department of state
Division of Professional Regulation
2000 Board of Occupational Therapy
proposed
PUBLIC NOTICE
The State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice in accordance with 24 Del.C. §2006(a)(1) has proposed changes to its rules and regulations related to the online renewal and continuing education.
A public hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on March 15, 2006 in the second floor conference room A of the Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware where members of the public can offer comments. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the proposed rules and regulations may obtain a copy from the State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, 861 Silver Lake Blvd, Cannon Building, Suite 203, Dover, DE 19904. Persons wishing to submit written comments may forward these to the Board at the above address. The final date to receive written comments will be at the public hearing.
The Board will consider promulgating the proposed regulations at its regularly scheduled meeting following the public hearing.
2000 Board of Occupational Therapy
Proposed Regulations
2.0 Licensure Procedures:
2.1 To apply for an initial license, including relicensure after expiration, an applicant shall submit to the Board:
2.1.1 A completed notarized application on the form approved by the Board;
2.1.2 Verification of a passing score on the NBCOT standardized exam submitted by the exam service or NBCOT;
2.1.2.1 If the date of application for licensure is more than three years following the successful completion of the NBCOT exam, the applicant shall submit proof of twenty (20) hours of continuing education in the two years preceding the application in accordance with Rule 5.0 of these rules and regulations.
2.1.3 Official transcript and proof of successful completion of field work submitted by the school directly to the Board office;
2.1.4 Fee payable to the State of Delaware.
2.2 To apply for a reciprocal license, in addition to the requirements listed in 24 Del.C. §2011, an applicant shall submit the following to the Board:
2.2.1 A completed notarized application on the form approved by the Board;
2.2.2 Verification of a passing score on the NBCOT standardized exam submitted by the exam service or NBCOT;
2.2.3 Letter of verification from any state in which the applicant has been licensed (the applicant is responsible for forwarding the blank verification form to all states where they are now or ever have been licensed);
2.2.4 Fee payable to the State of Delaware.
2.3 To apply for renewal, an applicant shall submit:
2.3.1 A completed renewal application on the form approved by the Board. Beginning in 2006, license renewal may be accomplished online at www.dpr.delaware.gov;
2.3.2 Evidence Proof of meeting continuing education requirements as designated by the Board in Rule 5 3.0;
2.3.3 Renewal fee payable to the State of Delaware.
2.4 To apply for inactive status:
A licensee may, upon written request to the Board, have his/her license placed on inactive status if he/she is not actively engaged in the practice of occupational therapy in the State.
2.5 To apply for reactivation of an inactive license, a licensee shall submit:
2.5.1 A letter requesting reactivation;
2.5.2 A completed application for renewal;
2.5.3 Proof of continuing education attained within the past two years (20 contact hours). The twenty (20) hours must be in accordance with Rule 5.0 of these rules and regulations;
2.5.4 Fee payable to the State of Delaware.
2.6 To apply for reinstatement of an expired license, an applicant shall submit (within three (3) years of the expiration date):
2.6.1 A completed application for renewal;
2.6.2 Proof of continuing education attained within the past two years (20 contact hours). The twenty (20) hours must be in accordance with Rule 5.0 3.0 of these rules and regulations;
2.6.3 Licensure and late fee payable to the State of Delaware.
6 DE Reg. 1331 (4/1/03)
3.0 Continuing Education
3.1 Continuing Education Content Hours
3.1.1 Proof of cContinuing education (CE) is required for license renewal and shall be submitted completed by May 31st of each renewal year. A licensee who submits completes continuing education that is not approved by the Board will be notified so that he or she may obtain additional CE to substitute before the license expiration date of July 31.
3.1.1.1 Proof of continuing education is satisfied with an attestation by the licensee that he or she has satisfied the requirements of Rule 3.0;
3.1.1.2 Attestation may be completed electronically if the renewal is accomplished online. In the alternative, paper renewal documents that contain the attestation of completion can be submitted;
3.1.1.3 Licensees selected for random audit are required to supplement the attestation with attendance verification as provided in 3.1.2.
3.1.2 A log of CE on a form approved by the Board shall be maintained and submitted. Documentation of the CE should not be routinely sent with the log but must be retained during the licensure period to be submitted if the renewal application is selected for CE audit. Random audits will be performed by the Board to ensure compliance with the CE requirement. Licensees selected for the random audit shall submit the log and attendance verification.
3.1.3 Contact hours shall be prorated for new licensees in accordance with the following schedule:
3.1.3.1 *21 months up to and including 24 months remaining in the licensing cycle requires 20 hours;
3.1.3.2 *16 months up to and including 20 months remaining in the licensing cycle requires 15 hours;
3.1.3.3 *11 months up to and including 15 months remaining in the licensing cycle requires 10 hours;
3.1.3.4 *10 months or less remaining in the licensing cycle – exempt.
