AOTA-NBCOT® Joint Initiative: Developing the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Professional Licensure
• Occupational Therapy Practice

Background:

• Current state licensure laws for occupational therapy, while uniform, create complex and time-consuming processes for practitioners seeking to practice in multiple jurisdictions.
• Practitioners face significant administrative burdens in obtaining and maintaining licenses across different states, hindering mobility and potentially impacting patient access to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain the necessity of an interstate licensure compact for the occupational therapy profession.
• To describe the collaborative initiative between the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to develop and implement such a compact.
• To highlight the progress and future steps in establishing the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

Main Methods:

• Review of the rationale and development process for an interstate licensure compact in occupational therapy.
• Analysis of the joint AOTA and NBCOT initiative to support the compact's creation.
• Examination of legislative progress and operational planning for the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission.

Main Results:

• A significant need exists for an improved licensure system to facilitate multi-state practice for occupational therapists.
• The development process involved collaboration between key professional organizations and aims to establish a commission of state regulators for implementation.
• Progress has been made in advancing legislation, with defined next steps for operationalizing the compact.

Conclusions:

• An interstate licensure compact is crucial for enhancing occupational therapy practice mobility and reducing administrative burdens.
• The collaborative effort between AOTA and NBCOT is vital for the successful development and implementation of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
• Continued legislative advocacy and operational planning are essential to realize the benefits of the compact for practitioners and the profession.