The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board

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The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy,
Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board

• Cincinnati State
• OTA Program

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Certification vs. Licensure

• The OT Section of the Ohio OTPTAT Board issues
  licenses to practice as an OT/OTA in the State of
  Ohio.

• The NBCOT certifies individuals as either OTRs
  or COTAs to people who meet their requirements
  for certification.

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Certification vs. Licensure

• You MUST hold a valid license issued by the OT
  Section of the Ohio OTPTAT Board to legally
  practice occupational therapy in the State of
  Ohio.
• Certification ? Licensure

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Ohio Revised Code Requirements

• R.C. 4755.04 (C) states An occupational therapy
  assistant means a person who holds a license or
  limited permit to provide occupational therapy
  techniques under the general supervision of an
  occupational therapist.
• R.C. 4755.05 states No person who does not hold
  a current license or limited permit shall
  practice

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Licensure vs. Certification

• Although you need a state license to practice, as
  part of the initial application process, you will
  need to apply for NBCOT certification to take the
  NBCOT Exam.
• Upon passing the NBCOT Exam, you will receive
  certification and may call yourself a COTA. This
  does not mean you can legally practice in Ohio
  without a license.

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Licensure

• If you practice with NBCOT Certification, but not
  Ohio licensure, you will be disciplined for
  practicing occupational therapy without a
  license!!

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Licensure vs. Certification

• Once you receive your license to practice in
  Ohio, NBCOT certification is not required to
  renew your license to practice.

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OTPTAT v. NBCOT v. OOTAThe Alphabet Soup of the
Profession

• OTPTAT is your state regulatory agency. It
  licenses individuals and enforces the practice
  act.
• NBCOT is a certification entity. Certification
  allows a practitioner to use the credentials OTR
  or COTA. It is not mandatory that you hold
  certification.

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OTPTAT v. NBCOT v. OOTA

• OOTA is the state professional association. Along
  with the AOTA, it advocates on the state/federal
  level for the profession.
• The professional association ? the licensing
  board.
• State licensure does not require OOTA membership.

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Mission of the OT Section

• The Mission of the OT Section is to Protect the
  Public, NOT the Licensee

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Composition of the Board

• Joint Board consisting of an Occupational
  Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers
  Section
• Total of 8 full-time staff
• OT Section has 5 Section members

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Board Members (Term Expires)

• Kimberly Lawler, OT, Frazeyburg (8/27/10)
• OT Section Chair
• Jean Halpin, OT, Westerville (8/27/11)
• OT Section Secretary
• Rebecca Finni, OT, Amelia (8/27/10)
• Nanette Shoemaker, OTA, Miamisburg (8/27/12)
• Mary Stover, OT, Columbus (8/27/12)

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OTPTAT Board Info

• Staff 2 Administrative Staff, 3 Investigative
  Staff, and 3 Licensure Staff
• Website - http//otptat.ohio.gov
• Any Board-related information you need can be
  obtained from the website e.g. Applications,
  Laws and Rules, Newsletter, etc.

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Licensure (contd)

• Limited Permit
• Only for those who have not yet taken the NBCOT
  Exam
• Allows applicant to work prior to passage of the
  NBCOT Exam

• Full Licensure
• Applicant must have already passed the NBCOT Exam

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Limited Permit

• Prior to working on a Limited Permit, you must
• Have your completed application approved by the
  OT Section
• Pay the 100 application fee and
• Pass the Ohio Laws and Rules Exam
• Anyone who has failed the NBCOT Exam is NOT
  eligible to receive a Limited Permit

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Limited Permit (contd)

• You may practice as an OT/OTA under the
  supervision of a licensed OT
• Limited Permit valid for 4 months or until
  results of NBCOT Exam are known, whichever comes
  first
• If you fail the NBCOT Exam, your Limited Permit
  immediately expires and you must stop working

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Limited Permit (contd)

• If you pass NBCOT Exam, you will automatically be
  granted a full license without a new application.
• If you fail the NBCOT Exam, you must immediately
  stop working and reapply for full licensure.

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Limited Permit (contd)

• Board planning to eliminate limited permits
• Public hearing on proposed rule change occurred
  in January 2010
• Planned effective date of amended rule is May 1,
  2011

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Criminal Records Checks

• HB 104 requires the Board to receive the results
  of a criminal records check before issuance of a
  license.
• The law requires the applicant to submit the
  results of a criminal records check conducted by
  both the FBI and Ohio BCI.
• Only applies to initial license applications.
• No fingerprints needed for renewal or
  reinstatement.
• http//www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Services/Busine
  ss/WebCheck

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I Have My License. Now What?

• Your first renewal
• Check your authorization to practice letter to
  determine when your initial license expires.
• All OTA licenses expire on June 30 of even
  numbered years.
• If initial issue date is on or before April 1,
  2010, your license will expire on 6/30/2010.
• If initial issue date is after April 1, 2010,
  your license will expire on 6/30/2012.

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I Have My License. Now What?

• OTA Licensees (OAC 4755-3-10)
• Licenses expire on June 30 of even numbered
  years.
• Must submit 20 contact hours of CE
• All CE must be completed in 24-month period
  ending on June 30 of the even year.
• You are exempt from CE for first renewal if you
  obtained an initial license by exam w/in 12
  months of program completion of entry-level OTA
  program.

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Continuing Education

• Rules 4755-9-01 and 9-02 of the Administrative
  Code govern the continuing education
  requirements.
• CE requirements for the Board may vary from those
  required by NBCOT.

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Continuing Education (contd)

• Ohio law does not require pre-approval of CE
  courses.
• According to rule 4755-9-01, a CE course is
  usually considered an acceptable learning
  activity if it is directly related to the
  clinical practice, management, or education of
  occupational therapy practitioners.

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Continuing Education (contd)

• The OT Section automatically accepts courses that
  have been sponsored or approved by
• OT Section
• AOTA
• OOTA
• Offered by an AOTA Approved Provider.

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I Have My License. Now What?

• What happens on July 1?
• If you did not renew, your license automatically
  expires.
• Renewal means the Board received AND processed
  your renewal application.
• To return to active practice in Ohio, you must
  submit a reinstatement application.

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Dont Wait Until June 30 to Renew
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Change of Address

• Ohio law requires all licensees to notify the
  Board, in writing, of a change of address within
  THIRTY days of the change.
• Failure to notify the Board, could result in the
  delay of the processing of your renewal
  application.

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State Application Information

• In this state
• http//otptat.ohio.gov
• If youre applying in another state
• http//www.nbcot.org to obtain a directory of
  State OT Boards

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Submitting the Application

• Applicants for initial licensure can submit a
  paper application or apply on-line
• Paper applications can be downloaded from the
  Boards website
• Apply on-line through the Ohio e-License Center
• https//license.ohio.gov
• Select Application Site option

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Contacting the Board

• You may contact the Board by any of the following
  methods
• Internet http//otptat.ohio.gov
• Email board_at_otptat.ohio.gov
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• OT Section
• Ohio OTPTAT Board
• 77 S. High Street, 16th Floor
• Columbus, OH 43215-6108