Reflections - How are they different?

When writing your application reflections, how do you keep from being redundant from one reflection to the next? The answer is...by keeping your focus!

Reflection 1 – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO (answered for all competencies): Describe how the professional development activities submitted for this competency helped you meet the identified indicators and why you believe they were the best approach to learning.

• This reflection should focus on the activities you submitted to demonstrate achievement of the various indicators in each competency. Why did you choose them?


• How did the activities you chose support your learning and professional development relative to the indicators? For example, did you learn new information or have old ideas validated? If so, describe them.


• Why were the activities you chose the best approach to learning? For example, was mentoring a good choice because of its interactive nature and the ability to develop interpersonal skills more fully?


• Did you discover that something wasn't very meaningful for you? Was there something to be learned form that discovery?

Reflection 2 – PRACTICE CHANGES (answered for the 3 competencies of your choice): How has your practice changed as a result of meeting this competency?

Now that you've engaged in all the activities discussed previously, how has that translated in terms of your practice? What did you start doing differently or start emphasizing more? For example, do you find you are now more conscious of certain cultural issues with clients? Do you consistently implement a new evaluation or intervention methods? Do you engage families in ways you never did before? Are you able to articulate with greater confidence to others the value of OT and what you’re doing?

Reflection 3 – CLIENT OUTCOMES (answered for same 3 competencies as #2): Describe how the practice changes you have identified above have influenced your client outcomes.

Continuing with the examples above, now that you are more conscious of cultural issues, do you find that you encounter less resistance form clients? Has implementation of new interventions resulted in a change in the type of outcomes you see? Are you able to be more effective programmatically because you are advocating for services with greater confidence and more evidence to support your position?

Take your time to reflect carefully on each section and how it relates to the rest of the information you are submitting as part of the application. And remember, 300 – 750 words go faster than you think…this blog entry is 410 words!

Maria Elena E. Louch, AOTA Professional Development Program Manager

Successful Certification Applications...Step 1!

Many times practitioners ask my advice on how to be successful in applying for Board or Specialty Certification. Simply, it is a goal-setting process in which you must carefully attend to all steps in the application process.

First of all, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading the directions! The first thing I tell practitioners to do when they are considering certification is to download the application and read over it completely. Read it once to just let the words wash over you; read it a second time for understanding. And as you are completing the application, read each section you are working on to make sure you are following the instructions correctly! Don’t hesitate (or wait until the last minute!) to ask questions either.

Then--just as we would do with a client--set realistic goals for the completion of each step. When I was preparing my application for board certification, I completely under-estimated the time it would take to gather all the evidence and to complete the reflections. Assuming you actually have a fairly well organized collection of evidence to support the various professional development activities you’ve engaged in, a minimum of 3 months is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if you’re not planning to block an entire weekend or more to work on the application!

Take your time with this…it’s supposed to be a meaningful process that helps you really look at your practice and think about where you’ve been, how you’ve grown professionally, and where you’re going next. Savor the journey…and take a friend along for the ride!

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

Competence/Competency - what's the difference?

Competence is all about building capacity. Competency is the examination of current performance against standards. This is considering an individual's actual performance in a particular situation.

AOTA certification programs focus on continuing competence, or the building of capacity to meet identified competencies. This is important because what a profession can be is dependent on the continuing competence of its members.

With this being said....what have you done lately to build your capacity? Have you begun your Board or Specialty Certification application? If so, great! Keep going. If not, what is holding you back? Maybe you don't know where to begin? The first step is to download the application handbook and read through it. Please continue to visit this blog as the process of applying for Board & Specialty Certification is presented and discussed. I look forward to your input & questions.

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH