New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 44K - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ADVISORY COUNCIL › Subchapter 3 - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS: LICENSING PROCEDURE › Section 13:44K-3.1 - Licensing procedure: occupational therapist

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(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. Documentation of the applicant's education, including official transcripts, which indicate that the applicant received a master's degree or its equivalent in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the college or university. If the applicant has completed all academic and administrative requirements necessary for the degree, but has not had the degree conferred by the university or college, the applicant may apply for a temporary license pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:44K-4.1(b);
ii. If the applicant has received a master's degree or its equivalent in any field other than occupational therapy, documentation of the applicant's education, including official transcripts, which indicate that the applicant has completed the academic requirements of an educational program in occupational therapy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association (ACOTE), the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT), or other nationally recognized programmatic accrediting agency, which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the educational program. If the applicant has completed all academic and administrative requirements necessary for completion of an educational program in occupational therapy, but has not had the program certificate conferred by the educational institution, the applicant may apply for a temporary license pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:44K-4.1(b);
iii. If the applicant is a foreign-trained applicant who did not attend an education program that was accredited by ACOTE or WFOT at the time of the applicant's graduation, documentation demonstrating that he or she has completed educational and fieldwork requirements substantially equivalent to those in this State. To demonstrate substantial equivalence to the education requirements, a foreign-trained applicant shall provide the Council with a letter from the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) verifying that it has assessed the applicant's academic credentials and permitted the applicant to sit for the certification examination for occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistants, as applicable. An applicant may request from NBCOT a credential evaluation letter at
http://www.nbcot.org
.
iv. For applicants who, prior to January 1, 2007, successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, documentation of the applicant's education, including official transcripts, which indicate that the applicant received:
(1) A bachelor's degree or its equivalent in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor; or
(2) A bachelor's degree or its equivalent in any field other than occupational therapy from an accredited college or university approved by the Commission on Higher Education or its successor and have fulfilled the academic requirements of an educational program in occupational therapy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the World Federation of Occupational Therapy or other nationally recognized programmatic accrediting agency;
v. Documentation that the applicant has successfully completed at least 24 weeks of supervised field-work experience, with a minimum of 720 hours, approved by the educational institution at which the applicant completed the occupational therapy education program in accordance with (a)1i or ii, or, if applicable, iv above, which shall be submitted to the Council directly by the educational institution. The applicant shall have completed the 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork experience within 24 months of completing the academic requirements of the educational institution;
vi. 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 passed the certification examination for occupational therapists;
vii. 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 passed the certification examination for occupational therapists;
viii. An applicant for initial licensure shall submit evidence of good moral character, as set forth in (b) below, which shall be an ongoing requirement for licensure; Recodify existing
ix. A "Verification of State License" form from any state in which the applicant is now or has ever been licensed to practice as an occupational therapist which shall be forwarded to the Council directly by the state in which the license is or was held; and
x. A certified verification of name change, if applicable;