(A)
Pursuant to
division (C) of section
4755.06 of the Revised Code, no
person shall qualify for licensure renewal as an occupational therapist or
occupational therapy assistant unless the license holder has shown to the
satisfaction of the occupational therapy section that the license holder has
completed twenty contact hours of continuing education activities within the
two year renewal cycle.
(1)
License holders are not required to obtain any
continuing education units for the first renewal.
(2)
In the case of a
license reinstatement, if the license was valid for a period of twelve months
or less, the license holder shall complete ten contact hours of continuing
education within the renewal cycle, including one contact hour of ethics,
jurisprudence, or cultural competence pursuant to paragraph (A)(5) of this
rule. The category limits contained in paragraph (B) of this rule do not apply
if the license was valid for twelve months or less.
(3)
A "contact hour"
is one hour spent in a continuing education activity meeting the requirements
of this rule. Contact hours exclude refreshment breaks, receptions, social
gatherings, and meals that do not include an acceptable
activity.
(4)
All continuing education activities shall be earned in
the two year period immediately preceding the thirtieth day of June of the year
in which licensure renewal is required. Contact hours may not be carried over
from one renewal period to the next.
(5)
License holders
shall complete at least one contact hour of ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural
competence education per renewal cycle. The one hour ethics, jurisprudence, or
cultural competence requirement may be fulfilled by completing an acceptable
activity outlined in paragraph (B) of this rule that contains at least one hour
addressing professional ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural competence. In
addition, any presentation by the occupational therapy section meets the
ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural competence requirement.
(6)
License holders
shall complete at least one contact hour of mental health and/or substance use
education per renewal cycle. The one hour mental health and/or substance use
requirement shall be fulfilled by completing an acceptable activity outlined in
paragraph (B) of this rule that contains at least one hour addressing mental
health and/or substance use. In addition, any presentation by the board's safe
haven program that addresses mental health and/or substance use meets this
requirement.
(7)
The same contact hour cannot be used to fulfill both
the ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural competence education and the mental
health and/or substance use requirements.
(B)
Pursuant to
section 4755.062 of the Revised Code,
the occupational therapy section may contract with the Ohio occupational
therapy association (OOTA) to assist the section with the performing of its
continuing education duties as prescribed in this rule. OOTA may accept,
review, approve, or deny proposals for professional workshops, seminars, and/or
conferences for continuing education units or for other continuing education
activities reported by occupational therapists and occupational therapy
assistants. OOTA shall perform any other duties agreed upon by the section and
OOTA necessary for the approval, maintenance, and/or reporting of continuing
education activities for occupational therapists and occupational therapy
assistants. OOTA may charge applicants for continuing education a reasonable
fee for the completion of its duties.
(C)
Acceptable
continuing education activities may include:
(1)
Activities
sponsored or approved by the occupational therapy section or OOTA on behalf of
the section, the American occupational therapy association (AOTA), OOTA, the
national board for certification in occupational therapy, or offered by an AOTA
approved provider.
(2)
Attending professional workshops, seminars, and/or
conferences. There is no limit of contact hours in this category.
(a)
Credit is
obtained by attending presentations that have either been sponsored or approved
by the occupational therapy section, AOTA, OOTA, offered by an AOTA approved
provider, or which meets the following criteria:
(i)
It contributes
directly to professional competency;
(ii)
It relates
directly to the clinical practice, management, or education of occupational
therapy practitioners; and
(iii)
It is conducted
by people who have demonstrated expertise in the subject matter of the
program.
(b)
Prior approval from the section is not required if
paragraphs (C)(2)(a)(i) to (C)(2)(a)(iii) of this rule have been
met.
(c)
Proof of content is demonstrated by the original
workshop or conference brochure, agenda, notes, or materials given to
participants during the presentations.
(d)
Copies of
continuing education unit certificates or other original documents indicating
credits awarded may also be used as verification of participation. If no other
form of verification is available, license holders may obtain from the board
verification of participation forms, which are to be signed by each presenter
at the conclusion of each presentation. If a presentation is made by a panel of
people, only one signature is required.
