| ISSUES, QUESTIONS AND TOPICS |
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| SUBJECTS LISTED alphabetically |
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If you have questions about these topics contact Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us
or call 971-673-0198
Administrative Rules
Administrative Rules relating to Occupational Therapy
Ages of OT and OT Assistants in Oregon
Here is a chart on the ages of occupational therapists in Oregon
AIDES
The new rule updated in 2007 clarifies the Use of Aides rules.
If you have any questions call 971-673-0198 or e-mail Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us.
APPLICATION FORMS
Check for applications forms here.
ARREST; CRIMINAL RECORD: Can you become or stay licensed in Oregon?
Click here for information about how a previous arrest or criminal records can affect your application or current license.
BOARD MEMBERS
Check for information about Occupational Therapy Licensing Board members here.
BOARD MEETINGS AND MINUTES
Check for information about the Board meetings and minutes here.
BOARD MISSION STATEMENT, ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
For information about the Board's Mission Statement and Role and Responsibilities click here.
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS or other licensee information?
If your name has changed please send in or fax the legal document that shows the name change. You can fax to 971-673-0226 Attn OT Licensing Board. Be sure to include exactly how your name should be listed (middle initial?) and other changes such as address and telephone or e-mail.
If you have other changes such as address, e-mail, telephone, please send it in writing by e-mail to Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us You can call 971-673-0198 but it is more efficient to receive it in writing which leaves less chance to error since we can copy it into the data base from your e-mail. You can also mail it to the Board office.
CHARTING AND DOCUMENTATION QUESTIONS
This topic is being considered and is not completed.
COMPLAINT OR DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS
Check here for information about Board procedure regarding disciplinary complaints and investigations.
You will also find the relevant oregon laws and rules relating to unprofessional conduct. For the complete rules and laws look under State Statutes and Rules on the menu bar.
CONTACT THE OREGON OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSING BOARD
Check here about how to contact the Oregon OTLB (Occupational Therapy Licensing Board).
You can also e-mail the Director at Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us
CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE)
Check here for information about Continuing Education
DEFINITION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
For the current definition of OT and the proposed change to the AOTA Model definition click here. The Board was in the process of proposing a legal change to the statute on the definition of OT during the 2007 legislative session. The draft received from legislative counsel's office was very short and the board and others felt that the new definition was not adequate for the board.
Since both the board and the House Health Committee recommended adoption of the Model AOTA definition, and that definition was too long for the statute, the board testified that it would prefer to keep the current original defintion since 1977 and adopted the new Model AOTA definition on OT and scope of practice into rule.
To see a copy of the amended AOTA model definition on Occupational Therapy scope of practice click here.
DISCHARGE SUMMARIES
For information about who signs a discharge summary click here.
DRIVING ASSESSMENTS; DRIVING TRAINING; CAR ADAPTATION
Occupational Therapists do driving assessments at various facilities in the State of Oregon. In Oregon, the DMV is very specific about what the minimum skills are needed in order to drive. Occupational Therapists assess in three areas: visual, cognitive and physical. With that assessment the OT can say whether the person has the skills and abilities to drive. The driving assessment is not covered by Medicare and is self paid since it is not deemed "medically necessary" to drive.
The driving assessment is not an on-road test. However, it is a place to start. The Occupational Therapist should find out if the person has a valid driver's license or if the license has been suspended. The patient's doctor may have sent in the mandatory reporting form, and if so, the patient's license would automatically be suspended for a period of time. Then the person needs to take the DMV road test before they can return to driving. If the person passes the driving assessment but is not confident to get behind the wheel, they can be referred to a local driver's training school where they can get behind the wheel.
A good resource is the Oregon Driver's Education Center in Portland. Their web site is www.drivereducationcenter.com or call 503-297-4813 or Salem 503-581-3783 which offers on-road driving assessments. If the person needs modifications to their car, that is a whole specialty area.
DYSPHASIA AND DYSPHAGIA
For information about Occupational Therapists working in the area of dysphagia click here (This section is not yet completed) Dysphagia is a condition related to abnormal eating and swallowing. The new AOTA guidelines in Section C 12 state that "the treatment of eating, feeding and swallowing" are part of the OT's scope of practice.
