1. CONTINUING COMPETENCY
NYS Regulations for OTA and OT

2. Objectives Identify NYS Continuing Competency regulations
Demonstrate understanding of how to comply with these regulations
Identify NYS approved learning activities for continued competency
Demonstrate the ability to use the NYSOTA Continuing Competency forms to document continuing competency activities
Identify the differences between NYS Regulations and NBCOT

3. Professional Responsibility
AOTA Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010)
Principle 5 - Procedural Justice
F. Take responsibility for maintaining high standards and
continuing competence in practice, education, and
research by participating in professional development
and educational activities to improve and update
knowledge and skills. (AOTA, 2010)

4. What’s Required for NYS?
Effective February 13, 2013, to renew your registration as an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant, New York State Education Law requires the completion of 36 hours of continuing education during each 3-year registration period.

5. What’s Required? 36 hours Continuing Competency hours (CCH)
24 hours MUST focus on one or
more professional subjects
12 hours MAY focus on one or
more related subjects
At LEAST 24 hours on professional topics. Up to 12 hours can be on related topics

6. Professional Subjects
These are subjects that contribute to continuing competency in the professional practice of occupational therapy.

7. Related Subjects
Subjects which contribute to the health and welfare of the public, such as:
legal or regulatory issues,
reimbursement issues
supervision,
business practices
health care, law, ethics
professional responsibility

8. Approved Learning Activities
Formal academic study, continuing education
course and/or workshops
Independent Study
Mentoring
Publication of a field related article or textbook
Participation in a professional presentations
Participation in a professional association and/or practice committee
Participation in a professional study group

9. Approved Learning Activities
See NYSOTA Approved Activity Chart

10. 1. Formal Academic Study/CE/Workshops
Courses, workshops, or seminars offered by
an approved continuing education sponsor
(NYSOTA, AOTA, NBCOT, IACET)
.1 CEU = 1 continuing competency hour (CCH)
50 minutes non credit bearing = 1 (CCH)
(non-CEU course)

11. 1. Formal Academic Study/CE/Workshops
Credit-bearing academic study offered by an
accredited college or university.
1 semester-hour of credit = 15 CCH 1 quarter-hour of credit = 10 CCH

12. 1. Formal Academic Study/CE/Workshops
In-service training programs offered by
an employer to its employees.
Must be offered by an approved sponsor
(NYSOTA, AOTA, NBCOT, IACET)
Non credit bearing – 50 minutes = 1 CCH

13. 1. Formal Academic Study/CE/Workshops
Self-study
Self study is structured study based on audio, audio-visual, written, on-line and other media.
Must be offered by an approved sponsor.

14. 1. Formal Academic Study/CE/Workshops
No more than 2/3 or 24 hours of the continuing competency requirement may be completed through self-study.
.1 CEU = 1 CCH
50 minutes non credit bearing = 1 CCH
[NBCOT Self Assessment]

15. NYSOTA- Professional Development Log

16. 2. Independent Study
Self-initiated, goal-driven individualized professional study that is based on reading and research.
Time spent doing research/reading etc., in preparation for supervising a FW student, may be used as independent study.

17. 2. Independent Study
Verification: You will need to create a narrative account of what was learned and an overall written evaluation of the learning activity. [NYSOTA Form]
3 hours of independent study = 1 CCH
No more than 12 CCH may be completed through independent study.

18. NYSOTA- Independent Study Form

19. 3. Mentoring
Experience-based learning through a one-on- one mentorship, during which both the mentor and the learner may earn continuing competency hours.
The mentorship shall provide a minimum of 15 hours of direct contact between the mentor and the mentee.

20. 3. Mentoring Both mentor/mentee keep a record of: mentorship goals
mentor’s teaching plan
evaluation of the mentee
mentee’s narrative account of what was learned
evaluation of the mentorship

21. 3. Mentoring
The mentor must be licensed by the office of professions, and have at least 5 years of post-licensure experience in the subject of the mentorship. The learner must be a licensed OT or OTA. 15 Contact hours mentoring = 10 CCH Each mentoring relationship may earn a maximum of 10 cc hrs. No more than 18 CCH’s can be completed through mentorship.

22. NYSOTA – Mentoring Form

23. 4. Publication of article or textbook
Authorship of…
Article published in a peer-reviewed journal
Article published in a non-peer- reviewed
journal
Textbook related to occupational therapy

24. 4. Publication of article or textbook
A maximum of 10 CCH can be earned for primary or co-author for an article published in a peer-reviewed journal or a textbook .
A maximum of 5 CCH can be earned for work as primary or co-author for an article in a non-peer-reviewed journal.
Maximum 18 CCH for publications

25. 4. Publication of article or textbook
Related Activities
Primary or co-primary investigator in research activities = max of 10 CCH
Peer review of an article/textbook = max 5 CCH
Developing instructional materials = max 5 CCH
(EX: training manuals, multimedia, software programs)

26. NYSOTA – Publication Form

27. 5. Participation in Professional Presentation
A presentation by the licensee at a professional conference sponsored by an approved organization. Max 5 CCH per presentation.

