Licensure Information

New Jersey Occupational Therapy Advisory Council 2008 Meeting Dates

The meetings will commence at 9:15 A.M. on the following dates:

May 8, 2008

July 10, 2008

September 11, 2008

November 13, 2008

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical/occuptherapy.htm

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Take a look at the first licensure newsletter! 

 Click here: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/occup/otnews06.pdf

New Grad Licensure Tips: (Click here)

Renewal of OT licenses

Some people have had difficulty renewing their licenses by using the web site address that was provided in the Division of Consumer Affairs letter. If you are one of those people, use the following address instead:

https://newjersey.mylicense.com

Trouble-shooting problems with license renewal:

        Error Code 99:Licensee is using a credit card that is not accepted by the website.   Use a different credit card - preferably Visa or MasterCard.

Receipt Page:This process may take up to several minutes, please be patient.  If you do not print the confirmation/receipt page, there is no way for you get back to the page and print it.   

 Cannot Save Information or see buttons: Please logout and close the web page.    Reopen the web page and select your profession.   For example, the veterinarians will need to click on the link that says "veterinary board licenses".

 Cannot complete process: Review “renewal checklist” located on the left-hand side of the screen.  Are all boxes completed?  Does each box (except for the finish box) have a checkmark?    Each box must have a checkmark before you can complete.    Click on the “renewal checklist” item that is missing the checkmark to go back to the page and complete it.   Make sure that you click save on each page.

 Page Froze:

1)  You can close your web browser and log back onto the MyLicense webpage.   From the renewal checklist, whatever items do not have a checkmark in the box will need to be completed.

 2)  If the page freezes on the before you receive your receipt, log back in to the site and look to see if the “finish” checkbox is checked.   If not, your payment never went through and you can safely resubmit.

Disclaimer:

All of the information contained on this website is based on information available to Board of Directors members. 

Official information is only available from:

State of New Jersey, Dept. of Law and Public Safety
Division of Consumer Affairs - Occupational Therapy Advisory Council
124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, P. O. Box 45037
Newark, N J 07101
973-504-6570

It is now possible to obtain application for New Jersey State OT/OTA licensure on-line at www.njconsumeraffairs.com/occup/otpacket.pdf

See below for more OT & OTA Licensure Information:

Occupational Therapy Licensure in the State of New Jersey is handled through the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs.

The Occupational Therapy license is issued by the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council, which is made up of seven members who are appointed by the Governor. Four of the members are licensed occupational therapists with at least five years experience , one is a certified occupational therapy assistant, and two members who are "public" members.

Occupational Therapy has had a licensure act in New Jersey since 1993. All therapists were required to be licensed as of March 15, 2000.

According to the Occupational Therapy Licensing Act of 1993, Occupational Therapy means:

"the evaluation, planning and implementation of a program of purposeful activities to develop or maintain functional skills necessary to achieve the maximal physical or mental functioning, or both, of the individual in his daily occupational performance. The tasks of daily living may be threatened or impaired by physical injury or illness, developmental deficits, sensorimotor dysfunction, psychological and social dysfunction, the aging process, poverty, or cultural deprivation. Occupational therapy utilizes task oriented activities adapted to prevent or correct physical or emotional deficits as well as to minimize the disabling effects of those deficits on the life of the individual. Occupational therapy services include the use of specific techniques which enhance functional performance and include, but are not limited to, the evaluation and assessment of an individual's self care, lifestyle performance patterns, work skills, performance related cognitive, sensory, motor, perceptual, affective, interpersonal and social functioning, vocational and prevocational capacities, the design, fabrication and application of adaptive equipment or prosthetic or orthotic devices (excluding dental devices), the administration of standardized and nonstandardized assessments, and consultation concerning the adaptation of physical environments for the handicapped. These services are provided to individuals or groups through medical, health, educational and social systems."

The Occupational Therapy Licensing Act is listed under the New Jersey Permanent Statutes, Title 45: Professions and Occupations; 45:9-37. This information can be accessed on the web through the State of New Jersey legislative  home page.  Look for Title 45.

On November 3, 2003, the State of New Jersey adopted the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council Rules.  This is a posted copy for your convenience.  For comments and interpretation please refer to the document in its entirety at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/home.htm.  You may search under regulations adopted in the menu and then go to the proper date. 

NEW JERSEY REGISTER
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 21
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003
RULE ADOPTION
LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ADVISORY COUNCIL RULES

Federal Standards Statement

A Federal standards analysis is not required because the rules readopted with amendments and new rule N.J.A.C. 13:44K-8.5 are governed by N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.51 et seq., and are not subject to any Federal requirements or standards.