Dysphasia is a condition related to abnormal speech and language such as expressive or receptive speech difficulties. This is generally an area for speech/language therapists.
To see the AOTA 2007 document on Feeding, Eating and Swallowing click here.
EDUCATION; SCHOOLS; DISTANCE LEARING
Educational requirements for accredited Occupational Therapy school, both in state and out of the country are determined by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). This body would be the one to contact about distance learning programs that are approved. Their web site is www.aota.org which as a lot of information and refers you to specific programs/schools. For example, for distance learning, go to to student section, scroll down to programs offering distance education (they off only a portion of program by distance education). The telephone number for AOTA is 301-652-2682.
The only OT school in Oregon is at Pacific University, School of OT. Their web site is www.ot.pacificu.edu Currently there is no OT Assistant school in Oregon.
EVALUATION WITHOUT PHYSICIAN'S PRESCRIPTION
A doctor's prescription is not necessary for an occupational therapist, except when the OT is using a Physical Agency Modality that is not specifically defined in the statute. Click here for more information.
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE
Click here for information about Evidence Based
WHAT DOES THE OTLB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DO ?
Felicia Holgate, you can call us at our NEW number at 971-673-0198 or e-mail: Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us
FEES FOR OT and OT ASSISTANT LICENSES
Since the Board now issues two-year licenses from May 31, 2008 to May 31, 2010, applicants who are currently being licensed need to send in a two year fee:
Initial OT license in Oregon $100 and second year fee $85 for a total of $185
Initial OT Assistant license in Oregon $70 and second year fee of $60 for a total of $130
For Renewals:
For an OT the two year fee was reduced from $200 to $170
For an OT Assistant the two year fee was reduced from $140 to $120/
License are valid from May 2008 - May 2010.
For information about Reinstatements of License contact the Director Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us or call her at 971-673-0198.
FOREIGN TRAINED Occupational Therapists
The Oregon Occupational Therapy Licensing Board does issue licenses to foreign trained therapists if they have met all the qualifications of the Oregon statute, ORS 675.240. All applicants must have been found eligible to take, and pass the NBCOT certification examination. For information about NBCOT visa and credential information check www.NBCOT.org.
NBCOT recognizes that there are many different types of educational systems around the world. Although the foreign system may be different, occupational therapy schools are approved by the international organization that sets worldwide standards for occupational therapy educational programs. If the application in Oregon has met those standards, been approved to take the national certification examination and passed it and have met the requirements for licensure for Oregon they can be licensed in Oregon.
Limited Permits may be issued to those who have successfully completed all the required academic course and field work, have been accepted to take the NBCOT examination. Click here for information for Limited Permits.
In addition, if the foreign trained applicant does not have a Social Security Number they must fill out and submit a notarized Affidavit regarding SS Number to the Board.
GAIT TRAINING
Gait training is under the purview of physical therapy. See their web site at www.ptboard.state.or.us
HOME ASSESSMENTS by an OT Assistant
Can an OT Assistant perform home assessments?
Yes, an OT may delegate home assesmment data collection to an OT Assistant. However, it is the OT´s responsibility to analyze the data, make recommendations and document or co-sign findings.
Also look under Supervision for guidelines to help.
HOW MANY OT and OT Assistants are in Oregon since 1978?
Click here to find a chart of how many therapists there are in Oregon since 1977.
As of Sept. 1008 there are 1510 total Occupational Therapists in Oregon (of which 142 are OT Assistants).
LAWS - The Oregon laws are found in the Oregon Revised Statutes
For the Oregon laws, ORS relating to occupational therapy click here.
Scroll down for the OT section of the laws to ORS 675.210
APPLICATION FORMS
For application forms click here.
LICENSEE LISTS: How to request a list
To request a licensee list click here.
Unfortunately we do not yet have any way to collect fees by credit card. You will need to send in a check or money order with the form.
LIMITED PERMIT
For information and copies of application for limited permit click here.
LINKS to Other OT sites that may of interest to you.
Click here for Other Links
MENTORSHIP/Re-ENTRY into Practice
Mentorships are used only for obtaining Continuing Education points (see CE under Proposed Rule changes). For information about what is needed for an applicant who has not been licensed for more than three years, the Board no longer has "menorship" as a means of obtaining a license, but has developed a Re-Entry Program.
