Sec. 10.46.04.04. Licensure and Contact Hour Requirements

A. Time Frame.

(1) Licensure Time Frame.

(a) The Board shall stagger the terms of licenses.

(b) A license is valid for a 2-year term and expires as follows:

(i) Licensees originally licensed in even-numbered years are issued a license that expires on June 30 of even-numbered years; and

(ii) Licensees originally licensed in odd-numbered years are issued a license that expires on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

(2) Continuing Competency Time Frame. Continuing competency requirements shall be completed within the applicable licensure time frame.

(3) The licensee may not carry over contact hours from one continuing competency time frame to another without written consent from the Board.

B. Requirements Regarding Contact Hours.

(1) The occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant shall certify a minimum of 24 contact hours of competency activities obtained within the 2-year period preceding the application for licensure, reactivation, or reinstatement.

(2) The 24 contact hours referred to in §B(1) of this regulation shall consist of:

(a) A minimum of 16 contact hours related to occupational therapy principles and procedures; and

(b) A maximum of 8 contact hours through occupational therapy role-related activities.

(3) The occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant shall provide the necessary documentation to the Board upon request.

C. Exceptions.

(1) Maintenance of Current Certification with the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

(a) The Board recognizes the maintenance of current NBCOT certification as fulfilling the requirements of §B(1) and (2) of this regulation.

(b) Documentation. The licensee shall provide verification of maintenance of current NBCOT certification.

(2) Licensed Less Than 1 Year. An occupational therapist or occupational therapist assistant who has had a license less than 1 year before renewal is exempt from continuing competency requirements for the first renewal period.

(3) Requesting Licensure with 3 or More Years Lapse in Practice.

(a) When an applicant applies for licensure, renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement, and meets all requirements for licensure, renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement, but has not graduated from an accredited occupational therapy program or practiced occupational therapy within the past 3 years or more, the Board shall require verification of the applicant's efforts toward maintaining and updating occupational therapy clinical competency.

(b) If an individual has been out of practice for between 3 and 8 years, the individual shall:

(i) Complete a Board-approved self-assessment;

(ii) Complete a Board-approved professional development plan;

(iii) Attend a minimum of 24 contact hours related to occupational therapy principles and procedures within the 24 months preceding application for licensure, renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement;

(iv) Provide verification of a minimum of 30 hours of observation of service delivery, receipt of mentoring, or a combination of both with an actively licensed occupational therapist within the 24 months preceding application for licensure, renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement; and

(v) Document completion of established goals and activities in occupational therapy with an actively licensed occupational therapist within the 24 months preceding application for licensure renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement.

(c) If an individual has been out of practice for longer than 8 years, the individual shall:

(i) Complete the requirements in §C(2)(b) of this regulation; and

(ii) Provide verification of 6 additional contact hours related to occupational therapy principles and procedures.

(4) Before the deadline to complete continuing competency, a licensee may request an extension to the specified time frame for completing continuing competency requirements by submitting:

(a) A letter of request;

(b) Documentation substantiating the basis of the request, for example, medical documentation; and

(c) A plan for completing the requirement.