SECTION 435:30-1-3. Licensure by examination

  Requirements for licensure by examination for Occupational Therapists or Occupational Therapy Assistants are as follows:

(1)   All applicants for licensure by examination must meet the statutory requirements set forth in the Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Practice Act, hereinafter referred to as Act.

(2)   The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, hereinafter referred to as Board, recognizes and approves the Examination of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) as an examination acceptable for licensure of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

(3)   In the event the Board administers the examination set forth in (2) of this section or any other examination approved by them, the application for licensure by examination must be on file at the office of the Board at least 30 days prior to the examination. No person shall be admitted to the examination until satisfactory evidence is submitted to the Board of his/her qualifications to be admitted to such examination.

(4)   Submission of proof of scores of a passing grade, as determined by the (NBCOT), shall constitute satisfactory evidence of applicant's qualifications for licensure. Applicants must have the scores submitted to this Board through a reporting service approved by this Board.

(5)   An applicant who meets academic, clinical and educational requirements for licensure as an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant may practice under the direct, on-sight supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist in the status of a graduate Occupational Therapy student or a graduate Occupational Therapy Assistant.

(A)   Said status will be communicated to the applicant by informal letter from the Board staff. Such status is not tantamount to licensure and does not constitute licensure in any form. A person in this temporary status must identify himself/herself as such and may not hold himself or herself out as a licensed Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant.

(B)   This temporary status may be valid for up to one year. After one year, the graduate Occupational Therapist student or graduate Occupational Therapy Assistant student may not practice in Oklahoma until a passing score on the exam is received.

(6)   Upon failure of examination by any applicant for Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure, said applicant may still function as a graduate Occupational Therapist student or a graduate Occupational Therapy Assistant student. The status of said applicant will be reviewed at each meeting of the Occupational Therapy Advisory Committee.

(7)   The Committee may in its discretion require any applicant to appear in person before the Committee in connection with consideration of said initial licensure.

(8)   Applicants who have not taken and passed the approved licensure examination within the past five years may be required to provide proof of continued competence as evidenced by one or more of the following:

(A)   Professional practice of at least 1000 hours per year for the past three years;

(B)   Continuing education consisting of up to two hours for each month out of practice, obtained within the last two years and approved by the Committee;

(C)   Re-examination by the (NBCOT).

[Source: Amended at 13 Ok Reg 3377, eff 6-18-96 (emergency); Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1416, eff 5-12-97; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1196, eff 5-13-02; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 952, eff 5-12-05]