Join Our Communities

If you are an occupational therapist, OT student or support worker, then the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) is your professional body and trade union

If you’re not already one of our 28,000+ members, discover here why you should be. We’re a member-led organisation, and members enjoy many benefits. These include having your say in the future development of occupational therapy and participating in your professional community.

Build your professional network

BAOT supports networks at local, national and international levels enabling you to access your professional community to share best practice, build your knowledge base and develop your career. Joining your regional or local BAOT group is a great way to get support and advice from OTs in your area – there are over 100 groups across the UK. You’ll learn from others, get professional development updates, and make new friends. You can organise or join local study events that answer your CPD needs and recruit new members to spread the word. These ‘grass root’ groups are often inspirational.

Get together with fellow specialists

As a BAOT member, you are eligible to join any of the 11 Specialist Sections and take networking one stage further. Meet other BAOT members to share a common interest through these special interest groups. Experienced professionals and new colleagues meet regularly to develop expert practice in a particular clinical specialism. Part of the College, each Specialist Section has a regional structure, entries on the College website, and coverage in Occupational Therapy News on a rotating basis.

Play your part on the international stage

BAOT membership entitles you to join the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). You can access a global network of like-minded peers across every continent, eager to spread best practice worldwide. BAOT is also a member association of the Council for Occupational Therapists of the European Countries (COTEC), which provides in-depth information on practice in Europe.