General Scope Of Practice: Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau Occupational Therapist
The core aim of occupational therapy is to support people and whnau to have a life they value through enabling occupation and inclusion in society. Occupational therapists assess, diagnose and work together with people and whnau to engage in the meaningful activities they need, want and are expected to do in their everyday life. They work with people at all stages of life who have health conditions, disabilities, injuries or risks to health and/or are encountering social or environmental barriers to carrying out meaningful occupation.
The Occupational Therapy Board of NZ defines the practice of occupational therapy as the following:
1. Using process/es of enabling occupation to promote health and well-being by working with individuals, whanau, groups, organisations, communities and society to optimise activity and participation across the lifespan and in all life domains.
2. Establishing relationships with clients/Tangata Whaiora and people associated with clients, based on an understanding of their occupational history, participation preferences, and the personal, spiritual, family, whanau, social, and cultural meanings of what they do.
3. Using interactive, observational and interpretive methods of enquiry to explore and understand the subjective meanings of occupation.
4. Assessing aspects of people, occupations and places relevant to the things people want, need and are expected to do, including:
5. Working collaboratively with clients to:
41491 Revocation For Sexual Contact
Notwithstanding the disciplinary guidelines, any proposed decision issued in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code that contains any finding of fact that the licensee engaged in any act of sexual contact, which is defined as sexual intercourse or the touching of an intimate part of a patient for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse, with a patient, or has committed an act or been convicted of a sex offense as defined in Section 44010 of the Education Code, shall contain an order revoking the license. The proposed decision shall not contain an order staying the revocation of the license.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code and Section 11400.20, Government Code. Reference: Sections 475, 480, 481, 482, 490, 496, 2570.26, 2570.27, 2570.28, 2570.29, 2570.30, 2570.31 and 2570.32, Business and Professions Code Section 44010, Education Code and Sections 11400.20 and 11425.50, Government Code.
Occupational Therapy Scope Of Practice
American Occupational Therapy Association Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2021, Vol. 75, 7513410020. doi:
The Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice is an updated position statement from the American Occupational Therapy Association that defines the scope of practice in occupational therapy and provides a model definition of occupational therapy to promote uniform standards and professional mobility across state occupational therapy statutes and regulations. It is intended to serve as a resource for consumers, health care providers, educators, the community, funding agencies, payers, referral sources, and policymakers.
The purpose of this document is to
Define the scope of practice in occupational therapy by
Delineating the domain of occupational therapy practice and services provided by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants,
Delineating the dynamic process of occupational therapy evaluation and intervention services used to achieve outcomes that support the participation of clients in everyday life occupations, and
Describing the education and certification requirements needed to practice as an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant
Provide a model definition of occupational therapy to promote uniform standards and professional mobility across state occupational therapy statutes and regulations and
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4152 Physical Agent Modalities
Physical agent modalities may be used only when an occupational therapist has demonstrated to the Board in an application filed pursuant to section 4155 that he or she has met the post professional education and training requirements established by this section as follows: Education: Completion of 30 contact hours in the subjects listed in Code section 2570.3. Training: Completion of 240 hours of supervised on-the-job training, clinical internship or affiliation, which may be paid or voluntary, pertaining to physical agent modalities. An occupational therapist whose application pursuant to section 4155 provides proof of current certification as a Certified Hand Therapist, issued by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, shall be deemed to have met the education and training requirements established by this section. An occupational therapist may use only those physical agent modalities he or she is competent to use.
Note: Authority Cited: Sections 2570.3 and 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2570.2 and 2570.3, Business and Professions Code.
4114 Abandonment Of Application

An application for a license shall be deemed abandoned and the application fee forfeited when: The applicant fails to complete the application within two years after it is originally received by the board. The applicant fails to submit the Initial license fee within sixty days after the date of notification of eligibility by the board. An application for a limited permit shall be deemed abandoned and the application fee forfeited if the applicant fails to complete the application or submit the required fee within sixty days after it is originally received by the board. An application submitted subsequent to the abandonment of a previous application shall be treated as a new application.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2570.5, 2570.6, 2570.7, 2570.8, 2570.9, 2570.14, and 2570.16, Business and Professions Code.
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Definition Of Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process defines occupational therapy as
therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation. Occupational therapy practitioners use their knowledge of the transactional relationship among the client, their engagement in valuable occupations, and the context to design occupation-based intervention plans. Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and promotion of health and wellness for clients with disability- and nondisability-related needs. Services promote acquisition and preservation of occupational identity for those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction.
