21 NCAC 38 .0805 QUALIFIED ACTIVITIES FOR MAINTAINING CONTINUING COMPETENCE
Activities that qualify for maintaining continuing competence shall include the following:
(1) Continuing Education:
(a) Includes attendance and participation at a live presentation such as a workshop, seminar, conference, or in-service educational program and may include participation in other continuing education activities that require an assessment of learning. Examples of continuing education include electronic or Web-based courses, AOTA Self-Paced Clinical Courses or other formalized self-study courses, or AOTA Continuing Education Articles;
(b) A licensee shall earn one point for each contact hour that is awarded by the provider. There are no maximum points in this category; and
(c) Documentation shall include a certificate of completion including name of course, date, author/instructor, sponsoring organization, location, and number of hours attended.
(2) Academic Coursework:
(a) Includes participation in on-site or distance learning academic courses from a university, college, or vocational technical adult education course related to the practice of occupational therapy;
(b) A licensee shall earn one point for each contact hour, up to a maximum of six points, except that a licensee enrolled in a graduate or post-graduate OT curriculum has no maximum points in this category; and
(c) Documentation shall include an original official transcript indicating completion of the course, date, and a description of the course from the school catalogue or course syllabus.
(3) Small Group Study:
(a) Includes review and discussion of journal articles, clinical videotapes or audiotapes by at least two licensed practitioners;
(b) A licensee shall earn one point for three contact hours up to a maximum of three points; and
(c) 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.
(4) Mentorship Agreement:
(a) Participation as a Mentee:
(i) Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with a mentor as defined by a signed contract between the occupational therapy practitioner mentor and the occupational therapy practitioner 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;
(ii) A licensee shall earn one point for each 10 contact hours spent in activities directly related to achievement of goals and objectives up to a maximum of two points; and
(iii) 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.
(b) Participation as Mentor:
(i) Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with an occupational therapy practitioner or post Level II OT or OTA fieldwork student 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 occupational therapy skills for the mentee. The mentorship must not be part of the mentor's current required job responsibilities;
(ii) A licensee shall earn one point for each four hours spent in mentorship activities as a mentor up to a maximum of five points; and
(iii) 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.
(5) Fieldwork Supervision:
(a) Participation as the primary clinical fieldwork educator for Level I or Level II OT or OTA fieldwork students;
(b) A licensee shall earn one-half point for each 20 hours of fieldwork, up to a maximum of 12 points; points for Level I may not exceed six.
(c) 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; and
(d) If fieldwork spans two licensure years, credit shall be given only for the year it is completed.
(6) Professional Writing:
(a) Publication of a peer-reviewed book, chapter, article, or contracted review of occupational therapy resource material;
(b) During the year written, edited, or reviewed a licensee shall earn:
(i) 15 points as author of a book;
(ii) 10 points as author of a chapter;
(iii) Five points as author of a peer-reviewed article;
(iv) Five points as a contracted reviewer of a print or multimedia occupational therapy resource; or
(v) 10 points as listed editor of a book.
(c) 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; and
(d) Credit for submitted items shall be given for one licensure period only.
(7) Presentation and Instruction:
(a) 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 related to occupational therapy;
(b) A licensee shall earn two points for one contact hour that is awarded for an activity, up to a maximum of six points; and
(c) 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.
(8) Professional Meetings and Activities:
(a) Includes participation in board or committee work with agencies or organizations to promote and enhance the practice of occupational therapy;
(b) A licensee shall earn one point for five hours, up to a maximum of two points for participation on committees or boards; and
(c) Documentation must include name of committee or board, name of agency or organization, purpose of service, description of licensee's role, and hours of participation must be signed by an officer or representative of the organization or committee.
(9) Board Certification or Specialty Certification:
(a) The Board shall recognize completion of activities that result in board certification or specialty certification by AOTA during the current licensure period;
(b) A licensee shall earn 15 points for each board certification or specialty certification credential earned or re-certified during the current licensure period; and
(c) 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 or recertification.
(10) Research and Grants:
(a) Development of or participation in a research project or grant proposal relevant to occupational therapy;
(b) A licensee shall earn one point for each three hours spent working on a research project or grant proposal, up to a maximum of five points; and
(c) 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.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-270.69; 90-270.75(a);
Eff. July 1, 2007;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 23, 2016;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2020.