3.2 Definition of Acceptable Continuing Education Credits:
Activities must be earned in two (2) or more of the six (6) categories for continuing education beginning in section 5.5.
3.3 Continuing Education Content:
3.3.1 Activities must be in a field of health and social services related to occupational therapy, must be related to a licensee’s current or anticipated roles and responsibilities in occupational therapy, and must directly or indirectly serve to protect the public by enhancing the licensee’s continuing competence.
3.3.2 Approval will be at the discretion of the Board. A licensee or continuing education provider may request prior approval by the Board by submitting an outline of the activity at least six weeks before it is scheduled. The Board pre-approves continuing education activities sponsored or approved by AOTA or offered by AOTA-approved providers as long as the content is not within the exclusion in Rule 5.5.1 for courses covering documentation for reimbursement or other business matters.
3.3.3 CE earned in excess of the required credits for the two (2) year period may not be carried over to the next biennial period.
3.4 Definition of Contact Hours:
3.4.1 “Contact Hour” means a unit of measure for a continuing education activity. One contact hour equals 60 minutes in a learning activity, excluding meals and breaks.
3.4.2 One (1) academic semester hour shall be equal to fifteen (15) contact hours.
3.4.3 One (1) academic quarter hour shall be equal to ten (10) contact hours.
3.4.4 The preparing of original lectures, seminars, or workshops in occupational therapy or health care subjects shall be granted one (1) contact hour for preparation fro for each contact hour of presentation. Credit for preparation shall be give for the first presentation only.
3.5 Continuing Education Activities:
3.5.1 Courses: The maximum credit for course work shall not exceed nineteen (19) hours. Extension courses, refresher courses, workshops, seminars, lectures, conferences, and non patient-specific in-service training qualify under this provision as long as they are presented in a structured educational experience beyond entry-level academic degree level and satisfy the criteria in 5.3.1. Excluded are any job related duties in the workplace such a fire safety, OSHA or CPR. Also excluded are courses covering documentation for reimbursement or other business matters.
3.5.1.1 Course work involving alternative therapies shall be limited to five (5) hours,
3.5.1.2 Course work by homestudy/ correspondence shall be limited to ten (10) hours.
3.5.2 Professional Meetings & Activities: The maximum number of credit hours shall not exceed ten (10) hours. Approved credit includes attendance at: DOTA business meetings, AOTA business meetings, AOTA Representative Assembly meetings. NBCOT meetings, OT Licensure Board meetings and AOTA National Round Table discussions. Credit will be given for participation as an elected or appointed member/officer on a board, committee or council in the field of health and social service related to occupational therapy. Seminars or other training related to management or administration are considered professional activities. Excluded are any job related meetings such as department meetings, supervision of students and business meetings within the work setting.
3.5.3 Publications: The maximum number of credit hours shall not exceed fifteen (15) hours. These include writing chapters, books, abstracts, book reviews accepted for publication and media/ video for professional development in any venue.
3.5.4 Presentations: The maximum number of credit hours shall not exceed fifteen (15) hours. This includes workshops and community service organizations presentations that the licensee presents. Credit will not be given for the presentation of information that the licensee has already been given credit for under another category. Excluded are presentations that are part of a licensee’s job duties. The preparation of original lectures, seminars, or workshops in occupational therapy or health care subjects shall be granted one (1) hour for preparation for each contact hour of presentation. Credit for preparation shall be given for the first presentation only.
3.5.5 Research/Grants: Credit may be awarded one time for contact hours per study/topic regardless of length of project, not to exceed ten (10) hours. Contact hours accumulated under this category may not be used under the publication category. Licensees must submit documentation of authorship or letters from authorizing entity to receive continuing education credit.
3.5.6 Specialty Certification: Approval for credit hours for specialty certification, requiring successful completion of courses and exams attained during the current licensure period will be at the discretion of the Board. Examples include Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) and Occupational Therapist, Board Certified in Pediatrics (BCP).
3.6 The Board may waive or postpone all or part of the continuing education activity requirements of these regulations if an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant submits written request for a waiver and provides evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of an illness, injury, financial hardship, family hardship, or other similar extenuating circumstance which precluded the individual’s completion of the requirements.
6 DE Reg. 1331 (4/1/03)
*Please Note: As the rest of the sections were not amended, they are not being published. The complete regulation is available at:
http://www.state.de.us/research/AdminCode/title24/2000%20Board%20of%20Occupational%20Therapy.shtml#
