N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-3.2

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

Section 13:44K-3.2 - Licensing procedure: occupational therapy assistant

(a) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapy assistant shall submit the following to the Council:

1. A completed application form, which contains the following:

i. Documentation of the applicant's education, including official transcripts, which indicate that the applicant received an associate's degree or its equivalent in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the college or university. If the applicant has completed all academic and administrative requirements necessary for the degree, but has not had the degree conferred by the university or college, the applicant may apply for a temporary license pursuant to 13:44K-4.1(b);

ii. If the applicant has received an associate's degree or its equivalent in any field other than occupational therapy, documentation, including official transcripts, which indicate that the applicant has completed the academic requirements of an educational program for occupational therapy assistants 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, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the educational program. If the applicant has completed all academic and administrative requirements necessary for completion of an educational program in occupational therapy, but has not had the program certificate conferred by the educational institution, the applicant may apply for a temporary license pursuant to 13:44K-4.1(b);

iii. If the applicant is a foreign-trained applicant who did not attend an education program that was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) at the time of the applicant's graduation, documentation demonstrating that he or she has completed educational and fieldwork requirements substantially equivalent to those in this State. To demonstrate substantial equivalence to the education requirements, a foreign-trained applicant shall provide the Council with a letter from the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) verifying that it has assessed the applicant's academic credentials and permitted the applicant to sit for the examination. An applicant may request from NBCOT a credential evaluation letter at http://www.nbcot.org.

iv. Documentation that applicant has successfully completed at least 12 weeks of supervised fieldwork experience, with a minimum of 360 hours, approved by the educational institution at which the applicant completed the occupational therapy education program in accordance with (a)1ii above, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the educational institution. The applicant shall have completed the 12 weeks of supervised fieldwork experience within 12 months of completing the academic requirements of the educational institution;

v. For applicants who have taken the certification examination prior to January 1, 2003, a "Verification of Certification" letter from the NBCOT indicating that the applicant has successfully passed the certification examination for occupational therapy assistants;

vi. For applicants who have taken the certification examination on or after January 1, 2003, a score transfer from NBCOT indicating that the candidate has successfully passed the certification examination for occupational therapy assistants;

vii. An applicant for initial licensure shall submit evidence of good moral character, as set forth in (b) below, which shall be an ongoing requirement for licensure; Recodify existing

viii. A "Verification of State License" form from any state in which the applicant is now or has ever been licensed to practice as an occupational therapy assistance, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the state in which the license is or was held; and

ix. A certified verification of name change, if applicable;

2. The application fee set forth in 13:44K-11.1;

3. One two inch by two inch, recent head and shoulder photo of the applicant, certified by a Notary Public, and signed by the applicant; and

4. The applicant's name, address and fingerprints for purposes of a criminal history background check to be conducted by the State of New Jersey pursuant to 45:1-28 et seq., to determine whether criminal history record information exists, which may be considered by the Council in determining whether the applicant shall be licensed in the State.

(b) In determining whether the applicant shall be licensed in the State, the Council shall consider evidence, which demonstrates that the applicant:

1. Is presently engaged in drug or alcohol use that is likely to impair the ability to practice occupational therapy with reasonable skill and safety. For purposes of this section, the term "presently" means at the time of application or any time within the 365 days prior to the time of application;

2. Has been convicted of violating any law of this State or any other state of the United States relating to controlled dangerous substances or other habit-forming drugs;

3. Has been convicted of violating any law relating to the practice of occupational therapy consistent with N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(f);

4. Has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and/or

5. Has had disciplinary action taken against his or her license by any licensing board.

(c) An applicant shall complete the New Jersey Jurisprudence Orientation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-3.2

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