AOTA/NBCOT Occupational Licensure Compact Initiative Progress

On February 25 and 26, 2020, the Council of State Governments (CSG) convened the Occupational Therapy Drafting Team at the Hall of the States in Washington, DC. This group is charged with developing language for the new model interstate licensure compact for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The meeting started with a review of the occupational therapy compact process as well as the obligations of the Drafting Team. The Team then addressed numerous topics including necessary compact definitions, state participation requirements, compact privileges, consideration of special provisions, and effects of adverse actions. As a projected outcome, CSG then developed initial draft legislation for the group to review.

The Drafting Team is expected to complete a draft compact this spring, which will be reviewed by the Occupational Therapy Advisory Group for comment. From there the draft will be distributed to stakeholders for comment in the summer of 2020.

The goal is to work with stakeholders to come to a consensus and finalize the occupational therapy compact legislation by early fall 2020. The process will then include efforts to work with state occupational therapy associations and state regulatory boards/agencies to introduce the licensure compact legislation in multiple states during the 2021 state legislative sessions.

Check AOTA’s website for more information on the interstate professional licensing compact, including background, the general timeline, and what it would mean for occupational therapy practitioners.

Check NBCOT's website for updates on the interstate OT licensure compact.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Chuck Willmarth, CAE
Vice President of State Affairs and Health Policy
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
cwillmarth@aota.org

 

Shaun Conway, OTR
Senior Director, External & Regulatory Affairs
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
sconway@nbcot.org