Exhibit 1 contains the model definition of occupational therapy for the Model Occupational Therapy Practice Act in a format that will be used to assert the scope of practice of occupational therapy for state regulation. States are encouraged to adopt this language in their practice acts because it reflects the contemporary occupational therapy scope of practice.
41475 Uniform Standards Related To Substance Abuse
The Board shall also apply, as required, the Department of Consumer Affairs Substance Abuse Coordination Committees Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-Abusing Healing Arts Licensees , which are hereby incorporated by reference. The Uniform Standards describe the mandatory conditions that apply to a substance abusing licensee, except that the Board may impose more restrictive conditions if necessary to protect the public. Neither the board nor an administrative law judge may impose any conditions or terms of probation that are less restrictive than the Uniform Standards. If the conduct found to be grounds for discipline involves drugs and/or alcohol, the licensee shall be presumed to be a substance-abusing licensee for the purposes of section 315 of the Code. If the licensee does not rebut that presumption, in addition to any and all relevant terms and conditions contained in the Disciplinary Guidelines, the Uniform Standards shall apply as written and be used in the order placing the licensee on probation.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 315, 315.2, 315.4, 2570.27, Business and Professions Code and Section 11425.50, Government Code.
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Sites Of Intervention And Areas Of Focus
To practice as an occupational therapist, the individual trained in the United States
Has graduated from an occupational therapy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education or predecessor organizations
Has successfully completed a period of supervised fieldwork experience required by the recognized educational institution where the applicant met the academic requirements of an educational program for occupational therapists that is accredited by ACOTE or predecessor organizations
Has passed a nationally recognized entry-level examination for occupational therapists and
Fulfills state requirements for licensure, certification, or registration.
To practice as an occupational therapy assistant, the individual trained in the United States
Has graduated from an occupational therapy assistant program accredited by ACOTE or predecessor organizations
Has successfully completed a period of supervised fieldwork experience required by the recognized educational institution where the applicant met the academic requirements of an educational program for occupational therapy assistants that is accredited by ACOTE or predecessor organizations
Has passed a nationally recognized entry-level examination for occupational therapy assistants and
Fulfills state requirements for licensure, certification, or registration.
4110 Application For Licensure
An application for a license or limited permit shall be submitted on the form entitled Initial Application for Licensure, Form ILA, , hereby incorporated by reference, or by providing the same information via on-line submission, if available, and shall contain the information required by sections 30, 144, 851, 2570.5, 2570.6, 2570.7, 2570.8, 2570.9, 2570.14, and 2570.16 of the Code and Family Code section 17520, accompanied by the appropriate fees. For an applicant applying for licensure pursuant to section 2570.15 of the Code, “substantially equal” means that the applicant has successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program, including the educational program and supervised fieldwork requirements, for an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant that are approved by the Board and approved by the foreign credentialing review process of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy , the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board, or the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 30, 114.5, 144, 850, 851, 2570.5, 2570.6, 2570.7, 2570.8, 2570.9, 2570.14, 2570.15 and 2570.16, Business and Professions Code and Section 17520, Family Code.
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4121 Renewal Of Expired License Application Fees Effective Date Of Renewal
Except as otherwise provide in the Code, a license which has expired may be renewed at any time within five years after its expiration on filing of an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the board, and payment of all accrued and unpaid renewal fees. If a license is renewed after its expiration, the licensee, as a condition precedent to renewal, shall also pay a delinquency fee. Renewal under this section shall be effective on the date on which the application is received by the board, on the date on which the renewal fee is paid, or on the date on which the delinquency fee, if any, is paid, whichever last occurs. If so renewed, the license shall continue in effect through the expiration date provided in section 4120, at which time, it shall expire if it is not renewed.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 114.3, 163.5, 2570.9, and 2570.10, Business and Professions Code.
4143 Compliance With Citations
If a cited person who has been issued an order of abatement is unable to complete the correction within the time set forth in the citation because of conditions beyond his or her control after the exercise of reasonable diligence, he or she may request an extension of time within which to complete the correction. Such a request shall be in writing and shall be made within the time set forth for abatement. Failure of an applicant to abate the violation or to pay the fine within the time allowed is a ground for denial of licensure or registration. If an informal conference or hearing is not requested, payment of the fine shall not constitute an admission of the violation charged and payment of the fine shall be represented as satisfactory resolution of the matter for purposes of public disclosure.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 125.9, 148 and 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 125.9 and 148, Business and Professions Code.
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4112 Review Of Application
Within thirty days after receipt of an application for a license, certificate, or limited permit, the board shall inform the applicant, in writing, whether the application is complete and accepted for filing or that it is deficient and what specific information or documentation is required to complete the application.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 115.5, 144, 2570.5, 2570.6, 2570.7, 2570.8, 2570.9, 2570.14, and 2570.16, Business and Professions Code and Section 15376, Government Code.
