Arizona Laws 32-3441. Proper use of title or designation of occupational therapists; license display; supervision; responsibilities
A. A person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to practice as an occupational therapist and who is in good standing may use the title of licensed occupational therapist and the abbreviation "O.T.", "O.T./L.", "O.T.R." or "O.T.R./L.". A person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to practice as a licensed occupational therapy assistant and who is in good standing may use the title of licensed occupational therapy assistant and the abbreviation "O.T.A.", "O.T.A./L.", "C.O.T.A." or "C.O.T.A./L.".
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 32-3441
- Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Board: means the board of occupational therapy examiners. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- Evaluation: means an occupational therapist's assessment of treatment needs within the scope of practice of occupational therapy. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Occupational therapist: means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to practice occupational therapy and who is a graduate of an accredited occupational therapy education program, completes the approved fieldwork and passes the examination as required by the board pursuant to section 32-3424. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- Occupational therapy: means the use of therapeutic activities or modalities to promote engagement in activities with individuals who are limited by physical or cognitive injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, sensory processing or modulation deficits or the aging process in order to achieve optimum functional performance, maximize independence, prevent disability and maintain health. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- Occupational therapy assistant: means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter, who is a graduate of an accredited occupational therapy assistant education program, who assists in the practice of occupational therapy and who performs delegated procedures commensurate with the person's education and training. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- Occupational therapy services: includes the following:
(a) Developing an intervention and training plan that is based on the occupational therapist's evaluation of the client's occupational history and experiences, including the client's daily living activities, development, activity demands, values and needs. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
- Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Supervision: means the giving of instructions by the supervising occupational therapist or the occupational therapy assistant that are adequate to ensure the safety of clients during the provision of occupational therapy services and that take into consideration at least the following factors:
(a) Skill level. See Arizona Laws 32-3401
B. Each occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant shall display the person’s current license in each facility in which the person practices occupational therapy. If a facility is not available for the display of the license, the occupational therapist or the occupational therapy assistant must carry a board-issued wallet-sized license card during working hours.
C. The board may adopt rules reasonably related to sound client care governing an occupational therapist’s supervision of licensed occupational therapy assistants or unlicensed personnel or students working with the occupational therapist.
D. An occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant are professionally and legally responsible for supervising client care given by unlicensed personnel or students. If an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant fails to adequately supervise client care given by unlicensed personnel or students, the board may take disciplinary action against the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
E. In all settings in which occupational therapy services are provided, an occupational therapist, during evaluation, intervention and outcome and discharge planning:
1. Must sign all clinical documentation performed by students.
2. Must be the primary clinical supervisor for level II occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant students, including level II doctoral students. The occupational therapist’s supervision of the student must initially be direct and subsequently may be decreased to less direct supervision as appropriate to the setting, the client’s needs and the student’s ability.
F. In all settings in which occupational therapy services are provided, an occupational therapy assistant, during evaluation, intervention and outcome and discharge planning:
1. Must sign all clinical documentation performed by students.
2. Must be under the direction of an occupational therapist.
3. May be the primary clinical educator for level I occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant students and level II occupational therapy assistant students. The occupational therapy assistant’s supervision of the student must initially be direct and subsequently may be decreased to less direct supervision as appropriate to the setting, the client’s needs and the student’s ability.