A minimum of 3 years must have elapsed since you entered work as a credentialed PT, OT, or SLP.A minimum of 3500 direct practice hours in a level II, III, or IV NICU as a neonatal therapist are required to meet this requirement, regardless of full-time or part-time employment status.Hours of direct clinical practice in the NICU are calculated based on an average amount of time worked in the NICU during a typical work week and are not based on billable units.For example:A therapist working 40 hours per week or full time in the NICU may be able to achieve the required hours in 1.7 years, but must have practiced as a credentialed professional for a minimum of 3 years.A therapist working approximately 20 hours per week or part time in the NICU may be able to achieve the requirement in 3.4 years.  If the therapist worked an average of 10 hours per week in the NICU, it may take 6.8 years to achieve this requirement.