Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 40 - Professional licensing and facility regulation
Subchapter 05 - Professional Licensing
Part 12 - Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants (216-RICR-40-05-12)
Section 216-RICR-40-05-12.7 - Issuance and Renewal of License

Universal Citation: 216 RI Code of Rules 40 05 12.7

Current through September 18, 2024

A. Upon the recommendation of the Board, the Director shall issue to applicants who have satisfactorily met the licensure requirements of this Part, a license to practice occupational therapy in this state. Said license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall expire on the thirty-first (31st) day of March, of each even year (biennially).

B. On or before the first (1st) day of March of each even year, the Administrator of the Division shall mail an application for renewal of license to every individual to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current licensure period. Every individual so licensed who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the Division such renewal application duly executed together with the evidence of continuing education requirements of § 12.7(E) of this Part and the renewal fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title) on or before the thirty-first day of March of each even year.

C. Upon receipt of such renewal application and payment of fee, the Director, upon the recommendation of the Board, shall grant a renewal license effective the thirty-first (31st) day of March for a period of two (2) years, unless sooner suspended or revoked.

D. Any individual who allows his or her license to lapse by failing to renew it on or before the thirty-first (31st) day of March of the next even year as provided above, may be reinstated by the Director upon receiving a receipt from the Division for payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title).

1. Any individual using the title "occupational therapist" or "occupational therapy assistant" during the time his or her license has lapsed shall be subject to the penalties provided for violations of this Part and the Act.

E. Continuing Education

1. On application for renewal of license, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants must show proof of participation in twenty (20) hours biennially in presentations, clinical instruction, publications, research, inservice programs, continuing education activities offered by the American Occupational Therapy Association or American Occupational Therapy Association approved providers, Rhode Island Occupational Therapy Association, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, university courses, and/or self-study courses. Contact hours of continuing education shall be recognized by the Board as follows:

Category I: Formal continuing education program that may consist of university courses, workshops, inservice programs, and/or institutes.	Credit: One (1) continuing education contact hour for each hour attended
Category II: Professional continuing education activities and scientific meetings and self-directed continuing education activities that may consist of local, regional, national symposia, colloquia, journal clubs, self- study courses, etc.	Credit: One (1) continuing education contact hour for each hour attended or One (1) competency assessment unit (CAU) for each hour completed.
Category III: Formal presentations (including clinical instruction)	Credit: Two (2) hours of continuing education contact hours for each hour of instruction; four (4) hours of continuing education contact hours for two (2) hours of instruction; five (5) hours of continuing education contact hours for three (3) hours of instruction; up to a maximum of five (5) hours of continuing education contact hours.
Category IV: Exceptional contributions to professional development that may consist of written publications	Credit: Continuing education contact hours shall be awarded for each written publication as listed below: Book: ten (10) continuing education contact hours; Juried article: eight (8) continuing education contact hours; Book chapter: five (5) continuing education contact hours; Non-juried article (must be published in a national publication in order to receive CE credit): four (4) continuing education contact hours.

2. It shall be the sole responsibility of the individual occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant to obtain documentation (e.g., course descriptions, proof of attendance) from the sponsoring organization, agency, or institution of his/her participation in a continuing education program and/or activity. These documents shall be retained by each licensee for no less than four (4) years and are subject to random audit by the Department.

3. Occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants initially licensed during the two (2) year period preceding license renewal shall have their credits for continuing education prorated according to the time actually licensed during the two (2) year period.

4. The Board, at its discretion, may grant one of the following to an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant for reasons of hardship or other extenuating circumstances:

a. An extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements;

b. A variance from the continuing education requirements;

c. A waiver from the continuing education requirements.

12.7.1 Inactive Status

An individual licensed as an occupational therapist in this state who does not intend to engage in the practice of occupational therapy within this state during any year, may upon request to the Division, may have his or her name transferred to an inactive status in accordance with the provisions of R.I. Gen Laws § 5-40.1-12(b).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.