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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions |
General Licensing and Renewal Information
What is the difference between “continuing education” and “continuing competence activities”?
What can I do to complete my continuing competence requirements?
Do I need to send in the documentation for my continuing competence activity?
Application requests are processed the day the Board receives them. Licenses are issued the Friday after the application is COMPLETE in the Board office. Check the website after 5:00 p.m. on Friday for licenses issued that day or call the Board office after 5:00 p.m. and press 1 to hear a listing.
2. How much does it cost to get a license and what are the various fees?
Application Fee $10 Licensure Fee $100 Verification Fee $20 Renewal Fee $50 Late Fee $50 Insufficient Check Fee $35 Directory $15 Practice Act $15 New Certificate $15 Duplicate Renewal Card $5
Either go online (NCBOT.org) to the license verification section (free of charge) or submit a $20 money order and a written request for verification to the Board office.
NO VERIFICATION BY PHONE OR FAX
1. Application
2. Continuing Education Card
3. $50 fee
800 S. Frederick Ave. Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-990-7979
301-869-8492 fax
6. How do I apply for a license?
Please refer to Application Process link.
7. How long does it take to get a license in North Carolina?
Please refer to Application Process link.
The Board issues licenses every Friday. You may call the Board office after 5:00 p.m. on Friday to get the latest list of newly licensed therapists from the telephone prompt.
9. What is the Licensing process?
Please refer to the Application Process link.
10. How do I renew my license?
Please refer to Renewal Process link.
11. Can I put my license in "Inactive" status?
There is no “Inactive” status. Your license is either current or expired. If you choose to renew your license within 24 months of the expiration date, you will still be required to complete the continuing competency requirements and pay the renewal fees for the period of time your license was not current, along with any applicable late fee.
Persons whose license has expired for more than 24 months, and who desire to reinstate their license, must make a new application for licensure and meet all requirements then existing.
12. Can Foreign trained therapists, who have not taken and passed the NBCOT exam, be licensed in the state?
No, foreign trained therapist who have not taken and passed the NBCOT exam are not eligible for licensure in North Carolina.
13. Who completes the Certificate of Moral Character forms?
The forms must be completed by two different occupational therapists or occupational therapists assistants who have at one time been certified by the NBCOT.
14. What if the state that I worked in did not require licensure at the time that I worked there?
If the state did not require licensure at the time of your practice, then you must attach a signed and dated statement noting the places you worked and that licensure was not required at the time you were practicing in that state.
15. Do we need to continue to be certified by NBCOT in order to renew our license?
No. However, NBCOT owns the trademarks OTR and COTA. If you wish to use those letters, you must maintain certification with NBCOT or you will be violating trademark laws.
16. What is the difference between “continuing education” and “continuing competence activities”?
Continuing education is a structured educational experience beyond entry-level academic degree work that is intended to provide advanced or enhanced knowledge in a particular area. Continuing education is only one of several types of continuing competence activities. Section .0805 of the Rules of the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Board lists the activities that qualify as continuing competence activities.
17. What is a continuing competence "point"?
One contact hour of continuing competence equals 60 minutes in a learning activity, excluding meals and breaks. Each contact hour equals one (1) point.
18. How many "points" do I need to renew my license?
For the renewal period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, OTs need fifteen (15) points of continuing competence and OTAs need ten (10).
Beginning with the renewal period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, OTs and OTAs will both be required to complete fifteen (15) points of continuing competence annually.
19. What can I do to complete my continuing competence requirements?
All continuing competence courses and activities must relate to roles and responsibilities in occupational therapy and must enhance the therapist’s continuing competence. Qualified activities are set out in Rules .0803(a) and .0805 and contain many opportunities for completing continuing competence requirements.
20. Do I need to send in the documentation for my continuing competence activity?
Licensees do not submit proof of completion of continuing competence activities but shall keep such proof for at least two (2) years and may be subject to random audits by the Board.
No
1. How do I verify a license number?
Please refer to the License Verification link.
2. What is the verification process?
Please refer to License Verification link
1. How do I contact the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)?
See Links
2. How do I contact the American Occupational Therapy Association?
See Links
3. How do I contact the North Carolina State Occupational Therapy Association?
See Links
1. Where can I find the forms for a change in name or supervision?
Please refer to the Supervision/Address Change forms link.
2. Where can I find the forms for renewing my license?
Please refer to Renewal Process link.
3. Where can I find the continuing education record card?
A blank form is sent with your renewal card each year. If you have misplaced your card you may submit a request to the Board and one will be mailed to you.
4. Where can I find the Group Study Form?
Please refer to the Continuing Competence Information link.
1. Does an OTA have to have a supervisor to work PRN?
Yes, an OTA must always have an OT supervisor. Please refer to the Practice Act pages 34 - 37 and 41.
2. How often do I have to do face to face supervisory visits with an experienced OTA?
The amount of supervision will depend on the experience and service competency demonstrated by the OTA. Supervision needs to be an interactive process between the OT and the OTA. Refer to pages 34 – 37, and 41 of the Practice Act and Rules Booklet.
