Current through 2024-13, March 27, 2024
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants
shall certify at time of license renewal to compliance with the continuing
education requirements set forth in this chapter.
1.
Number of Hours and Content
Required.
A.
Hours
Required Every occupational therapist shall complete a total of ten (10)
hours and every occupational therapy assistant shall complete a total of six
(6) hours of continuing education relevant to the practice of occupational
therapy or interprofessional practice during each reporting period as a
condition of renewal. For the purposes of this chapter, an "hour" means sixty
(60) minutes. The reporting period is April 1 of the previous year through the
March 31 renewal date. Hours completed during the reporting period cannot be
carried forward into a subsequent renewal period.
B.
Ethics Requirement. During
each reporting period, one (1) hour of the total required ten (10) hours for
occupational therapists and one (1) hour of the total required six (6) hours
for occupational therapy assistants shall be on ethics in the practice of
occupational therapy. The one (1) hour of ethics can be satisfied with any
qualifying continuing education activity as set forth in Section
3(2)(B).
C.
NBCOT Certification
Activities. Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the
contrary, an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant who
obtains the requisite number of continuing education activities as described
under this chapter within the renewal period and who completes the one (1) hour
of ethics as set forth in Section
3(1)(B) may certify at
the time of renewal to satisfying the requirements of this chapter, even if
such activities are or have been submitted towards maintaining a current NBCOT
certification.
2.
Qualifying Continuing Education Activities. Qualifying activities
for satisfying the requirements of Section
3(1)(A) include:
A.
Minimum hours required. At
least four (4) of the required hours shall include participation as required at
a sponsored presentation offered by any recognized sponsor as set forth in
Section 3(3) of this
chapter.
B.
Other qualifying
activities. Other qualifying activities include:
i. Participation as required at a
presentation such as a workshop, seminar, conference, or in-service educational
program.
ii. Academic coursework
related to the practice of occupational therapy, which includes participation
in on-site or distance learning academic courses from a university, college, or
vocational technical adult education course.
iii. Publications of books, articles, films,
or web-based resources related to practice, management, or education of
occupational therapy.
iv.
Preparation for teaching a course in occupational therapy in an accredited
program.
v. Preparation for and
presenting at a workshop, seminar, conference, or in-service educational
program.
vi. Pursuit of
evidence-based practice by reviewing critically appraised topics for
evidence-based literature on practice-related subjects.
vii. Research, which includes development or
participation in a research project as a primary or assistant investigator in
the research project.
viii. Level I
fieldwork direct supervision. For the purposes of this subsection, this
qualifying activity may be submitted for one (1) hour per student. Letter(s) of
verification or certification from the educational institution that includes
the dates of fieldwork supervision completed satisfies the documentation
requirement of this activity.
ix.
Level II fieldwork direct supervision. For the purposes of this subsection,
this qualifying activity may be submitted for two (2) hours per student.
Letter(s) of verification or certification from the educational institution
that includes the dates of fieldwork supervision completed satisfies the
documentation requirement of this activity.
C.
In-person attendance; live, remote
interaction. For purposes of this chapter, continuing education
activities are not required to be held in- person nor required to include live,
remote interaction with presenters.
3.
Recognized Sponsors.
Licensees may satisfy the requirement of Section
3(2)(A) by completing
activities:
A. sponsored or approved by the
Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MEOTA), its successor organization or a
comparable organization;
B.
sponsored or approved by NBCOT, its successor organization or a comparable
organization;
C. sponsored or
approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), its successor
organization or a comparable organization; or D. sponsored by AOTA approved
providers.
4.
Audit of Continuing Education. A licensee's certification of
completion of continuing professional education is subject to audit and
documentation retention requirements as set forth in the rules of the Office of
Professional and Occupational Regulation, 02-041 C.M.R. ch. 13.
5.
Failed Audit; Disciplinary
Action. If a continuing education audit shows that the licensee did not
fulfill the requirements of this chapter, then the licensee shall be notified
of the failed audit. A failed audit may require further investigation and may
result in disciplinary action.
6.
Deferments, First Renewal, Inactive Status
A.
Deferment. Upon receipt of a
written request prior to license expiration, the Board may, in its discretion,
grant a continuing education deferment to an individual licensed by the Board
who, because of prolonged illness or other extenuating circumstances, has been
unable to meet the educational requirements under this chapter.
B.
First renewal; general
requirements. Licensees who renew for the first time must complete one
(1) hour of ethics and one half of the required continuing education credit
hours as outlined in this chapter.
C.
Active to Inactive License
Status. To place an active license on inactive status, the licensee must
submit a written request to the Board attesting that services will not be
rendered during the remainder of the license term. Licensees with an inactive
status are required to renew their licenses to maintain inactive license status
but are not required to complete continuing education credit hours under this
chapter.
7.
Inactive to Active License Status. To place an inactive license on
active status, the licensee must submit a written request to the Board,
documenting evidence of completing continuing education credit hours as
outlined below
A. Licensees who hold an
inactive license status for a period fewer than five years must meet the
continuing education requirements as outlined in Section
3(6)(B) for the
license they hold under this chapter, to return the license to active
status.
B. Licensees who hold an
inactive license status for a period exceeding five years must meet the
continuing education requirements as outlined in Section
3(1) for the license
they hold under this chapter, to return the license to active status.