MOBILTIY UNLIMITED: provides a solution for those who have mobility needs
Mobility Unlimited is a nonprofit organization that assists physically disabled, uninsured or underinsured, working Oregonians with the mobility equipment needed in order to be independent and self-sufficient. Please contact them at their hotline toll-free 877-516-0605 or check their web site at www.mobilityunlimited.org
NBCOT: Professional use of title OTR and COTA: What does membership in NBCOT mean?
NBCOT is the Board that administers the national examination for OT and OT Assistants. The Board verifies your examination results and your NBCOT number becomes your Oregon license number.
Although you do not need to have NBCOT certification to be licensed in Oregon, your employer may require the national certification. You can only use the OTR if you are certified. Otherwise you can use OT/L meaning you are licensed in Oregon. For an OT Assistant you can only use COTA if you are certified. If you are not, you use OTA/L meaning you are licensed in Oregon.
For proper credential use, you must not combine educational credentials with certification credentials. For example, use MS, MOT, OTR. This would indicate that MS and MOT is awarded by the education institution. OTR is awarded by NBCOT for certification purposes.
For a doctorate, you would use DOT, OTR which indicated you have have a doctorate in OT from the education institution and the national certification as an OT.
You should check with your employer to see if you must be certified by the national board for your employment. The web site for NBCOT is at www.nbcot.org
NEWSLETTERS
Click here to find OTLB newsletters.
OT ASSISTANTS: home assessments, patient summaries, evaluations, medication management etc.
There are frequent questions about the scope of practive and rules and laws regarding work done by Occupational Therapy Assistants. Click here for answers on the following:
Rules and supervision of OT Assistants
1. Can an OT Assistant perform home assessments, gather data and complete a home visit check list?
2. Can an OT Assistant begin an evaluation?
3. Can an OT Assistant administer the PCE (Physical Capacity Evaluation) or other standardized tests?
4. Can an OT assistant perform an ADL assessment before the supervising OT has performed an evaluation or become otherwise involved?
5. Can an OT Assistant teach medication management?
6. Can an OT Assistant recommend OT treatment prior to seeing a patient?
7. Must an OT co-sign daily/weekly notes?
8. Can an OT Assistant discharge patients?
9. Can an OT Assistant prepare a Discharge Summary or sign one?
Please contact the Board if you have further questions by contacting the Director Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us or call her at 971-673-0198.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES: What are the OTLB Goals:
To look at the OTLB Performance Measures and Goals click here.
PHYSICAL AGENT MODALITIES
For questions about OTs using Physical Agent Modalities click here
PROFESSSIONAL MEMBERSHIP: Do I have to be NBCOT certified or join AOTA or OTAO
For information about NBCOT please scroll up and check the question above under NBCOT. For Oregon one does not need to be a member of AOTA and OTAO. However, look under the web sites of these Associations to see all the benefits you can obtain from membership.
RECIPROCITY of license from other states
Any application for occupational therapy in Oregon provides information about previous or current licenses in other jurisdictions. Oregon looks at the verification from other states for the last five years, or more if there is any need to do so. The Oregon law indicates under ORS 675.270 that the Oregon OT Licensing Board may license applicants who meet the requirements and are currently certified by NBCOT; or present proof of current licensure as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory of the United States that require standards for licensure considered by the Oregon OT Licensing Board to be equivalent to the requirements for licensure under Oregon law. Each applicant shall pay the license fee required.
For information about foreign trained applicants, see the issue above.
Re-ENTRY into Practice of OT
Mentorships are used only for obtaining Continuing Education points (see CE under Proposed Rule changes). For information about what is needed for an applicant who has not been licensed for more than three years, the Board no longer has "menorship" as a means of obtaining a license, but has a Re-Entry Program.
RESNA (see wheelchairs)
RESNA is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America which has set standards for certain wheelchair purchases.
The certification is for practitioners (assistive technology practitioners – ATP) for OT and PT will be recinded :
December 7, 2007 , the DME Program Safeguard Contractor (PSC) medical directors announced that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) will rescind the requirement in the LCD for power mobility device evaluations to be performed by a RESNA-certified ATP, which was to become effective April 1, 2008 . Instead, the three medical directors for the PSCs said the current evaluation requirement would remain in place: Patients must have "a specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical professional, such as a PT or OT, or physician who has specific training and experience in rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations and that documents the medical necessity for the wheelchair and its special features."
