The AOTA Board of Management develops a 12-week curriculum to train COTAs for general practice.

AOTA publishes a “Statement of Policy,” which indicates that the association will “maintain and control the voluntary registration of its practitioners; regulate, in conjunction with the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the AMA, the education of occupational therapists to prepare them for their treatment function; establish and maintain standards of clinical practice in occupational therapy which will improve patient treatment; foster continuing growth in the professional competence of occupational therapy; encourage and facilitate an increase in the body of specific occupational therapy knowledge available to physicians; protect the standards of occupational therapy and the environment in which the occupational therapist functions; and strongly oppose and protest any administrative policy or structure which ignores or weakens the treatment function of occupational therapy.”

AOTA revises the 1949 “Statement of Basic Philosophy, Principle and Policy,” which, besides philosophy, discusses relationships with other professional health personnel and OTs’ qualifications.

AOTA passes new Bylaws establishing the Council of Practice, subcommittees, and steering committees. Leaders of steering committees can bring concerns to a new policy-making group, the Delegate Assembly, for action. 

The Social Security Amendment Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-97) establishes Medicare and Medicaid and specifically mentions occupational therapy under extended care services and home health. AOTA charters the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) “to advance the science of occupational therapy and to increase the public knowledge and understanding of occupational therapy.” The “Essentials of an Accredited Curriculum for Occupational Therapists” are revised to include 3 months in physical disabilities and 3 months in psychosocial issues. The Student Occupational Therapy Association meets at AOTA’s Annual Conference in Miami, “to provide a means of communication between the students of occupational therapy schools, to increase student participation in AOTA, and to promote public understanding and interest in occupational therapy.”

AOTF becomes a charitable and educational tax-exempt foundation as described in Section 401C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

The AOTA Executive Board adopts an official definition of occupational therapy: “the art and science of directing man’s response to selected activity to promote and maintain health, to prevent disability, to evaluate behavior, and to treat or train patients with physical or psychosocial dysfunction.” 

AOTA publishes the position paper “Licensing and Standards of Competency in Occupational Therapy”; however, the Delegate Assembly supports a negative position on licensure. AOTA adopts a “Statement on Occupational Therapy Referral.”