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North Carolina OT Continuing Education

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Occupational Therapists: OTs licensed in North Carolina must complete fifteen (15) points of continuing education every year.

New Licensees:   N/A

Occupational Therapy Assistants: OTAs licensed in North Carolina must complete fifteen (15) points of continuing education every year.

How long is the reporting period?

One year, between July 1st of the preceding year and June 30th of the current year.

How is credit hour defined?

"Contact Hour" means a unit of measure for a continuing education activity. One (1) contact hour equals sixty (60) minutes in a learning activity, excluding meals and breaks.

One (1) contact hour equals one (1) point.

Can CE credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

No, continuing competence contact hours exceeding the total needed for renewal shall not be carried forward to the next renewal period.

Are there any specific requirements for continuing education?

For each renewal period, the licensee shall document completion of at least one (1) contact hour of a qualified activity for maintaining continuing competence related to ethics in the practice of occupational therapy that shall be included in the total points for the year.

What types of activities can be used for the continuing education requirements?

Description

Documentation

Hour Calculation

Maximum

Approved Continuing Education Courses

Documentation shall include a certificate of completion or similar documentation including name of course, date, author/instructor, sponsoring organization, location, and number of hours attended.

One (1) point for each contact hour or equivalent unit that is awarded by the provider.

No maximum.

Academic Coursework

Documentation shall include an original official transcript indicating successful completion of the course, date, and a description of the course from the school catalogue or course syllabus.

One (1) point for each contact hour.

Six (6) points maximum.

A licensee enrolled in a graduate or post-graduate OT curriculum has no maximum points in this category.

Small Group Study

Includes review and discussion of journal articles, clinical videotapes or audiotapes by at least two licensed practitioners

Documentation shall include title, author, publisher, time spent, and date of completion. Licensee must complete the Small Group Study Form provided by the NCBOT and include a statement that describes how the activity relates to a licensee's current or anticipated roles and responsibilities.

One (1) point for one hour spent in an independent study activity.

Three (3) points maximum.

Participation as a Mentee

Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with a mentor as defined by a signed contract between the mentor and mentee that outlines specific goals and objectives and designates the plan of activities that are to be met by the mentee. These activities must be related to the development of new occupational therapy skills outside current required job performance.

Documentation shall include name of mentor and mentee, copy of signed contract, dates, hours spent and focus of mentorship activities, and outcomes of mentorship agreement.

One (1) point for each four (4) hours spent in activities directly related to achievement of goals and objectives.

Five (5) points maximum.

Participation as Mentor

Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with a mentee as defined by a signed contract between the mentor and mentee that designates the responsibilities of the mentor and specific goals and objectives that are to be met by the mentee. These activities must be related to the development of new occupational therapy skills for the mentee that are outside current required job performance.

Documentation shall include name of mentor and mentee, copy of signed contract, dates, hours spent and focus of mentorship activities, and outcomes of mentorship agreement.

One (1) point for each four (4) hours spent in mentorship activities as a mentor.

Five (5) points maximum.

Fieldwork Supervision

Documentation shall include verification provided by the school to the fieldwork educator with the name of student, school, and dates of fieldwork or the signature page of the completed student evaluation form. Evaluation scores and comments shall be deleted or blocked out.

One-half (0.5) point for each forty (40) hours of fieldwork.

If fieldwork spans two (2)  licensure years, credit shall be given only for the year it is completed

Six (6) points maximum.

Professional Writing Publication of a peer-reviewed book, chapter, article or contracted review of occupational therapy resource material.

Documentation shall consist of full reference for publication including title, author, editor, and date of publication; or copy of acceptance letter, if not yet published.

Credit for submitted items shall be given for one licensure period only.

Fifteen (15) points as author of a book.

Ten (10) points as author of a chapter.

Five (5) points as author of a peer-reviewed article.

Five (5) points as a contracted reviewer of a print or multimedia occupational therapy resource.

Ten (10) points as listed editor of a book.

No maximum.

Presentation and Instruction

Presentation of an academic course or peer-reviewed or non peer-reviewed workshop, seminar, in-service, electronic or Web-based course for the first time or for which more than 50% of the material has been revised.

Documentation shall include a copy of official program, schedule, or syllabus including presentation title, date, hours of presentation, and type of audience or verification of such, signed by the sponsor.

Two (2) points for each one hour of credit that is awarded for an activity.

Six (6) points maximum.

Professional Meetings and Activities

Participation in board or committee work with agencies or organizations to promote and enhance the practice of occupational therapy.

Documentation must include name of committee or board, name of agency or organization, purpose of service, and description of licensee's role. Participation and hours must be validated by an officer or representative of the organization or committee.

One (1) point for five (5) hours or two points for ten (10) or more hours for participation on committees or boards.

No maximum

Board Certification or Specialty Certification

The Board shall recognize completion of activities that result in board certification or specialty certification by AOTA during the current licensure period.

Documentation shall include certificate of completion or other documentation from the recognized certifying body that identifies satisfactory completion of requirements for obtaining board certification or specialty certification.

Fifteen (15) points for each board certification or specialty certification credential earned or re-certified during the current licensure period.

No maximum

Research and Grants

Development of or participation in a research project or grant proposal.

Documentation includes verification from the primary investigator indicating the name of the research project, dates of participation, major hypotheses or objectives of the project, and licensee's role in the project or name of grant proposal, name of grant source, purpose and objectives of the project, and verification from the grant author regarding licensee's role in the development of the grant if not the author.

One (1) point for each three (3) hours spent working on a research project or grant proposal.

Five (5) points maximum.

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

Provided that the activities are consistent with the provisions of rules in this Section, the Board shall grant pre-approval to:

    • Continuing competence activities sponsored or approved by the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association,
    • Continuing competence activities sponsored or approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association,
    • Continuing competence activities sponsored by AOTA approved providers.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Continuing competence activities shall not include new employee orientation or annual training required by the employer.

Licensees shall not receive credit for completing the same continuing competence activity more than once during a renewal period.

What are the reporting requirements?

Licensees shall not send their continuing competence activity documentation to the Board unless audited or otherwise requested by the Board.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

The required documentation shall be retained by the licensee for two (2) years following the last day of the license renewal period for which the continuing competence activities were earned.

Can I request a waiver?

The Board shall waive all or part of the continuing competence activity requirements of this Section if an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant submits written request for a waiver and provides evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of an illness, injury, financial hardship, family hardship, or other similar extenuating circumstance which precluded the individual's completion of the requirements. The Board shall add the unfulfilled continuing competence hours to the following year's requirements.

What happens if I am audited?

A licensee who is audited shall provide proof of completion of the continuing competency activities.

A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing competence activity requirements of this Section shall be subject to disciplinary action that may include suspension or revocation of license.

References

21 NCAC 38.0801

21 NCAC 38.0802

21 NCAC 38.0803

21 NCAC 38.0804

21 NCAC 38.0805

21 NCAC 38.0806

21 NCAC 38.0807

21 NCAC 38.0808

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