3. Do I have to notify the Board every time I change supervisor if I work PRN?
Yes. Paragraph .0901 of the Rules of the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Board states: “Occupational therapy assistants and supervising occupational therapists must notify the Board office in writing of any change in ceasing or assuming supervision. The occupational therapist is responsible for supervision of the occupational therapy assistant until official notice that supervision has ceased is received at the Board office. Failure to notify the Board may subject both the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant to disciplinary action. Notices must be signed. Telephone or email notices shall not be accepted.
Your supervising OT is the person who has determined that you are competent to provide treatment in your particular work setting and who determines that you are receiving the appropriate supervision.
5. What is the difference between supervisory levels in the new Rules and previously?
Previously, there were 3 levels of supervision: “close” for entry level OTAs or OTAs new to a particular work setting, “routine” for intermediate level OTAs with up to three (3) years of experience, and “general” for advanced level OTAs with more that three (3) years of experience. The new Rules have two (2) levels of supervision: “close” for entry level OTAs or OTAs new to a particular work setting and “general” for OTAs that do not require “close” supervision.
Supervision may need to be more frequent than the minimum level required by the practice setting or regulatory agencies when the needs of the client and the OT process are complex and changing, the practice setting provides occupational therapy services to a large number of clients with diverse needs, or the OT and OTA determine that additional supervision is necessary to ensure safe and effective delivery of OT services.
Rule .0905(1)(a)(ix) of The Rules of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy states that the OT must initiate the evaluation. In occupational therapy practice, the term initiate is understood to mean making the first, in person, face-to-face contact with the client.
In the initial contact with the client the OT: (1) determines the need for service, (2) defines the problems within the domain of occupational therapy that need to be addressed, (3) determines the client’s goals and priorities, (4) establishes intervention priorities, (5) determines specific further assessment needs, and (6) determines specific assessment tasks that can be delegated to the OTA.
After the initial contact with the client by the OT, the OTA may implement specifically delegated assessments for which service competency has been established, demonstrated and documented.
The OT is then responsible for completing the evaluation, interpreting the information provided by the OTA who completed the assessments, establishing intervention priorities, and developing the intervention plan.
1. When do the new directories come out?
In August.
2. Do I have to notify the Board every time I move or change employers?
Yes. Pursuant to Section .0401 of the Rules, it is the licensee’s responsibility to notify the Board in writing of each change of name, residence, trade name, business address or mailing address within ten days of such change. This form can be downloaded by clicking the Information Update Form link..
3. Now that I’m licensed/certified, what letter do I put after my signature?
See the Practice Act (N.C.G.S.90-2570.78 (3)) which lists all the abbreviations you may use once you are licensed/certified. However, keep in mind that NBCOT owns the trademarks OTR and COTA.
The Board does not require that you maintain your certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and does not use the C for OTAs or the R for OTs in its records. You may use such designations if you maintain your national certification.
First, there is no distinction between a full-time OT and an OT who is working PRN. They both must follow the rules regarding patient care and supervision of OTA’S. If a PRN OT cannot provide adequate supervision for the OTA, the OTA should not accept the patient for treatment and the PRN OT should not allow the OTA to provide treatment. Please be mindful of your legal and ethical responsibilities.
6. Use of Modalities by Occupational Therapists.
The Occupational Therapy Practice Act does not specifically mention physical agent modalities. Therefore, they are not specifically allowed or disallowed in OT practice. It is the opinion of the NC Board that an OT may use PAMs, in the course of their occupational therapy practice, so long as they are trained and competent to do so AND their competency has been demonstrated and documented, provided they are billing for OT services. It is also the opinion of the Board that an OTA may use PAMs, in the course of their occupational therapy practice, so long as they AND their supervising OT are trained and competent to do so AND their competency has been demonstrated and documented, provided they are billing for OT services.
The burden is on the occupational therapy practitioners to prove that they are competent to provide the treatment.
7. Can an OTA fabricate splints on a "splint" only Dr. order?
Yes, under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist.
8. Is a OTA allowed to complete discharge summaries?
The OT is responsible for the overall completion of the discharge summary. The OT should write the discharge summary or should provide or review the information the OTA uses to write the discharge summary for the OT. The OT should sign the discharge summary. The OTA may report data for the discharge summary and may formulate discharge and/or follow-up plans under the supervision of the OT.
9. Can we treat in groups in the schools if it is stated on the IEP?
Yes, you can treat in groups if that is what is on the IEP.
10. Does North Carolina require a doctor’s prescription for every child treated in the school system?
It is not a requirement of the NCBOT but may be required by some billing services or third party payers.
11. Can an OTA perform screenings?
Whether or not an OTA can do "screens" depends on the information sought to be gathered in the "screen". An OTA can state or write observations but cannot make an evaluation, request an order for occupational therapy or determine a need for occupational therapy services. This must be determined and requested by an OT.
12. How do I report a grievance to the Board?
Submit them in writing to the Board - (see Contact the Board link)
13. How do I notify the Board of a name change?
Complete an Information Update Form found on this website and send it to the Board office. When notifying the Board of a name change, please attach a photocopy of proof of your name change, i.e.: marriage license, divorce papers, legal change of birth name. A copy of your drivers license or social security card is not acceptable.
There is a $5 charge for a new card or a $15 charge for a new certificate. You may print out a corrected verification from the License Verification section of the NCBOT website for free. Otherwise, you will get a corrected card when you renew your license the next time.