The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, 3rd ed. (OTPF-III) is an official AOTA document that represents the core concepts of what occupational therapists know (domain of knowledge) and do (process of evaluation and intervention).

Occupations refers to the everyday activities that people engage in that have meaning and value in their lives, such as eating, working, sleeping, and social participation.

Context refers to the environmental factors and personal factors specific to each client that influence engagement and participation in occupations.

Performance patterns refer to “the acquired habits, routines, roles, and rituals used in the process of engaging in occupations and can support or hinder occupational performance”.

Performance skills refer to “observable, goal-directed actions and consist motor skills, process skills, and social interaction skills” and “result in a client’s quality of performing desired occupations”.

Client factors refer to “specific capacities, characteristics, or beliefs that reside within the person, group, or population and influence performance in occupations.”

The process of occupational therapy represents the actions that an occupational therapy practitioner takes to promote engagement and participation in occupation. The process includes involve evaluation, intervention, and outcomes.

The evaluation process is focused on finding out what the client wants and needs to do; determining what the client can do and has done; and identifying supports and barriers to health, well-being, and participation.

The intervention process consists of services provided by occupational therapy practitioners in collaboration with clients to facilitate engagement in occupation related to health, well-being, and achievement of established goals consistent with the various service delivery models.

Objective outcomes are measurable and tangible aspects of improved performance that demonstrate the results of occupational therapy services.