28. 6. Participation in a Professional Assoc. and/or Practice Committee
Chairing a professional practice committee of an international, national, state or local professional association that has an established record of providing support and guidance for the practice of occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants.

29. 6. Participation in a Professional Assoc. and/or Practice Committee
A maximum of 5 CCH can be earned by a licensee serving as chair for a professional association or practice committee. Chairpersonship must be for a duration of at least 1 year within the registration period.

30. 7. Participation in a Professional Study Group
Requirements:
3 or more licensed OT/OTA’s
Written goals
Written study plan to meet these goals
Written evaluation of the learning activity
Maintain attendance records and meeting
notes

31. 7. Participation in a Professional Study Group
Records must be retained by all participants
2 hrs of study group = 1 CCH
Limit of 18 CCH can be completed through
study group

32. NYSOTA – Study Group Form

33. Completed the review of the approved learning activities…
So Far….we’ve…
Completed the review of the approved learning activities…
Moving on to…
Renewal Process and comparison to NBCOT

34. BREAK?

35. Documentation required to renew?
What documentation will you need to submit when it is time to renew your NYS license/certification? None.

36. Renewal Process
As part of the renewal process, you will be asked if you have satisfactorily completed the required 36 continuing competency hours.
If you have completed your 36 continuing competency hours, you will answer "yes".
If you cannot meet this requirement, you must answer "no" and apply for an exemption or adjustment.

37. Exemptions
OT/OTA’s are exempt from the continuing competency requirements during the first 3 year registration period directly following their initial licensure to practice occupational therapy in New York State. This exemption does not apply to NYS licensees who have been previously licensed in occupational therapy in another state or jurisdiction.

38. Adjustment
An adjustment to the continuing competency requirement may be justified for licensees who can show “good cause” for their non- compliance.

39. Adjustments Good Cause includes but is not limited to….. Poor health
A specific physical or mental disability
Extended active duty with the Armed Forces
Other good cause to be determined by the Department.

40. Maintaining Records
If you get audited you will need to present the following:
A learning plan for continuing competency that has a record of “current and anticipated goals.”
A comprehensive list of completed learning activities [use NYSOTA Forms]

41. Maintaining Records
The comprehensive list of completed learning activities, must include:
Sponsor's name, and any identifying number as applicable,
A written verification of attendance, if applicable,
The date and location of the learning activity,
The number of cc hours completed,
Any additional recordkeeping requirements as applicable to other learning activities such as: independent study, mentorship, publication, presentation, or professional study group.

42. Maintaining Records
Records must be retained for at least 6 years from the date of completion of the activity and shall be available for review by the Department.

43. NYS vs. NBCOT Both accept CEUs for all 36 CCH or PDU
NBCOT has more options
Both accept CEUs for all 36
CCH or PDU

44. NYS vs. NBCOT Discrepancies Fieldwork Supervision
NYS accepts work in preparation for FW supervision as Independent Study
NBCOT accepts FW supervision for PDU
[see NBCOT PDU Chart]

45. (Independent learning without an assessment component)
NYS vs. NBCOT
Discrepancies
Mentoring
NYS-1.5 contact hrs = 1 CCH
NBCOT- 2 contact hrs = 1PDU
(Independent learning without an assessment component)
Both allow max of 18 CCH/PDU for 3 yr cycle.

46. NYS vs. NBCOT Discrepancies Independent study
NYS – 3 hours = 1 CCH – total 12
NBCOT- 2 hours= 1 PDU – total 18

47. (*note up to 10 CCH’s for specific activities)
NYS vs. NBCOT
Discrepancies
Publishing
NYS – total of 18 CCH* for 3 yr
(*note up to 10 CCH’s for specific activities)
NBCOT – total of 36 PDU for 3 yr

48. In Conclusion….
Continuing competency is not only a professional responsibility, it’s now the Law in NYS
Learn the regulations

49. In Conclusion….
A Learning Plan is required by each licensee that includes the following:
Record current and anticipated goals
Record a comprehensive list of acceptable learning activities completed including specific information such as:
1. The sponsor’s name and identifying number if any
2. Written verification of attendance
3. Date and location of learning activity
4. Number of continuing competency hours

50. In Conclusion …. Set goals & keep a record of your activities
If you are not sure if or how to “count” an activity, contact NYSED -

51. Frequently Asked Questions
1. When renewing your license, if an individual has more than the required 36 continuing competency hours, can any of the extra be used for the next 3 yr cycle? Unfortunately, this type of "carry over" of credit hours cannot be done. [Education Law 7908(2)(a).]

52. Frequently Asked Questions
3. Employer in-services (from an employer that is not an approved sponsor), may be used as Independent Study, with the proper documentation of the learning activity? Yes, content must be a professional or related subject.

53. Frequently Asked Questions
4. How would my employer become an approved sponsor? See:

54. References http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ot/otcco.htm
AOTA (2010). Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010). American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 64:S17-S26; doi: /ajot S17