Full text of the re-adoption can be found in the New Jersey Administrative Code at N.J.A.C. 13:44K.

Full text of the adopted amendments and new rule follows:

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-3.1 >>

13:44K-3.1 Licensing procedure: occupational therapist

(a) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist shall submit the following to the Council:

1. A completed application form which contains the following:

i.-iii. (No change.)

iv. For applicants who have taken the certification examination prior to January 1, 2003, a "Verification of Certification" letter from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) indicating that the candidate has successfully completed the certification examination for occupational therapists;

v. For applicants who have taken the certification examination on or after January 1, 2003, a score transfer from NBCOT indicating that the candidate has successfully completed the certification examination for occupational therapists;

Recodify existing v.-vii. as vi.-viii. (No change in text.)

2.-3. (No change.)

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-3.2 >>

13:44K-3.2 Licensing procedure: occupational therapy assistant

(a) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapy assistant shall submit the following to the Council:

1. A completed application form which contains the following:

i.-iii. (No change.)

iv. For applicants who have taken the certification examination prior to January 1, 2003, a "Verification of Certification" letter from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) indicating that the applicant has successfully completed the certification examination for occupational therapy assistants;

v. For applicants who have taken the certification examination on or after January 1, 2003, a score transfer from NBCOT indicating that the candidate has successfully completed the certification examination for occupational therapy assistants;

Recodify existing v.-viii. as vi.-ix. (No change in text.)

2.-3. (No change.)

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-4.2 >>

13:44K-4.2 Expiration of temporary license; renewal of temporary license

(a) A temporary license holder shall take the licensure examination within 90 days of the date of issuance of his or her temporary license. Failure to take the examination within 90 days shall constitute a failure of the examination and the temporary license shall automatically expire. A temporary license holder may, however, apply to the Council for renewal of the temporary license as provided in (c) below. A temporary license holder shall take the licensure examination within 180 days of the date of issuance of the renewal.

(b) A temporary license shall expire automatically upon the temporary license holder being notified of failure of the licensure examination. Upon notification of failure of the initial examination, a temporary license holder may apply to the Council for renewal of the temporary license as provided in (c) below.

(c) A temporary license shall be renewable one time only. A temporary license holder seeking renewal of a temporary license shall submit a written request for renewal to the Council certifying that he or she has requested a "Confirmation of Examination Registration and Eligibility to Examine Notice" from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) which shall be sent directly to the Council from NBCOT. The temporary license holder shall also submit the renewal fee set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-11.1.

(d) A temporary license which has been renewed pursuant to (c) above shall automatically expire upon notification to the temporary license holder from NBCOT that he or she has failed the licensure examination for the second time or upon the temporary license holder's failure to take the licensure examination for the second time within 180 days of the date of issuance of the renewal. The temporary license holder shall immediately cease practice and surrender the temporary license to the Council upon such notification or upon expiration of the 180 days.

(e) A temporary license shall expire within 180 days of the temporary license holder's receipt of notification from NBCOT that he or she has passed the licensure examination. The temporary license holder shall cease practicing under the temporary license no later than 180 days after receiving the NBCOT notification. The temporary license holder shall submit all documentation required for permanent licensure as provided in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1, and shall surrender the temporary license to the Council within 180 days of NBCOT notification.

(f) A temporary license issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:44K-4.1(b) to an applicant for a permanent license who has completed the academic and administrative requirements necessary for an occupational therapy degree or certificate, but who has not had the degree or certificate conferred, shall be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. The temporary license holder shall cease practicing under the temporary license no later than 180 days after the date the license is issued. The temporary license holder shall submit an official transcript of his or her education to complete his or her permanent licensure application, as provided in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-2.1, and shall surrender the temporary license to the Council within 180 days of the date of issuance.

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-7.3 >>

13:44K-7.3 Responsibilities of a temporary licensed occupational therapist or a temporary licensed occupational therapy assistant

(a)-(b) (No change.)

(c) A temporary licensed occupational therapist or a temporary licensed occupational therapy assistant shall maintain a record of supervision which shall include the name and license number of his or her designated supervisor, the date when the temporary licensee received supervision and the type of supervision that was provided.

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-8.1 >>

13:44K-8.1 Notification of change of address; service of process

(a) A licensee shall notify the Council, within 30 days, of any change in address on file with the Council and shall specify whether the address is a residence or employment address.

(b)-(c) (No change.)

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-8.2 >>

13:44K-8.2 Notification of change of name or practice name

(a) (No change.)