It is not required for manual chairs or seating devices on manual chairs. It is for group 2 single power option or multiple power option PWC, group 3 and group 4 PWC. For one of the above mentioned chairs, the OT doing the assessment would need to be RESNA certified by April 1, 2008.
The exam cost is $500 and information and applications can be found at www.resna.org or call 703-524-6686 x 314. The exam is a combination of questions and case presentations developed by RESNA and consists of 200 multiple choice questions, the first 150 are general and remaining 50 questions are based on case presentations tailed to the specialty area of the individual sitting for the exam.
United Seating and Mobility is at least one supplier that is putting on CEU credit available workshops for exam prep. They are offering one Oct. 29th, 2007 at Edgefield Manor - McMenamins, 9-4:00pm, Cost $75. Other companies may offer similar workshops up to the April deadline.
From a licensing standpoint this is like any other special certification for a specific analysis. One must be certified to be in compliance. Medicare will not recognize an evaluation done by an uncertified person, for these chairs, and the person could also be found to be in violation of Federal regulations, and thus, state licensure issues as well.
Excerpt from CMS Local Coverage Determination L23613 on Power Mobility Devices
“For claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2008, the specialty evaluation required for patients receiving a Group 2 single power option or multiple power option PWC, any Group 3 or Group 4 PWC, or a push rim activated power assist device for a manual wheelchair must be performed by a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) specializing in wheelchairs or a physician who is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The ATP or physician may not have any financial relationship with the supplier. In addition, the wheelchair must be provided by a supplier that employs a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Supplier (ATS) specializing in wheelchairs who is directly involved in the wheelchair selection for the patient.”
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewlcd.asp?lcd_id=23598&lcd_version=16&show=all
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewlcd.asp?lcd_id=23613&lcd_version=13&show=all#top
http://www.resna.org/
http://www.unitedseating.com
SALARIES of OT and OT Assistants
Click here to find a national chart about OT and OT Assistant salaries in various states. These amounts have not been verified by the OT Licensing Board in Oregon.
SPECIALTIES: Individual Topics are available below:
There are many specialities in Occupational Therapy. The following topics will be developed:
Developmental Disabilities
Driving
Education
Ergonomics
Geriatrics
Hand
Home Health
Mental Health
Pediatrics
Private Practice
Rehabilitation
Sensory Integration
SUPERVISION
For information about Supervision click here. This includes information about the AOTA Guidelines adopted by the Oregon OT Licensing Board.
The Statement of Supervision form no longer must be notarized.
VERIFICATION of licenses
To verify a license of an occupational therapist click here.
If this is not a current licensee you will need to contact the Director at 971-673-0198 or e-mail Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us
VOLUNTEER SERVICES in Occupational Therapy
Any occupational therapist working in Oregon must be licensed in Oregon whether they are providing services for free or as volunteer.
If the occupational therapist is working in an institution or an agency of the federal government they do not have to be licensed in Oregon. See ORS 675.220(1)(a).
WHEELCHAIRS (see RESNA)
RESNA is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America which has set standards for certain wheelchair purchases. Their certification is for practitioners (assistive technology practitioners – ATP) an OT and PT will be recinded:
December 7, 2007 , the DME Program Safeguard Contractor (PSC) medical directors announced that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) will rescind the requirement in the LCD for power mobility device evaluations to be performed by a RESNA-certified ATP, which was to become effective April 1, 2008 . Instead, the three medical directors for the PSCs said the current evaluation requirement would remain in place: Patients must have "a specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical professional, such as a PT or OT, or physician who has specific training and experience in rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations and that documents the medical necessity for the wheelchair and its special features."
See more information under RESNA or the links below:
http://www.resna.org/
http://www.unitedseating.com
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewlcd.asp?lcd_id=23598&lcd_version=16&show=all
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewlcd.asp?lcd_id=23613&lcd_version=13&show=all#top
OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ?
Contact the Board by e-mail: Felicia.M.Holgate@state.or.us or call us at 971-673-0198 or FAX at 971-673-0226. Let us know what other questions, issues or topics you may have that should be on the web site.
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