Have you ever felt insecure when clients ask about driving? Unsure of your scope, the liability, or what happens after they leave your facility?

Instead of steering away from conversations about driving, what if you could ...

  • Provide a clear, current picture of driving risk to your client and the care team.

  • Offer appropriate resources and referrals for their next steps.

  • Confidently practice client-centered, full-scope OT — which includes discussing driving!

Testimonials

"The info was presented easy to understand, supporting framework, charts, etc. were available and the pace of the course was very good."

-D.M.

“Just finished the Part 1 course this weekend. Wonderful Information!”

C.E.

"This course provided me with more insight to all the ways we can help our clientele as well as family members who are in need."

-J.T.

Driving inspires independence, contributes to self-identity, and influences participation in other meaningful life activities. Learn the unique framework for completing a quality driving risk assessment as a skilled occupational therapy professional.

Part 1: Driving Risk Assessment for the OT

With this level of training, you can provide a driving risk assessment as a generalist practicing in the clinic, hospital, or community settings. You’ll also explore driving-related therapy interventions and know when/how to refer to a driver rehab specialist.


This course is also the prerequisite for the Part 2 OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Training should you choose to specialize later! (Click here to learn about specializing.) 


$499

25 hours of online CEUs

Provide an unbiased, clear picture of a client’s driving risks and performance skill deficits to inform the care team and assist with appropriate discharge planning and referrals instead of leaving clients to figure it out on their own.

  • Driving Risk Assessments in the Clinic

    Learn to complete a targeted driving risk assessment and provide a picture of a client’s driving skills, deficits, and overall risk.

  • Interventions to Support Driving or Retirement

    Explore specific therapy interventions that build critical skills for driving. Also, learn how to support a client’s transition into driving retirement.

  • Appropriate Referrals to Specialists

    Know when and how to refer to a driver rehab specialist for further evaluation and on-the-road training.

  • The occupational therapists performs quadrant visual field testing to help determine functional visual field.
  • A client completes a visual perceptual screen with the occupational therapist.

What’s Included in Part 1 Driving Risk Assessment

Course Outline

  • OTP's Role with Driving: General practice versus specialist
  • Driving Risk Assessment versus Comprehensive Driving Evaluation 
  • Initiating the Evaluation Process 
  • Evaluation using the Clinical Interview 
  • Evaluation of Visual & Hearing Performance Skills for Driving & Community Mobility 
  • Evaluation of Physical Performance Skills for Driving & Community Mobility 
  • Evaluation of Cognitive Performance Skills for Driving & Community Mobility
  • Summarizing the Clinical Process
  • Population-Specific Considerations for Driving
  • Foundational Driving Resources to Guide OT Practice
  • BONUS: Gain the foundational skills to progress to Part 2: OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Training! 

Your clients and their families won’t have to wonder or guess when it comes to driving because you have the skills to answer their questions and provide concrete data.

  • "Its amazing to learn how important role is driving, how its affects ones autonomy and freedom. How important is it to identify to determine the risk, assessment, intervention and training.” -J.Y.

Meet Your Instructor: Susie “The Driving OT”


Driving is my passion. I believe EVERY OT practitioner should address driving with their clients because it’s such an important IADL. 


Think of how driving impacts your client’s lives. Our cars are often part of our identity, they also help us access necessary resources such as food and medical treatment. But driving also opens up opportunities for social participation, leisure activities, autonomy, and more. 


Driving isn’t just about doing the things you HAVE to do, it’s about having the freedom to do the things you WANT to do. 


Truly, no other profession is better equipped to holistically support clients with driving (or driving retirement) than occupational therapy. Which is why I’m so glad you’re here today, considering the Part 1 course! 


I started my career as an OT in a general practice setting, but when I discovered driving, I was hooked. I’ve since spent decades helping drivers understand and improve their driving ability and confidence after an illness, health condition, or injury. 


I’ve also taught thousands of OT practitioners online and in person at conferences, universities, and trade shows. Seeing light-bulb moments and receiving feedback about how their practice methods have changed based on what they learn never gets old. 


If you have ANY questions at all about the Part 1 course, becoming an OT Driver Rehab specialist or anything else about OT + driving — please send me an email! 


I can’t wait to support you in your journey!

  • stop sign
  • Should You be doing driving risk assessments?

If you’re an OT practitioner who works with people with driver's licenses, the answer is likely YES. 


Here are a few settings where driving risk should be assessed: 


  • Inpatient rehabilitation

  • Concussion clinics

  • Neuro clinics

  • Outpatient clinics

  • Home healthcare

  • Hand therapy


Anytime someone has a major illness or injury, or is diagnosed with a degenerative disease, OT practitioners should discuss driving. 


You don’t have to specialize and take clients on-the-road, but every OTP should have the conversation and provide an accurate assessment to support clients in this important IADL. 


The information you gain when you complete a targeted driving risk assessment will also inform and guide how you address other ADL and IADLs with your clients. This course adds tools to your toolbox and provides a clear roadmap for assessment, complementing the work you’re already doing. 


Addressing driving helps you have an even greater impact on the lives of your clients. 

Adaptive Mobility is Your Approved Provider

Presenters & Authors: Susan Pierce, OTR/L, SCDCM, FAOTA, CDRS. Susan Touchinsky, OTR/L, SCDCM, CDRS. Wendy Starnes, OTR/L, SCDCM, DRS.

