SECTION 435:30-1-15. Supervision of students, new graduates, techs and aides

  The Occupational Therapist is responsible and accountable for the overall use and actions of unlicensed personnel under his/her supervision and control during a therapy session or service delivery whether in person or by telehealth.

(1)   Students. Supervision of the student must occur by one of the following methods:

(A)   Direct, on-site supervision will be provided by the Oklahoma licensed Occupational Therapist for the Occupational Therapy student in models of healthcare or educational systems. Supervision of the Occupational Therapy Assistant student may be provided by an Oklahoma licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant working under supervision of an Oklahoma licensed Occupational Therapist.

(B)   In emerging occupational therapy models, areas of innovative community-based and social systems-based occupational therapy practice where there is no occupational therapy practitioner on site, the occupational therapy practitioner must provide a minimum of six hours of weekly supervision. Supervision must include role modeling for the student, direct observation of client interaction, meeting with the student, review of student paperwork, and availability for communication and consultation. The supervisor must be readily available during all working hours. It is understood that supervision begins with more direct supervision and gradually decreases to a minimum of six hours weekly as the student demonstrates competence. The supervisor must be cognizant of the individual student's needs and must use judgment in determining when an individual student may need more of the supervisor's time.

(2)   New graduates. Direct on-site supervision will be provided by the Occupational Therapist for new Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates practicing under a letter authorizing practice temporarily.

(3)   Techs and aides. Direct on-site supervision will be provided by the Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant for aides/technicians providing patient care. Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants will delegate only those tasks that are of a routine nature and do not require interpretation or professional judgment. The occupational therapy practitioner must ensure the aide/technician has demonstrated competency in the delegated tasks.

[Source: Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1359, eff 5-11-00; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2779, eff 6-24-02 (emergency); Amended at 20 Ok Reg 982, eff 5-21-03; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 2010, eff 9-11-20]