HARRY HUGHES, Governor

367

THERAPY ASSISTANT OR AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION;
AND

(II) HAD AT LEAST 6 MONTHS FULL-TIME
SUPERVISED FIELD WORK EXPERIENCE.

(B) OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT LICENSE.

THE BOARD SHALL WAIVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF § 9-302(E) OF
THIS SUBTITLE FOR AN APPLICANT FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
ASSISTANT LICENSE:

(1)  WHO APPLIED FOR A LICENSE BEFORE JULY 1,
1979;

(2)  WHOSE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE IS IN THIS STATE;

(3)  WHO PRESENTS TO THE BOARD SATISFACTORY
EVIDENCE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS PRACTICED LIMITED
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN THIS STATE FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS
BEFORE JULY 1, 1979; AND

(4)  WHO HAS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HAS
COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMINATION
OR PROGRAM.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from Art. 43, §§
920(e) and 924.

As to subsection (a)(l)(ii) of this section, the
intended meaning of the word "accredited" is not
clear. The General Assembly may wish to clarify
which entities may "accredit" a college or
university.

In subsection (a)(2) of this section, new
language is added to allow a waiver under this
section for an occupational therapy assistant who
has completed 4 years experience while either
licensed by the Board or certified by the
national organization. Present Art. 43, § 920(e)
is ambiguous, but may apply only to experience
gained as a licensed occupational therapy
assistant. Therefore, since a person could not
be licensed under present Art. 43, §§ 911 through
935 until after July 1, 1979, this interpretation
would mean the provision could not be effective
until at least 1983. As a corollary, an
occupational therapy assistant who was certified
by the national organization and practiced in
another state would have to wait 4 years after
coming to this State in order to meet this
qualification. For these reasons, the Board
believes that the new language is implied by the
present law. The issue is noted to the General
Assembly.