1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Competence” means an individual's capacity for performance in occupational therapy principles and procedures.

   2. (2) Competency.

      1. (a) “Competency” means the demonstration of the pertinent knowledge of and performance skills in occupational therapy principles and procedures within the practice of occupational therapy and limited occupational therapy.
      2. (b) “Competency” includes satisfactory completion of an educational program or experience, specialty certification, continuing education, or all of these.

   3. (3) Contact Hour.

      1. (a) “Contact hour” means 1 hour spent in a continuing competency activity that meets the requirements of the Board and is approved as set forth in this chapter.
      2. (b) “Contact hour” does not include orientations, introductions, refreshment breaks, receptions, other social gatherings, and meals which do not include an acceptable educational activity.
   4. (4) “Contact hour approval request” means a form provided by the Board for the purpose of obtaining Board approval of contact hours.
   5. (5) “Continuing competency committee” means a committee established and appointed by the Board to evaluate continuing competency programs and activities.
   6. (6) “Continuing competency requirement compliance report” means a form provided by the Board for the purpose of summarizing completion of continuing competency requirements.

   7. (7) “Occupational therapy principles” means:

      1. (a) The use of therapeutic activities that promote independence in daily life roles;
      2. (b) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes;
      3. (c) In order to enhance performance, the adaptation of task, process, or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques;
      4. (d) Methods and techniques for preventing disability that facilitate the development of the safe application of performance skills;
      5. (e) Health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities; and
      6. (f) Education, instruction, and research in the practice of occupational therapy.

   8. (8) Occupational Therapy Procedures.

      1. (a) “Occupational therapy procedures” means:

         1. (i) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, or productive activities, including instrumental activities of daily living and play and leisure activities;
         2. (ii) Developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, perceptual, cognitive, or psychological components of performance;
         3. (iii) Designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology, splinting, or orthotic devices, including training in the use of prosthetic devices;
         4. (iv) Adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles;
         5. (v) Applying physical agent modalities as adjuncts to or in preparation for purposeful activity with appropriate training, as specified;
         6. (vi) Promoting safe, functional mobility in daily life tasks;
         7. (vii) Providing intervention in collaboration with the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others;
         8. (viii) Educating the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and
         9. (ix) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, and communities to provide population-based services.
      2. (b) “Occupational therapy procedures” do not include the adjustment or manipulation of any of the osseous structures of the body or spine.

   9. (9) Occupational Therapy Role-Related Activities.

      1. (a) “Occupational therapy role-related activities” means activities which are relevant to and that augment a licensee's professional, job-related duties and responsibilities.

      2. (b) “Occupational therapy role-related activities” may include inservices, course work, or workshops relative to:

         1. (i) Health care administration, management, or leadership;
         2. (ii) Other disciplines' clinical practices that relate to occupational therapy principles and procedures;
         3. (iii) Billing and regulatory issues;
         4. (iv) Health care computer programs that provide information to benefit clients or client education; or
         5. (v) Cultural competency.

      3. (c) “Occupational therapy role-related activities” do not include:

         1. (i) Preparation for national or regional standardized tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination;
         2. (ii) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
         3. (iii) Job or facility orientation activities;
         4. (iv) Certificate or degree programs in unrelated fields; or
         5. (v) Foreign language classes for personal use.
   10. (10) “Provider” means a college, university, institution, organization, association, or individual that offers workshops, seminars, conferences, college-level courses, graduate-level courses, telecommunication network courses, or video-taped presentations that maintain or improve professional competency.

   11. (11) “Verification” means proof of licensure, certification, registration, or continuing education:

       1. (a) Confirmable by the Board based on documentation provided by the applicant.
       2. (b) Obtained from a verification service provider approved by the issuing entity and accepted by the Board at its discretion; or
       3. (c) Obtained from the entity by which the applicant is licensed, certified, registered, or educated.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§10-205 and 10-311, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 29, 1985 (12:15 Md. R. 1520)

Regulation .02A amended effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .03 amended effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)

Regulations .04—.07 repealed and new Regulations .04—.07 adopted effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)

Regulations .01—.07 repealed and new Regulations .01—.08 adopted effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1726)

Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)

Regulation .02B amended effective February 21, 2011 (38:4 Md. R. 264); February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 332); October 23, 2017 (44:21 Md. R. 984)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 21, 2011 (38:4 Md. R. 264); February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 332)

Regulation .04A amended effective October 23, 2017 (44:21 Md. R. 984)

Regulation .04C amended effective May 27, 2013 (40:10 Md. R. 917)

Regulation .05 amended effective February 21, 2011 (38:4 Md. R. 264)

Regulation .05A amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 332)

Regulation .06 amended effective February 21, 2011 (38:4 Md. R. 264); February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 332)

Regulation .07C amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 332)

Regulation .07E adopted effective October 23, 2017 (44:21 Md. R. 984)