(b) Upon receipt of the items set forth in (a) above and upon payment of the fees specified in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-11.1(a)12 and 13, the Council shall issue to the individual a new license.

(c)-(d) (No change.)

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-8.5 >>

13:44K-8.5 Sexual misconduct

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Client" means any person who is the recipient of occupational therapy evaluation, instruction or treatment rendered by a licensee.

"Client-therapist relationship" means a relationship between an occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, or temporarily licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, and the client wherein the licensee owes a continuing duty to the client to render occupational therapy services consistent with his or her training and experience.

"Licensee" means any person licensed to engage in practice as an occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant or temporarily licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant by the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council.

"Sexual contact" means the knowing touching of a person's body directly or through clothing, where the circumstances surrounding the touching would be construed by a reasonable person to be motivated by the licensee's own prurient interest or for sexual arousal or gratification. "Sexual contact" includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of a part of the licensee's body upon a part of the client's body, sexual penetration, or the insertion or imposition of any object or any part of a licensee or client's body into or near the genital, anal or other opening of the other person's body. "Sexual contact" does not include the touching of a client's body which is necessary during the performance of a generally accepted and recognized occupational therapy procedure.

"Sexual harassment" means solicitation of any sexual act, physical advances, or verbal or non-verbal conduct that is sexual in nature, and which occurs in connection with a licensee's activities or role as a provider of occupational therapy services, and that either: is unwelcome, is offensive to a reasonable person, or creates a hostile workplace environment, and the licensee knows, should know, or is told this; or is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in that context. "Sexual harassment" may consist of a single extreme or severe act or of multiple acts and may include, but is not limited to, conduct of a licensee with a client, co-worker, employee, student or supervisee whether or not such individual is in a subordinate position to the licensee. "Sexual harassment" may also include conduct of a nonsexual nature if it is based on the sex of an individual.

"Spouse" means the husband, wife or fiancee of the licensee or an individual involved in a long-term committed relationship with the licensee. For purposes of the definition of "spouse," a long-term committed relationship means a relationship which is at least six months in duration.

(b) A licensee shall not engage in sexual contact with a client with whom he or she has a client-therapist relationship. The client-therapist relationship is ongoing for purposes of this section, unless:

1. Occupational therapy is terminated by way of written notice to the client and is documented in the client record; or

2. The last occupational therapy was rendered more than six months ago.

(c) In circumstances where the client is, or should be recognized by the licensee as, clearly vulnerable by reason of emotional or cognitive disorder to exploitive influence by the licensee, the prohibition on sexual contact shall extend indefinitely.

(d) A licensee shall not seek or solicit sexual contact with a client with whom he or she has a client-therapist relationship and shall not seek or solicit sexual contact with any person in exchange for professional services.

(e) A licensee shall not engage in any discussion of an intimate sexual nature with a client, unless that discussion is directly related to a proper occupational therapy purpose. Such discussion shall not include disclosure by the licensee of his or her own sexual relationships.

(f) A licensee shall provide privacy and examination conditions which prevent the exposure of the unclothed body of the client. Appropriate draping measures shall be employed to protect client privacy.

(g) A licensee shall not engage in sexual harassment either within or outside of the professional setting.

(h) A licensee shall not engage in any other activity which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the activity serves the licensee's personal prurient interests or which is for the sexual arousal, or sexual gratification of the licensee or client or which constitutes an act of sexual abuse.

(i) Violation of any of the prohibitions or directives set forth in (c) through (h) above shall constitute professional misconduct pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(e).

(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a licensee from rendering occupational therapy to a spouse, providing that the rendering of such occupational therapy is consistent with accepted standards of occupational therapy and that the performance of occupational therapy is not utilized to exploit the client spouse for the sexual arousal or sexual gratification of the licensee.

(k) It shall not be a defense to any action under this section that:

1. The client solicited or consented to sexual contact with the licensee; or

2. The licensee is in love with or held affection for the client.

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-9.1 >>

13:44K-9.1 Display of notice of licensure; duplicate license; notification of availability of fee information

(a) All licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall make their licenses available to clients upon request. Duplicate licenses may be obtained upon payment of the fees provided in N.J.A.C. 13:44K-11.1(a) 12 and 13.

(b)-(c) (No change.)

<< NJ ADC 13:44K-11.1 >>

13:44K-11.1 Fee schedule

(a) The following fees shall be charged by the Occupational Therapy Council:

1.-7. (No change.)

8. Temporary license renewal--occupational therapist ............ $50.00
9. Temporary license renewal--occupational therapy assistant .... $50.00