  • AOTA CEUs/Contact Hours: 2.5 CEU/25 contact hours

  • Online Publication: 12/2018. 1/2025 update; Date & Location: ongoing, online.

  • Target Audience: Occupational therapy practitioners

  • Level of learning/education level: introductory. No prerequisites.

  • Instructional Method: online course, independent learning.

  • AOTA Classification Codes: OT Service Delivery

  • Course Completion Requirements: Learner will review full presentation, handout, & complete post exam and AOTA APP provider survey.

  • CE Provider & Contact: Adaptive Mobility Services, CE Administrator: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is your refund policy?

    Refund Policy Online Courses: A full refund is available for requests made within 7 days of purchase. The money-back guarantee is void if the participant has accessed more than 25% of the content or downloads. For refund requests, please call 484-650-2280.

  • How do I request accommodation or make suggestions?

    Email [email protected] before enrolling to request accommodations. I’m happy to do what I can to ensure you can learn and apply this information! For feedback, suggestions, or complaints, please email me at that address.

  • If I do a Driving Risk Assessment, does that determine if my client can drive again?

    Students are automatically enrolled in Part 1 Driving Risk Assessment Training for 180 days. If more time is needed, for any reason, simply email [email protected] for an extension.

  • If I do a Driving Risk Assessment, does that determine if my client can drive again?

    Nope. Just like your ADL assessment doesn’t solely determine if a client returns home or goes to a facility. Your assessment is one piece of information that the client, family, and Doctor use to make decisions, discharge plans, and referrals. Your assessment is also simply a snapshot of the driving risk at that day and time. You can always do a re-assesment as your client progresses or at a different time of day to demonstrate changes or variability in performance. This is all useful information. You’ll learn more about this in the course, but doing an assessment doesn’t put the weight of driving decisions on your shoulders.

  • What are the learning objectives for Part 2: Driving Risk Assessment for the OT?

    Following this course, the participant will be able to: Explain the unique value occupational therapy expertise brings to driving rehabilitation. Apply current occupational therapy evidence-based research/practice to assess driving risk. Explore and compare/contrast the components of a driving risk assessment completed by the generalist and comprehensive driving evaluation completed by a specialist (clinical evaluation & behind-the-wheel evaluation). Given a client scenario, select the most appropriate evaluation techniques and treatment interventions to assess a client's potential. Recognize impairments in performance skills that indicate the need for driving retirement and practice specific strategies for addressing this difficult topic. Explore basic driver rehab technology equipment options used by an OT DRS. Identify the value of developing collaborative relationships with industry vendors and regulatory bodies, and the strategies that can be used to support community mobility for your clients. Identify characteristics of quality documentation and resources, including code of ethics and practice standards, to shape documentation and program development.

$499

25 hours of online CEUs

Adaptive Mobility Services is the leading provider of OT driver rehab education. We've been providing driver rehab training for over 40 years.

To read our financial and non-financial disclosures, cancellation policies, and disclaimers, visit our main page by clicking here.
Main Page

Course Description

Explore the meaning of driving and community mobility: how driving inspires independence, contributes to self- identity, and influences participation in other meaningful life activities. We will introduce the unique framework of occupational therapy and how this framework structures the process for completion of a quality driving risk assessment.

As we go through this course, we will examine the assessment process for driving risk from beginning to end.  We will discuss strategies for initiating a driving conversation and conducting an initial interview.  We will then review the performance skills, client factors, and environmental factors that impact driving risk and potential. Specific assessment tools will be described and demonstrated, and we will discuss current research regarding test norms as they relate to guiding clinical reasoning and the determination of driving risk. 

Next, we will describe diagnosis-specific conditions to consider for determining driving risk and potential. How does stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia impact driving?  We will discuss these conditions and more. We will review a process for formulating clinical decisions for driving risk, including considerations for OT interventions to prepare your client, possible adaptive equipment solutions that may be recommended by the specialist, and alternative community mobility options.   

This course will prepare you, the occupational therapy practitioner, to address driving risk in the clinic! You will gain the tools needed, from intake to evaluation to intervention, to prepare your client for the in-car assessment with a driver rehabilitation specialist.  

Occupational therapy practitioners who complete Part 1 are armed with the knowledge needed to screen for driving risk and know how and when to refer to a DRS/CDRS.  

OTs who complete Part 1 and are interested in advancing into the field of driving rehabilitation are eligible for  Part 2: OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Training (online & live hands-on training). 

Learning Objectives

Following this course, the participant will be able to:

  • Explain the unique value occupational therapy expertise brings to driving rehabilitation.
  • Apply current occupational therapy evidence-based research/practice to assess driving risk.
  • Explore and compare/contrast the components of a driving risk assessment completed by the generalist and comprehensive driving evaluation completed by a specialist (clinical evaluation & behind-the-wheel evaluation).
  • Given a client scenario, select the most appropriate evaluation techniques and treatment interventions to assess a client's potential.
  • Recognize impairments in performance skills that indicate the need for driving retirement and practice specific strategies for addressing this difficult topic.
  • Explore basic driver rehab technology equipment options used by an OT DRS. 
  • Identify the value of developing collaborative relationships with industry vendors and regulatory bodies, and the strategies that can be used to support community mobility for your clients. 
  • Identify characteristics of quality documentation and resources, including code of ethics and practice standards, to shape documentation and program development.