| License Description |
Occupational Description
Occupational therapy means the use of purposeful activity with individuals who are limited by physical injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, or the aging process in order to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health. It encompasses evaluation, treatment, and consultation.
Occupational therapy may include teaching daily living skills, developing perceptual-motor skills and sensory integrative functioning, developing pre-vocational capacities, designing, fabricating, or applying selected orthotic and prosthetic devices or selective adaptive equipment, using specifically designed therapeutic media and exercises to enhance functional performance, administering and interpreting tests such as manual muscle and range of motion, and adapting environments for the handicapped.
Licensure Requirements
Applicants must:
1. Have successfully completed the academic requirements of an approved program for Occupational Therapists;
2. Have successfully completed a minimum of six months of approved supervised field work experience at the educational institution approved by the Department where the applicant's academic work was completed or which is part of a training program approved by such educational institution;
3. Have passed the licensure examination with a scaled score of 450 or above;
4. Be at least 19 years of age;
5. Be either a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted into the United States who is eligible for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act, or a nonimmigrant who is lawfully present in the United States and who is eligible for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act;
6. If the applicant holds or has held a credential to provide health services, health-related services, or environmental services in Nebraska or in another jurisdiction, he or she must have the licensing agency submit to the Department a certification of his or her credential;
7. If an applicant has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, he or she must include:
A. A list of any misdemeanor or felony convictions;
B. A copy of the Court Record, which includes charges and disposition;
C. Explanation from the applicant of the events leading to the conviction (what, when, where, why) and a summary of actions taken to address the behaviors/actions related to the convictions;
D. All addiction/mental health evaluations and proof of treatment, if the conviction involved a drug and/or alcohol related offense and if treatment was obtained and/or required;
E. A letter from the probation officer addressing probationary conditions and current status, if the applicant is currently on probation;
8. If any disciplinary action was taken against the applicant's license/registration by another state, applicant must submit a letter of explanation of the disciplinary action.
Physical Agent Modality (PAM) Certification-
Nebraska requires Occupational Therapists to obtain certification to administer physical agent modalities (PAMs). Certification is required prior to administering Superficial Thermal, Deep Thermal, or Electrotherapeutic Agent Modalities. Occupational Therapists can be certified in one, a combination, or all three types of physical modality certifications.
PAM Certification requires submission of an additional application and fee, as well as one of the following:
Passage of a Board-approved training course (See webpage for a list of approved courses);
Five years of experience and passage of a written examination;
Education through an Occupational Therapy degree program;
Hand Therapist certification.
Fees
License Fee- $120.00
PAM Certication Fee- $120.00
Renewal
Renewal is required biennially by August 1 of even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $120.00
Twenty hours of continuing education are required biennially to qualify for renewal. |
| Licensing Agency |
Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services
Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services
Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 224 2299
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