Purpose: This rule provides more clarity regarding acceptable continuing competency requirements. The rule is intended to provide greater flexibility for occupational therapy practitioners to complete their continuing competency requirements. The rule also includes occupational therapy assistants to ensure that all occupational therapy practitioners are receiving ongoing continuing competency to provide safe, skilled, and competent care to the public.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-847-065 Continuing competency.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.59.130 and 18.59.090.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-17-045 on August 9, 2005.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Kris Waidely, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4847, fax (360) 664-9077, e-mail kris.waidely@doh.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: October 21, 2005.

Mark Lehner, OT, Chair

Occupational Therapy

Practice Board

OTS-7055.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)

WAC 246-847-065   Continued competency.   ((Licensed occupational therapists must complete thirty hours of continuing education every two years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.)) As required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7, licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants must complete thirty hours of continuing education every two years. A minimum of twenty hours must be directly related to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in RCW 18.59.020 and WAC 246-847-010. The remaining ten hours may be in professional development activities that enhance the licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant. The thirty contact hours must be obtained through two or more of the activities listed below. Documentation for all activities must include licensee's name, date of activity, and number of hours. Additional specific documentation is defined below:

     (1) Continuing education course work. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance.

     (2) In-service training. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance.

     (3) Professional conference or workshop. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance.

     (4) Course work offered by an accredited college or university, provided that the course work is taken after the licensee has obtained a degree in occupational therapy, and the course work provides skills and knowledge beyond entry-level skills or knowledge. The required documentation for this activity is a transcript.

     (5) Publications. The required documentation for this activity is a copy of the publication.

     (6) Presentations. The required documentation for this activity is a copy of the presentation or program listing. Any particular presentation may be reported only once per reporting period.

     (7) Interactive online courses. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of completion.

     (8) Development of instructional materials incorporating alternative media such as: Video, audio and/or software programs to advance professional skills of others. The required documentation for this activity is a program description. The media/software materials must be available if requested during audit process.

     (9) Professional manuscript review. The required documentation for this activity is a letter from publishing organization verifying review of manuscript. A maximum of ten hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

     (10) Guest lecturer for occupational therapy related academic course work (academia not primary role). The required documentation for this activity is a letter or other documentation from instructor.

     (11) Serving on a professional board, committee, disciplinary panel, or association. The required documentation for this activity is a letter or other documentation from the organization. A maximum of ten hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

     (12) Self study of cassette, tape, video tape, or other multimedia device, or book. The required documentation for this activity is a two page synopsis of each item written by the licensee. A maximum of ten hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

     (13) Level II fieldwork direct supervision of an occupational therapy student or occupational therapy assistant student by site designated supervisor(s). The required documentation for this activity is a name of student(s), letter of verification from school, and dates of fieldwork. A maximum of ten hours per supervisor is allowed per reporting period for this category.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-847-065, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130. 92-18-015 (Order 300B), § 246-847-065, filed 8/24/92, effective 9/24/92; 91-11-064 (Order 171B), § 246-847-065, filed 5/16/91, effective 6/16/91; 91-05-027 (Order 112B), recodified as § 246-847-065, filed 2/12/91, effective 3/15/91; 90-22-011 (Order 094), § 308-171-041, filed 10/26/90, effective 11/26/90.]