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History
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- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
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Establishes requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Ronald Canestrari
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to mandatory continuing competency requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants
Purpose
To require all licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to complete 36 hours of continuing competency every 3 years.
Summary of provisions
This bill adds a new section 7908 to the education law to require occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to complete 36 hours of continuing competency every 3 years in order to qualify for re-registration.
Justification
Initial education and clinical training in occupational therapy provides occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants with the basic foundation of competency as a practitioner. The field of occupational therapy, as in most health care professions, became specialized in the second half of the twentieth century. Today's occupational therapists provide services in the areas of mental health, orthopedics, neurology, neonatal intensive care, geriatrics, visually impaired, ergonomics, special education, burns, cognitive rehabilitation and others. Each one of these specialty areas requires skills sets that are different from other specialty areas. The development of competency in a selected specialty area is an ongoing process that must proceed far beyond the entry level competence first achieved. Furthermore, due to shifts in the health care market and career opportunities, many practitioners in occupational therapy change their specialty during their career. These changes require occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to actively pursue training and educational experiences to foster further development of their competency.
Legislative history
2007-08: A.4819/S.2515 Referred to Higher Education 2005-06: A.5160/S.1388 Referred to Higher Education 2003-04: A.9888/S.6256 Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
The fees associated with mandatory continuing competency ($50 for occupational therapists and $25 for occupational therapy assistants) will support the State Education Department in enforcing this new requirement.
Effective date
180 days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.