(3)
Presentations of
occupational therapy programs, workshops, or seminars. The presentation shall
be to health or education professionals and/or students, be at least one
contact hour in length and relate to the clinical practice, management, or
education of occupational therapy practitioners. Two contact hours will be
awarded for each hour of presentation. A maximum of eight contact hours may be
earned in this category. Proof of presentation is the workshop, conference, or
seminar contract, or the brochure, agenda, or other printed materials
describing content and audience. Continuing education credit will not be
awarded for subsequent presentations of the same material.
(4)
Preparation to
teach a clinical course in occupational therapy. The course shall be taught in
an occupational therapy program accredited by the accreditation council for
occupational therapy education (ACOTE). Credit will only be awarded for
preparation for a new course or substantive changes to an existing course. One
contact hour will be awarded for each hour of preparation. A maximum of eight
contact hours may be earned in this category. Proof of presentation is the
course syllabus or other printed materials describing the content and goals of
the course.
(5)
Publications of books, articles, or films related to
clinical practice, management, or education of occupational therapy. A maximum
of five contact hours for each published article, ten contact hours for a
published book, five contact hours for a chapter in a book, and ten contact
hours for a film may be earned in these categories. Co-authorship is
acceptable. The item shall be published within the current renewal cycle. Proof
of completion is the published article, title page of the book, or film. There
is no limit of contact hours in this category.
(6)
Undergraduate or
graduate courses. A maximum of ten contact hours may be earned per completed
course. Courses shall be related to the management, practice, or education of
occupational therapy. Proof of completion is an unofficial college or
university transcript. An official college or university transcript may be
requested at the discretion of the occupational therapy section. Proof of
content is the catalog description. There is no limit of contact hours in this
category.
(7)
Supervision of fieldwork.
(a)
The maximum
number of hours which may be earned from level I and level II supervision
combined is sixteen hours per renewal cycle.
(b)
Continuing
education credit can be earned by supervising level I students. One contact
hour may be earned for each student supervised.
(c)
Continuing
education credit can be earned by supervising level II students. Six contact
hours may be earned per student for eight weeks of supervision. Nine contact
hours may be earned per student for twelve weeks of
supervision.
(d)
A license holder shall be a signing rater on the
American occupational therapy association fieldwork performance evaluation
(FWPE) or the school's designated student performance evaluation tool to be
eligible for continuing education credit. If more than one license holder is a
signing rater on the FWPE or evaluation tool, the contact hours earned shall be
divided between the signing raters.
(e)
Proof of student
supervision is a certificate of supervision from the student's
school.
(8)
Self-study. Formal study packages, such as printed
text, multi-media, or internet based activities, related to the clinical
practice, management, or education of occupational therapy are acceptable.
There is no limit of contact hours in this category. Proof of completion is the
certificate of completion and/or a copy of the post test
results.
(9)
Distance learning. Credit for distance learning
requires that there be opportunity for interaction with the program presenter
and that the content is related to the clinical practice, management, or
education of occupational therapy. The agenda and certificate of participation
are required to verify completion. There is no limit of contact hours in this
category.
(10)
Apprenticeships. Supervised clinical experience aimed
at developing specialized skills in occupational therapy is acceptable. Five
contact hours shall be credited for each forty hour week. There is no limit to
the amount of contact hours that can be earned under this category. Proof of
completion is a signed letter from the clinical supervisor describing length
and type of education experiences and an evaluation of the occupational
therapist's or occupational therapy assistant's performance.
Apprenticeships shall be served under
the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist whose license is in good
standing and who has demonstrated expertise in the practice of occupational
therapy or other people who have demonstrated expertise in specialized
techniques as approved by the occupational therapy section.
(11)
Research projects. A maximum of ten contact hours may be
earned in this category. The hours will be granted only for completed,
published or unpublished research projects related to the theory, clinical
practice, management, or education of occupational therapy. Proof of completion
is the published article or unpublished manuscript.
(12)
Informal
independent study. One contact hour will be given for reading an evidence based
book chapter or research journal article relating to the clinical practice,
management, or education of occupational therapy practitioners and identifying
how the information presented can be applied to one's own practice, management,
or education situation. Proof of completion is a copy of the article's title
page and the first page, and a written report summarizing the information and
outlining how it can be applied by the license holder. One hour will be awarded
for each chapter/article. A maximum of four contact hours may be earned in this
category per renewal cycle.
