1. A. An applicant applying for a license as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant shall file a written application provided by the board, accompanied by the required fees and documentation, and demonstrating to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant has:

   1. (1) successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program in occupational therapy that is either:

      1. (a) accredited by the American occupational therapy association's accreditation council for occupational therapy education; or
      2. (b) in the case of a foreign educational program, accepted by the national board for certification in occupational therapy when the therapist applies to take that board's examination;

   2. (2) successfully completed a period of supervised field work experience at a recognized educational institution or a training program approved by the educational institution where the occupational therapist or the occupational therapy assistant has met the academic requirements of Paragraph (1) of this subsection; provided that:

      1. (a) an occupational therapist shall complete a minimum of twenty-four weeks of supervised fieldwork experience or satisfy any generally recognized past standards that identified minimum fieldwork requirements at the time of graduation; and
      2. (b) an occupational therapy assistant shall complete a minimum of sixteen weeks of supervised fieldwork experience or satisfy any generally recognized past standards that identified minimum fieldwork requirements at the time of graduation;
   3. (3) has passed an examination prescribed by the national board for certification in occupational therapy or the board; and
   4. (4) has no record of unprofessional conduct or incompetence.
2. B. In the case of an occupational therapy assistant or a person practicing on a provisional permit, the applicant shall file with the board a signed, current statement of supervision by the occupational therapist who will be the responsible supervisor.
3. C. The board shall verify, as necessary, information contained on the completed application and any supporting documentation required to obtain a license.

History: 1978 Comp., § 61-12A-11, enacted by Laws 1996, ch. 55, § 11; 2005, ch. 199, § 8.

ANNOTATIONS

Repeals and reenactments. — Laws 1996, ch. 55, § 27 repealed 61-12A-11 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1983, ch. 267, § 11, relating to suspension and revocation of license, and § 11 of that act enacted a new section, effective July 1, 1996.

Delayed repeals. — For the delayed repeal of this section, see 61-12A-24 NMSA 1978.

Cross references. — For the Parental Responsibility Act, see 40-5A-1 NMSA 1978 et seq.

The 2005 amendment, effective July 1, 2005, deleted the former provision in Subsection A that a license to practice shall be issued to a person who files a completed application and who submits satisfactory evidence of completion of the listed requirements; deleted references to the American occupational therapy certification board in Subsections A(1)(b) and (3); and added Subsection A(2)(a) and (b) to provide minimum time for supervised fieldwork experience.