3 Colo. Code Regs. § 715-1.17

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024

Section 3 CCR 715-1.17 - CREDIT FOR MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND PATHWAYS TO LICENSURE FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY

This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-20-202(4), 12-20-204, 12-270-116, and 24-4-201et seq., C.R.S.

A. An applicant for licensure may submit information about the applicant's education, training, or experience acquired during military service. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide timely and complete information for the Director's review.

B. In order to meet the requirements for licensure, such education, training, or experience must be substantially equivalent to the required qualifications that are otherwise applicable at the time the application is received by the Director.

C. The Director will determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether the applicant's military education, training, or experience meet the requirements for licensure.

D. Documentation of military experience to satisfy requirements in Rule 1.4 , Rule 1.5 , or section (E) of this Rule may include, but is not limited to, the applicant's Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214), Verification of Military Experience and Training (DD-2586), military transcript, training records, evaluation reports, or letters from commanding officers describing the applicant's practice as an occupational therapist and/or an occupational therapy assistant.

E. Pathways to occupational therapist licensure or occupational therapy assistant licensure for veterans and members of the military may include:

1. Veteran or military applicants with a current, valid license or registration as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant from another jurisdiction shall apply for licensure by endorsement, as described in Rule 1.5 for occupational therapist applicants or as described in Rule 1.14 for occupational therapy assistant applicants.

a. If the occupational therapist applicant does not meet any of the competency requirements as specified in Rule 1.5 , the Director will evaluate whether the applicant's military service otherwise demonstrates the applicant has maintained competency as an occupational therapist, pursuant to Rule 1.5 . For this evaluation, the Director, in her discretion, may determine that an applicant has maintained competency if the applicant has actively practiced occupational therapy in the military for at least 400 hours in the two years immediately preceding the date of application.

b. If the occupational therapy assistant applicant does not meet any of the competency requirements as specified in Rule 1.14 , the Director will evaluate whether the applicant's military service otherwise demonstrates the applicant has maintained competency as an occupational therapy assistant, pursuant to Rule 1.14 . For this evaluation, the Director may determine that an applicant has maintained competency if the applicant actively practiced as an occupational therapy assistant in the military for at least 400 hours in the three years immediately preceding the date of application.

2. Veteran or military applicants who do not hold a current, valid license or registration as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant from another jurisdiction shall apply for licensure by examination, as described in Rule 1.4 for occupational therapist applicants or as described in Rule 1.13 for occupational therapy assistant applicants.

a. If the occupational therapist applicant's passing score on the required examination was not achieved in the time frame specified in Rule 1.4 , but the occupational therapist applicant has practiced occupational therapy in the military on a regular basis since passing the examination, with no single gap in practice of more than two years, then the Director may waive the time limitation in Rule 1.4 , pursuant to the authority granted in Rule 1.4(D)(2)(c).

b. Occupational therapy assistant applicants must:

(1) Meet the education requirements of section 12-270-108(1), C.R.S., and Rule 1.13(B); and

(2) Pass an examination as outlined in section 12-270-108(3), C.R.S., and Rule 1.13 . If the occupational therapy assistant applicant's passing score on the required examination was not achieved in the time frame specified in Rule 1.13 , but the occupational therapy assistant applicant has practiced as an occupational therapy assistant in the military on a regular basis since passing the examination, with no single gap in practice of more than two years, then the Director may waive the time limitation in Rule 1.13 , pursuant to authority granted in Rule 1.13(D)(3)(c).

3 CCR 715-1.17

38 CR 04, February 25, 2015, effective 3/17/2015

42 CR 13, July 10, 2019, effective 7/30/2019

43 CR 03, February 10, 2020, effective 1/1/2020

43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020

44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 4/27/2021

44 CR 12, June 25, 2021, effective 7/15/2021

45 CR 14, July 25, 2022, effective 6/28/2022

45 CR 16, August 25, 2022, effective 9/14/2022

45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022