standards has brought about a shared understanding of what occupational therapy involves and what occupational therapists can do. Changes within and external to the profession have, however, meant that ongoing revision has been necessary. Key factors that influenced the recent revisions include the renaissance of occupation as well as the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the United Nations’ insistence that health professionals be prepared to meet local health needs. The centrality of occupation, the adoption of ICF language, and an expectation that educational curricula are tailored to local needs are identified as key features of the revised Standards