South Carolina Code 40-36-230. Applications for licensure as occupational therapist or assistant; license requirements
(a) has graduated from an occupational therapy educational program approved by ACOTE or other AOTA endorsed accrediting body for occupational therapy or other educational program which the board considers to be substantially equivalent;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-36-230
- ACOTE: means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- AOTA: means the American Occupational Therapy Association. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- Board: means the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- Department: means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation;
(5) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation or the director's official designee;
(6) "Licensee" means a person granted an authorization to practice pursuant to this article and refers to a person holding a license, permit, certification, or registration granted pursuant to this article;
(7) "Licensing act" means the individual statute or regulations, or both, of each regulated profession or occupation which include, but are not limited to, board governance, the qualifications and requirements for authorization to practice, prohibitions, and disciplinary procedures;
(8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, or corporation;
(9) "Profession" or "occupation" means a profession or occupation regulated or administered, or both, by the department pursuant to this article. See South Carolina Code 40-1-20 - NBCOT: means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- Occupational therapist: means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- Occupational therapy: means the functional evaluation and treatment of individuals whose ability to cope with the tasks of living are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, poverty and cultural differences, physical injury or illness, or psychological or social disability. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
- Occupational therapy assistant: means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist. See South Carolina Code 40-36-20
(b) has completed successfully a minimum of six months of supervised field work experience at an educational institution approved by the educational institution where the applicant met the academic requirements;
(c) has passed a board approved certification exam for the occupational therapist; and
(d) is in good standing with NBCOT or other board approved certification program.
(2) In addition to other requirements established by law and for the purpose of determining an applicant’s eligibility for an initial compact privilege, the department shall require a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results of this criminal records check must be reported to the department. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is authorized to retain the fingerprints for certification purposes and for notification of the department regarding criminal charges. Costs of conducting a criminal history background check must be borne by the applicant. The department shall keep information received pursuant to this section confidential, except that information relied upon in denying licensure may be disclosed as may be necessary to support the administrative action. The results of this criminal records check must not be shared outside the department.
(B)(1) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapy assistant shall file a written application on a form approved by the board showing to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant:
(a) has graduated from an occupational therapy assistant educational program approved by ACOTE or other AOTA endorsed accrediting body for occupational therapy or other educational program which the board considers to be substantially equivalent;
(b) has completed successfully a minimum of two months of supervised field work experience at a recognized educational institution or a training program approved by the educational institution where the applicant met the academic requirements;
(c) has passed a board approved certification exam for the occupational therapy assistant; and
(d) is in good standing with NBCOT or other board approved certification program.
(2) In addition to other requirements established by law and for the purpose of determining an applicant’s eligibility for a compact privilege, the department shall require a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results of this criminal records check must be reported to the department. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is authorized to retain the fingerprints for certification purposes and for notification of the department regarding criminal charges. Costs of conducting a criminal history background check must be borne by the applicant. The department shall keep information received pursuant to this section confidential, except that information relied upon in denying licensure may be disclosed as may be necessary to support the administrative action. The results of this criminal records check must not be shared outside the department.