172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 114, § 008

Current through June 17, 2024
Section 172-114-008 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

On or before August 1st of each even-numbered year, individuals holding an active license in the State of Nebraska must complete at least 20 hours of acceptable continuing education if an occupational therapist and 15 hours of acceptable continuing education if an occupational therapy assistant. Continuing education hours must be obtained during the preceding 24-month period.

008.01CONTINUING EDUCATION HOUR CALCULATIONS. The following provides the hour calculations for acceptable continuing education.
008.01(A)PROGRAMS AT STATE AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. Includes, but is not limited to, a meeting of the Nebraska or other state occupational therapy associations or the American Occupational Therapy Association. Must relate directly to the theory of Occupational Therapy. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One hour for each hour of attendance.
008.01(B)WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES. The content of the continuing education activity must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, or education management, and includes monitored videotapes, and in-service programs. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One hour for each hour of attendance.
008.01(C) UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE SPONSORED COURSES. The content of the course must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management. Documentation must include an official transcript and a program outline or objectives.
008.01(D)FORMAL SELF-STUDY. The content of the self-study activity must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management. The self-study program must have a testing mechanism. Documentation must include a certificate of completion and a program outline or objectives. One hour for each hour of attendance.
008.01(E)MANAGEMENT COURSES. Must pertain to the practice of occupational therapy. An occupational therapist may complete a maximum of 10 hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each 24-month renewal period. An occupational therapy assistant may complete a maximum of 7.5 hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each 24-month renewal period. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One hour for each hour of attendance.
008.01(F)SUPERVISION. Student supervision by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. One contact hour is earned for being a primary direct clinical supervisor for each student's entire level II fieldwork experience. Licensee may receive a maximum of 2 contact hours of continuing education by supervising a student each 24-month renewal period. Documentation must include a copy of the signature page of the completed fieldwork evaluation form for each supervised student.
008.01(G)RESEARCH. Participation in research or other scholarly activities that result in professional publication or acceptance for publication that relate to occupational therapy. Four contact hours will be received for each publication. Licensees may earn up to a maximum of 10 contact hours of continuing education each 24-month renewal period for authorship, editorship, co-authorship, co-editorship, or all of these, of a juried publication relating to occupational therapy. Documentation must include a copy of the final publication or verification of publication.
008.01(H)INFORMAL SELF-STUDY. A licensee may earn up to a maximum of 2 contact hours of continuing education each 24-month renewal period for completion of the following activities or a combination of such activities:
(1) Reading related to occupational therapy practice;
(2) Observing other occupational therapists;
(3) Viewing videotapes without a supervisor; and
(4) Quality assurance or peer review studies.
008.01(H)(i) DOCUMENTATION. Documentation when reading or viewing videotapes must include the name of the article, book or videotape and a brief synopsis of what was learned. Documentation, when observing other therapists and participating in quality assurance and peer review studies, must include a statement from the licensee explaining what was learned.
008.01(I)NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS. A licensee will earn 20 contact hours of continuing education each 24-month renewal period for successful completion of a nationally recognized specialty certification examination related to an area of advanced practice in the field of occupational therapy. Documentation must include a copy of the certification.
008.01(J)PRESENTATIONS. One hour credit will be awarded for each hour of scientific presentation by a licensee at workshops, seminars, in-service training, conferences, or guest lectures which relate to the practice of occupational therapy. A licensee may receive continuing education credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period. Credit will not be given for subsequent presentations of the same program. A licensee may complete a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education credit for presentations in a 24-month renewal period. A licensee's documentation must include the presentation outline, course objectives, date, location, time, and type of audience.
008.01(K)NON-ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION. Continuing education credit will not be awarded for programs where the content does not relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management, including but not limited to:
(i) Medical terminology courses;
(ii) Occupational therapy on-the-job training;
(iii) Occupational therapy orientation programs, including orientation to new policies, procedures, equipment, forms, responsibilities, services, etc.; or
(iv) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other related training.

172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 114, § 008

Amended effective 6/20/2020