“Accredited Educational Program” - An educational institution offering a course of study in occupational therapy that has been accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

“Act”- The Occupational Therapy Practice Act, Title 3, Subtitle H, Chapter 454 of the Occupations Code.

“AOTA”- American Occupational Therapy Association.

“Applicant”- A person who applies for a license to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.

“Board” - The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.

“Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)” -An individual who uses this term must hold a valid regular or provisional license to practice or represent self as an occupational therapy assistant in Texas and must practice under the general supervision of an OTR® or OT. An individual who uses this term is responsible for ensuring that he or she is otherwise qualified to use it by maintaining certification with NBCOT.

“Class A Misdemeanor”- An individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by:

• A fine not to exceed $4,000;
• Confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or
• Both such fine and imprisonment (Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated Penal Code §12.21).

“Client”- The entity that receives occupational therapy; also may be known as patient. Clients may be individuals (including others involved in the individual's life who may also help or be served indirectly such as a caregiver, teacher, parent, employer, spouse), groups, or populations (i.e., organizations, communities).

“Complete Application”- Application form with photograph, license fee, jurisprudence examination with at least 70% of questions answered correctly, and all other required documents.

“Complete Renewal”- Contains renewal fee, renewal form with continuing education submission form, home/work address(es) and phone number(s), jurisprudence examination with at least 70% of questions answered correctly, and all other required documents.

“Continuing Education Committee” - Reviews and makes recommendations to the Board concerning continuing education requirements and special consideration requests.

“Coordinator of Occupational Therapy Program” - The employee of the Executive Council who carries out the functions of the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.

“Endorsement”- The process by which the Board issues a license to a person currently licensed in another state or territory of the United States that maintains professional standards considered by the Board to be substantially equivalent to those set forth in the Act, and is applying for a Texas license for the first time.

“Evaluation”- The process of planning, obtaining, documenting and interpreting data necessary for intervention. This process is focused on finding out what the client wants and needs to do and on identifying those factors that act as supports or barriers to performance.

“Examination”-The Examination as provided for in §454.207 of the Practice Act (relating to License Examination). The current Examination is the initial certification examination given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

“Executive Council”- The Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners.

“Executive Director”- The employee of the Executive Council who functions as its agent. The Executive Council delegates implementation of certain functions to the Executive Director.

“Intervention”- The process of planning and implementing specific strategies based on the client's desired outcome, evaluation data and evidence, to effect change in the client's occupational performance leading to engagement in occupation to support participation.

“Investigation Committee”-Reviews and makes recommendations to the Board concerning complaints and disciplinary actions regarding licensees.

“Investigator”- The employee of the Executive Council who conducts all phases of an investigation into a complaint filed against a licensee, an applicant, or an entity regulated by the Board.

“Jurisprudence Examination” - An examination covering information contained in the Texas Occupational Therapy Practice Act and Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners Rules. This test is an open book, online examination with multiple choice and/or true-false questions. The passing score is at least 70%.

“License”- Document issued by the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners which authorizes the practice of occupational therapy in Texas.

“Medical Condition”- A condition of acute trauma, infection, disease process, psychiatric disorders, addictive disorders, or post surgical status. Synonymous with the term health care condition.

“NBCOT”- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

“Non-Licensed Personnel”- OT Aide or OT Orderly or other person not licensed by this Board who provides support services to occupational therapy practitioners and whose activities require on-the-job training and supervision.

“Non-Medical Condition”- A condition where the ability to perform occupational roles is impaired by developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, the aging process, sensory impairment, psychosocial dysfunction, or other such conditions which do not require the routine intervention of a physician.

“Occupation” - Activities of everyday life, named, organized, and given value and meaning by individuals and a culture. Occupation is everything people do to occupy themselves, including looking after themselves, enjoying life and contributing to the social and economic fabric of their communities.

“Occupational Therapist (OT)” - An individual who holds a valid regular or provisional license to practice or represent self as an Occupational Therapist in Texas. This definition includes an Occupational Therapist or one who is designated as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR®).

“Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR)” - An individual who uses this term must hold a valid regular or provisional license to practice or represent self as an Occupational Therapist in Texas by maintaining registration through NBCOT.

“Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)” - An individual who holds a valid regular or provisional license to practice or represent self as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Texas, and who is required to be under the continuing supervision of an OT. This definition includes an individual who is designated as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA®) or an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).

“Occupational Therapy Plan of Care” - A written statement of the planned course of Occupational Therapy intervention for a client. It must include goals, objectives and/or strategies, recommended frequency and duration, and may also include methodologies and/or recommended activities.

“Occupational Therapy Practitioners” - Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants licensed by this Board.

“Outcome” - The focus and targeted end objective of occupational therapy intervention. The overarching outcome of occupational therapy is engagement in occupation to support participation in context(s).

“Place(s) of Business” - Any facility in which a licensee practices.

“Practice” - Providing occupational therapy as a clinician, practitioner, educator, or consultant to clients located in Texas at the time of the provision of occupational therapy services. Only a person holding a license from this Board may practice occupational therapy in Texas, and the site of practice is the location in Texas where the client is located at the time of the provision of services.

“Rules” - Refers to the TBOTE Rules.

“Screening” - A process used to determine a potential need for occupational therapy interventions, educational and/or other client needs. Screening information may be compiled using observation, client records, the interview process, self-reporting, and/or other documentation.

“Telehealth” - A mode of service delivery for the provision of occupational therapy services delivered by an occupational therapy practitioner to a client at a different physical location using telecommunications or information technology. Telehealth refers only to the practice of occupational therapy by occupational therapy practitioners who are licensed by this Board with clients who are located in Texas at the time of the provision of occupational therapy services. Also may be known as other terms including but not limited to telepractice, telecare, telerehabilitation, and e-health services.

Reference

Tex. Occ. Code § 454.002

3 Tex. Admin. Code §362.1