N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-4.1

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

Section 13:44K-4.1 - Temporary license

(a) A temporary license shall be available to an applicant for examination as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant with his or her initial application for examination. The holder of a temporary license may practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

(b) A temporary license shall be available to an applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant who has completed all academic and administrative requirements for a degree or certificate in occupational therapy but has not had the degree or certificate conferred by the university or college, provided that the applicant satisfies the requirements of (c) or (d) below.

(c) An applicant for temporary licensure as an occupational therapist 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 a bachelor'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 submit a letter from the director of the occupational therapy program, until the official transcript becomes available, verifying that all requirements for the academic degree have been completed;

ii. If the applicant has received a bachelor'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 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, 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 submit a letter from the director of the occupational therapy program, until the official transcript becomes available, verifying that all requirements of the educational program have been completed;

iii. Documentation that the applicant has successfully completed at least 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork experience, with a minimum of 720 hours, approved by the educational institution at which the applicant completed the occupational therapy education program in accordance with (b)1i or ii above, which shall be submitted to the Council directly by the educational institution. The applicant shall have completed the 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork experience within 24 months of completing the academic requirements of the educational institution;

iv. A "Confirmation of Examination Registration and Eligibility to Examine Notice," sent to the Council directly by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) indicating that the applicant is eligible to sit for his or her initial examination for licensure;

v. Evidence of good moral character, as set forth in (e) below, which shall be an ongoing requirement for licensure;

vi. 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 therapist, which shall be forwarded to the Council by the state in which the license is or was held;

vii. A certified verification of name change, if applicable; and

viii. An Initial Verification of Supervision form;

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.

(d) An applicant for temporary 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 submit a letter from the director of the occupational therapy program, until the official transcript becomes available, verifying that all requirements of the educational program have been completed;

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 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, 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 submit a letter from the director of the occupational therapy program, until the official transcript becomes available, verifying that all requirements of the educational program have been completed;

iii. Documentation that the 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 (c)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;

iv. A "Confirmation of Examination Registration and Eligibility to Examine Notice," sent to the Council directly by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) indicating that the candidate is eligible to sit for his or her initial examination for licensure;

v. Evidence of good moral character, as set forth in (e) below, which shall be an ongoing requirement for licensure;

vi. 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 therapist, which shall be forwarded to the Council by the state in which the license is or was held;

vii. A certified verification of name change, if applicable; and

viii. An Initial Verification of Supervision form;

2. The application fee set forth in N.J.A.C. 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 shall be considered by the Council in determining whether the applicant shall be licensed in the State.

(e) In determining whether the applicant shall be licensed in this 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 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 or occupational therapy assisting 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.

(f) An applicant for temporary licensure shall complete the New Jersey Jurisprudence Orientation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44K-4.1

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