Sec. 10.46.01.01. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Aide" means any individual who is not licensed by the Board to perform occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy and who provides supportive services to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant under direct supervision.

(2) “AOTA” means the American Occupational Therapy Association, formerly the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board (AOTCB).

(3) “Board” means the State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

(4) “Case resolution conference (CRC)” means a voluntary, informal, and confidential proceeding to explore the possibility of a consent order resolution of a disciplinary matter.

(5) "Client" means a consumer, patient, or recipient of occupational therapy services.

(6) "Competence" means an individual's capacity for performance in occupational therapy principles and procedures.

(7) Competency.

(a) "Competency" means the demonstration of the pertinent knowledge of and performance skills in occupational therapy principles and procedures within the practice of occupational therapy and limited occupational therapy.

(b) "Competency" includes satisfactory completion of educational programs or experiences, specialty certification, continuing education, or all of these.

(8) "Direct supervision" means supervision provided on a face-to-face basis by a supervisor who is a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, during the performance of delegated client-related tasks.

(9) "Elective nonrenewal" means choosing to render one's license inactive.

(10) “Evaluation” means the ongoing process of:

(a) Data collection by a licensed occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant; and

(b) Interpretation of the data by a licensed occupational therapist for purposes including, but not limited to:

(i) The need for treatment; and

(ii) Plans for discharge.

(11) “Expired license” means an individual’s authority to practice occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy which has not been renewed through the process of renewal or elective nonrenewal and is invalid.

(12) “Licensed” means formally authorized by the Board to practice occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy.

(13) “Licensee” means an individual who is a licensed occupational therapist or a licensed occupational therapy assistant.

(14) Limited Occupational Therapy.

(a) “Limited occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities in collaboration with an occupational therapy assistant and an occupational therapist during the treatment of individuals that:

(i) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or

(ii) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations.

(b) “Limited occupational therapy” means that the collaboration of the occupational therapy assistant occurs under the periodic supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

(c) “Limited occupational therapy” means that the occupational therapy assistant is authorized to:

(i) Conduct an initial screening;

(ii) Collect data for an evaluation that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy; and

(iii) Participate in a treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy.

(d) “Limited occupational therapy” does not include:

(i) Initiation or interpretation of evaluation data; and

(ii) Initiation of a treatment program before the client has been evaluated and a licensed occupational therapist has rendered a treatment plan.

(15) “NBCOT” means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, formerly the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board (AOTCB).

(16) "Occupational therapist" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapist that is licensed by the Board to practice occupational therapy.

(17) “Occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities to evaluate, consult, and treat individuals that:

(a) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or

(b) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations.

(18) "Occupational therapy assistant" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapy assistant who is licensed by the Board to practice limited occupational therapy.

(19) "On-site supervision" means supervision provided by a supervisor who is:

(a) A licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; and

(b) Immediately available on the premises to provide direct supervision, if needed, when client-related procedures are performed or as otherwise necessary.

(20) Periodic Supervision.

(a) "Periodic supervision" means supervision provided by a supervisor who is a licensed occupational therapist on a face-to-face basis, for each client who is being treated by the licensed occupational therapy assistant supervisee, occurring the earlier of at least:

(i) Once every 10 therapy visits; or

(ii) Once every 30 calendar days.

(b) "Periodic supervision" includes:

(i) Chart review; and

(ii) Meetings to discuss client treatment plans, client response to treatment, or observation of treatment, as indicated to ensure the competent and safe provision of occupational therapy services.

(21) “Reevaluation” means:

(a) The data collection by a licensed occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant; and

(b) Interpretation of the reevaluation data by a licensed occupational therapist after the initial evaluation, for the purpose of determining:

(i) A client's response to treatment;

(ii) Changes in the client's status;

(iii) The need for treatment modification; and

(iv) Plans for discharge.

(22) "Reactivation" means revalidating a license previously rendered invalid by the process of elective nonrenewal.

(23) "Reinstatement" means revalidating a license previously rendered invalid.

(24) "Renewal" means validating an active license for an additional term.

(25) Screening.

(a) “Screening” means a cursory determination by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant of the need for more comprehensive evaluation and treatment.

(b) "Screening" does not mean a substitute for the evaluation.

(26) “Supervision” means the provision of clinical aid, direction, and instruction, by either a licensed occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, to ensure the competent delivery of occupational therapy services.

(27) “Supervisor” means an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, excluding temporary licensees, who is licensed by the Board and has the responsibility of clinically supervising the provision of occupational therapy treatment services.

(28) “Temporary occupational therapy assistant licensee” means an individual licensed by the Board on a temporary basis, who:

(a) Except for completing the required certification examination, has met all other licensure requirements of this chapter; and

(b) Is licensed to practice under the on-site supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

(29) “Temporary occupational therapist licensee” means an individual licensed by the Board on a temporary basis, who:

(a) Except for completing the required certification examination, has met all other licensure requirements of this chapter; and

(b) Is licensed to practice under the on-site supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

(30) "Treatment program" means a therapeutic intervention plan designed by a licensed occupational therapist that outlines the selected approaches and types of intervention to be used to enable the client to reach identified targeted outcomes or treatment goals.

(31) “Verification” means proof of licensure, certification, registration, or continuing education:

(a) Confirmable by the Board based on documentation provided by the applicant;

(b) Obtained from a verification service provider approved by the issuing entity and accepted by the Board at its discretion; or

(c) Obtained from the entity by which the applicant is licensed, certified, registered, or educated.