Effective Dates Of Decisions

Unless otherwise specified in an Order of the Board, the effective date of a decision made by the Board pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act shall be established as follows: A Default Decision and Order shall become effective 10-days from the date of service of the decision on the parties. A Stipulated Settlement and Order shall become effective 10-days from the date of service of the decision on the parties.
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4162 Completion And Reporting Requirements
The occupational therapy practitioner shall record the following information for each activity on the renewal form: the date each course or activity was completed: the provider, course number, and course title, if applicable a description of the course and the total number of PDUs. Records showing participation in each professional development activity must be maintained by the occupational therapy practitioner for four years following the renewal period. A maximum of six PDUs in excess of the required 24 PDUs may be carried over to the next renewal period. Any occupational therapy practitioner who is unable to provide records documenting completion of the continuing competency requirements is subject to citation and/or administrative fine or disciplinary action. Any occupational therapy practitioner who supervises a Level I and/or Level II student shall document said supervision, immediately upon conclusion of the supervision period, using the Fieldwork Education PDU Attestation form , hereby incorporated by reference, and shall contain a statement under penalty of perjury regarding the truthfulness of the information contained therein. Note: Authority cited: Sections 2570.10 and 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 2570.10, Business and Professions Code.
4148 Mental Or Physical Examination Of Fitness For Licensure
In addition to any other requirements for licensure, whenever it appears that an applicant for a license may be unable to practice occupational therapy safely because the applicant’s ability to practice may be impaired due to mental illness or physical illness affecting competency, the board may require the applicant to be examined by one or more physicians and surgeons or psychologists designated by the board. The board shall pay the full cost of such examination. An applicant’s failure to comply with the requirement shall render his or her application incomplete.
The report of the evaluation shall be made available to the applicant.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2570.6 and 2570.26, Business and Professions Code.
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4101 Delegation Of Certain Functions
Except for those powers reserved exclusively to the agency itself under the Administrative Procedure Act , the power and discretion conferred by law upon the Board to order an examination pursuant to section 820 of the Code receive and file accusations and statements of issues issue notices of defense determine the time and place of hearings under Section 11508 of the Government Code issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum set and calendar cases for hearing and perform other functions necessary to the dispatch of the business of the Board in connection with proceedings under the provisions of Sections 11500 through 11528 of the Government Code, prior to the hearing of such proceedings, including the authority to grant a motion to vacate a default decision, approve a settlement agreement for revocation or surrender of a license, or approve an interim license suspension and the certification and delivery or mailing of copies of decisions under Section 11518 of the Government Code are hereby delegated to and conferred upon the executive officer of the Board.
Note: Authority cited: Section 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 480, 2570.1, 2570.6, 2570.17, 2570.19, 2570.20 and 2570.23, Business and Professions Code and Sections 11415.60 and 11500 et seq., Government Code.
Profile Of Occupational Therapy Practice In Canada
The 2012 Profile of Practice of Occupational Therapists in Canada reflects current evidence in the areas of competency and Canadian occupational therapy practice. The Profile presents a model of practice that includes a wide spectrum of competencies, some of which may be expected for occupational therapists at the beginning of their career, while others may be associated with more advanced levels of performance and experience. The competencies were identified and validated in a five-phase project process and first published in 2007. In addition to these competencies, this 2012 version of the Profile includes new and updated descriptive information regarding the practice of occupational therapy in Canada. This vital information is required for career development and health human resource management and planning and includes issues such as the occupational therapy practice context, scope of practice, interprofessional practice, advanced competencies and career mobility.
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Scope Of Practice: Domain And Process
The scope of practice includes the domain and process of occupational therapy services. These two concepts are intertwined, with the domain defining the focus of occupational therapy and the process defining the delivery of occupational therapy.
The domain of occupational therapy includes the everyday life occupations that people find meaningful and purposeful aspects of the domain are presented in Exhibit 2. Within this domain, occupational therapy services enable clients to participate in their everyday life occupations in their desired roles, contexts, and life situations.
Clients may be persons, groups, or populations. The domain of occupational therapy consists of the following occupations in which clients engage throughout the life course :
ADLs
Health management
Rest and sleep
Social participation .
The domain of occupational therapy practice complements the conceptualization of participation and health articulated in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health . Occupational therapy incorporates the basic constructs of the ICF, including context, participation, activities, and body structures and functions, in interventions to enable full participation in occupations and maximize occupational engagement.
Evaluation and intervention may address one or more aspects of the domain that influence occupational performance.