(13)
Jurisprudence
examination. One contact hour may be earned for completing and passing the Ohio
occupational therapy jurisprudence examination. This contact hour may be
utilized only once per renewal cycle for continuing education credit. Proof of
completion is the graded examination. This contact hour may be used to fulfill
the ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural competence requirement established in
paragraph (A)(5) of this rule.
(14)
Mentorship. A
maximum of four hours per renewal cycle can be earned by any of the
following:
(a)
Continuing education credit can be earned by mentoring a
student completing a graduate level research or capstone project at an ACOTE
accredited entry-level or a post-professional occupational therapist education
program. One contact hour may be earned for every eighty hours of mentorship
completed, with a maximum of four contact hours per renewal cycle. Proof of
mentorship will be a certificate from the student's school and a time log
documenting the mentor's activities and the time spent completing those
activities. Faculty members mentoring students enrolled in the faculty member's
own program are not eligible for continuing education credit for
mentorship.
(b)
Continuing education credit can be earned by mentoring
a practitioner in the first year of practice or any practitioner entering a
practice area or attempting to achieve certification in a practice area in
which the mentee has no prior experience. One contact hour may be earned for
every eighty hours of mentorship completed, with a maximum of four contact
hours per renewal cycle. Proof of mentorship will be a written contract which
includes the signatures of the mentor and the practitioner who has agreed to be
mentored. The contract shall also include a time log documenting the mentor's
activities and the time spent completing those activities.
(c)
Continuing
education credit can be earned by mentoring a practitioner of an AOTA
fellowship program. The mentor shall spend a minimum of three hundred fifty
hours with the fellow while the fellow delivers occupational therapy services
in the identified practice area. Four contact hours may be earned for each AOTA
Fellowship Program mentorship with only one mentorship eligible for contact
hours per renewal cycle. Proof of mentorship will be the written contract
developed by the AOTA fellowship program and documentation of successful
completion by this program.
(15)
Volunteer
services to indigent and uninsured persons pursuant to section
4745.04 of the Revised Code. To
qualify under this rule, volunteer services shall:
(a)
Be provided at a
free clinic or other non-profit organization that offers health care services
based on eligibility screenings identifying the client as an "indigent and
uninsured person" as that term is defined in division (A)(7) of section
2305.234 of the Revised
Code.
(b)
Be documented in writing in the form of a certificate
or a written statement on letterhead from an administrative official at the
organization where services were rendered, specifying at a minimum the license
holder's name, license number, date(s) of qualifying volunteer services, number
of hours of services, and describing the services that were
rendered.
(c)
Not be credited for license holders in a paid position
at the organization at which the services are rendered.
(d)
Be occupational
therapy or occupational therapy assistant services provided in compliance with
the Revised Code and Administrative Code.
(e)
Be credited as
one hour of CE for each sixty minutes spent providing services as a volunteer,
not to exceed four hours of the total biennial CE requirement.
(f)
Not count toward
the one contact hour of ethics, jurisprudence, or cultural competence education
or mental health and/or substance use education per renewal cycle as required
by paragraph (A)(5) or (A)(6) of this rule.
(16)
Competency
assessment or knowledge/skills assessment activities. Credit for completion of
competency assessment or knowledge/skill assessment activities, or both,
completed either online or in person. A certificate of completion or similar
document that includes the participant's name, activity, date, contact hours
awarded, and sponsoring organization shall be submitted as proof of
completion.
(E)
The occupational therapy section shall conduct an audit
of the continuing education records of not less than five per cent of the
license holders each renewal year.
(1)
License holders chosen for audit shall submit to the
board by the date specified by the board copies of all records and
documentation of the continuing education activities used to meet the
requirements of paragraph (A) of this rule.
(2)
Failure to
provide proof of the required number of continuing education hours, in the
appropriate categories, for the specified time period will result in the
commencement of disciplinary action.
(3)
Failure to
respond to or acknowledge receipt of an audit notice will result in the
commencement of disciplinary action.