An applicant applying for a license as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant shall file with the board a written application provided by the board, showing to the satisfaction of the board that he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(a) That the applicant is in good standing and has not committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of a license under Section 480.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 2570.6

  • Association: means the Occupational Therapy Association of California or a similarly constituted organization representing occupational therapists in this state. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Board: means the California Board of Occupational Therapy. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Examination: means an entry level examination for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy or by another nationally recognized credentialing body. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Good standing: means that the person has a current, valid license to practice occupational therapy or assist in the practice of occupational therapy and has not been disciplined by the recognized professional licensing or standard-setting body within five years prior to application or renewal of the person's license. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • license: includes a license, limited permit, or any other authorization to engage in practice regulated by this chapter. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.26
  • Occupational therapist: means an individual who meets the minimum education requirements specified in Section 2570. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Occupational therapy: means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities (occupations) with individuals, groups, populations, or organizations, to support participation, performance, and function in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Occupational therapy assistant: means an individual who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, who is in good standing as determined by the board, and based thereon, who is qualified to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under this chapter, and who works under the appropriate supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, unincorporated organization, or corporation. See California Business and Professions Code 2570.2
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(b) (1) That the applicant has successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program for occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants that is approved by the board and accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association‘s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), or accredited or approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) predecessor organization, or approved by AOTA’s Career Mobility Program.

(2) The curriculum of an educational program for occupational therapists shall contain the content required by the ACOTE accreditation standards, or as approved by AOTA’s predecessor organization, or as approved by AOTA’s Career Mobility Program.

(c) (1) For an applicant who is a graduate of an occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant educational program who is unable to provide evidence of having met the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), he or she may demonstrate passage of the examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board, or the American Occupational Therapy Association, as evidence of having successfully satisfied the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).

(2) For an applicant who completed AOTA’s Career Mobility Program, he or she shall demonstrate participation in the program and passage of the examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board, or the American Occupational Therapy Association, as evidence of having successfully satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b).

(d) That the applicant has successfully completed a period of supervised fieldwork experience approved by the board and arranged by a recognized educational institution where he or she met the academic requirements of subdivision (b) or (c) or arranged by a nationally recognized professional association. The fieldwork requirements for applicants applying for licensure as an occupational therapist or certification as an occupational therapy assistant shall be consistent with the requirements of the ACOTE accreditation standards, or AOTA’s predecessor organization, or AOTA’s Career Mobility Program, that were in effect when the applicant completed his or her educational program.

(e) That the applicant has passed an examination as provided in Section 2570.7.

(f) That the applicant, at the time of application, is a person over 18 years of age, is not addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance, and has not committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 490, Sec. 3. (AB 2221) Effective January 1, 2019.)

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