N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-2.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:44K-2.2 - Credit towards licensure as an occupational therapist for education, training, and experience received while serving as a member of the Armed Forces

(a) An applicant who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States (Armed Forces) and who does not meet all of the training, education, and experience requirements for licensure as an occupational therapist under N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a) may apply to the Council for recognition of the applicant's training, education, and/or experience received while serving as a member of the Armed Forces, which the Council shall consider together with any training, education, and/or experience obtained outside of the Armed Forces, for determining substantial equivalence to the training, education, and experience required for licensure.

(b) The Council shall issue a license as an occupational therapist to the applicant if the applicant presents evidence to the Council that:

1. The applicant has been honorably discharged from active military service;

2. The relevant training, experience, and education the applicant has received in the military, together with any training, education, and experience obtained outside of the Armed Forces is substantially equivalent in scope and character to the training, experience, and education required for licensure as an occupational therapist under N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a).

i. An applicant seeking credit for military training and experience shall submit to the Council the applicant's Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) Document, DD Form 2586, or a successor form, as amended and supplemented.

ii. An applicant seeking credit for education courses and/or training completed while in the military who does not hold a master's degree or its equivalent in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor shall submit to the Council a Joint Services Transcript of his or her education/training received in the military for a determination that the education courses completed are substantially equivalent in level, scope, and intent to the educational requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a). For the purpose of determining substantial equivalence of the applicant's military education and/or training, the Council shall consider only those courses relevant to the practice of occupational therapy that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education for substantial equivalence to civilian postsecondary curricula.

iii. An applicant seeking credit for education courses completed while in the military who does not hold a master's degree or its equivalent in any field other than occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor or who has not fulfilled the academic requirements of an educational program in occupational therapy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the World Federation of Occupational Therapy, or other nationally recognized programmatic accrediting agency shall submit to the Council a Joint Services Transcript of his or her education/training received in the military for a determination that the education courses completed are substantially equivalent in level, scope, and intent to the educational requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a). For the purpose of determining substantial equivalence of the applicant's military education or training, the Council shall consider only those courses relevant to the practice of occupational therapy that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education for substantial equivalence to civilian postsecondary curricula; and

3. The applicant complies with all other requirements for licensure, including successfully passing the certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), or its predecessors and/or its successors, as set forth in NJ.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a).

(c) It is the applicant's responsibility to provide timely and complete evidence of the education, training, and/or service gained in the military for review and consideration.

(d) If the applicant's military training, education, or experience, or a portion thereof, is not deemed to be substantially equivalent to that required for licensure as an occupational therapist, the Director and Council shall credit whatever portion of the military training, education, or experience that is substantially equivalent towards meeting the requirements under NJ.A.C. 13:44K-2.1(a) for the issuance of the license as an occupational therapist.

(e) Satisfactory evidence of such education, training, or experience shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-2.2

Adopted by 51 N.J.R. 769(b), effective 5/20/2019