CAPS Certification for Occupational Therapists: Expand Your Practice and Empower More Clients

Fritzi Gros-Daillon
May 6, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Nov 4, 2025

As the aging population continues to grow, so does the demand for professionals who can help older adults stay safe and independent at home. For occupational therapists (OTs), this presents an incredible opportunity- not just to serve patients more holistically, but to expand services, reach more clients, and increase revenue.

The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) certification is helping OTs do exactly that.

Why Occupational Therapists Are Perfectly Suited for CAPS

Occupational therapists already understand how the environment affects function. CAPS builds on that foundation with design-based training in home modifications and client communication.

By earning the CAPS certification for occupational therapists, you can:

Offer paid home-safety evaluations and modification plans
Collaborate directly with remodelers and designers on aging-in-place solutions
Position yourself as a consultant in both healthcare and home remodeling industries

“CAPS gave me the language and tools I needed to work with contractors. Now I’m not just recommending changes—I’m helping implement them.” — CAPS Grad, Occupational Therapist, 2025

What OTs Learn in the CAPS Program

The CAPS program consists of three live, interactive courses taught online through Household Guardians:

CAPS I: Marketing and Communicating with the Aging-in-Place Client
CAPS II: Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging in Place
CAPS III: Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place

You’ll learn how to:

Assess aging-in-place needs and functional barriers
Apply universal design and accessibility principles
Develop detailed modification plans
Communicate recommendations with families and contractors

Each course is taught live via Zoom by me, Fritzi Gros-Daillon, Master Educator, 2019 NAHB Educator of the Year, and Director of Education for Age Safe America.

Our sessions are highly interactive, blending real-world stories, practical design insight, and the clinical reasoning OTs already use every day.

Earning the CAPS certification for occupational therapists helps bridge healthcare and home design—giving you the language, confidence, and tools to make homes safer for every stage of life.

How CAPS Enhances an OT’s Practice

Add New Services - CAPS allows OTs to offer home-safety and accessibility assessments as a billable consult, even outside traditional therapy sessions.
Build a Niche Business - Many CAPS-certified OTs launch solo home-modification practices or partner with contractors to provide joint services.
Advocate with Authority - Having the CAPS credential strengthens your voice when collaborating with healthcare teams, families, and builders.
Stay Ahead of the Curve - With hospitals emphasizing safe discharge to home, CAPS-certified OTs are becoming the go-to professionals for transitional home assessments.

Join a live virtual course with Household Guardians and Fritzi Gros-Daillon:

8 AM – 4 PM Pacific | Live via Zoom | 👉 Register here

If you’re an occupational therapist ready to grow beyond clinic walls, CAPS certification opens the door to meaningful new possibilities. It’s more than a credential - it’s a bridge between healthcare and home design, empowering you to create environments that truly support independence and dignity.

Questions? Email me at fritzi@householdguardians.com