2. Can an OT or OTA use the title “Doctor”?
The OT Practice Act, which is set by and may only be changed by the Texas Legislature, prohibits an OT or OTA from using the abbreviation “Dr.” and/or the word “Doctor” as a title. As per §454.007, Use of Title of Doctor, of the OT Practice Act, “An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant may […]
1. Should I use OT or OT/L? Should I use OTA or OTA/L?
As per §369.3(a) of the OT Rules, “Licensed occupational therapists shall use the title occupational therapist or the abbreviation OT. Occupational Therapist, Registered is an alternate title for occupational therapist and OTR® is an alternate abbreviation for OT if individuals who are licensed by this board take the responsibility for ensuring that they are qualified […]
4. Can an OTA function independently?
OTAs may function without supervision from an OT when the services being provided are services that any skilled and competent person can provide (i.e. family member, educator, individual trained or certified in offering that service) and are not occupational therapy services, including services provided under an occupational therapy plan of care, as defined in the […]
3. How many OTAs can I supervise?
The Board does not dictate any specific number. This is a professional determination. Note that an OTA with a regular license must practice under the general supervision of an OT. The OT is responsible for the plan of care and all amendments thereto. In addition, the supervising OT may only delegate to an OTA tasks that […]
2. Whose name do I write in my notes?
You should write the name of the OT who is available to you on that given day. It does not have to be the OT who wrote the Plan of Care, or the OT who is the head of the department, but one of the OTs who you can contact immediately to ask a question. […]
1. What kind of supervision do I need to provide someone with a temporary license?
§373.2, Supervision of a Temporary Licensee, requires that the temporary licensee cannot work alone. Rather, a licensee with a regular license must be on the premises when the temporary licensee is providing services. The OT with a temporary license must have an OT with a regular license on the premises, while the OTA with a […]
12. How often do I need to document treatment?
The Board requires documentation of each intervention session; in other words, there must be an intervention note for each intervention session provided to the client. As stated in §372.1(g)(2) of the OT Rules, “The licensee providing occupational therapy services must document for each intervention session. The documentation must accurately reflect the intervention, decline of intervention, and […]
11. Must an OTA have notes co-signed?
No, the OT Rules do not require that the OT co-sign the OTA’s notes. However, in each intervention note, the OTA must include the name of an OT who is readily available to answer questions about the client’s intervention at the time of the provision of services. The OT in the intervention note may be […]
10. Can I co-treat?
You will have to look at what the payer allows. The Board has no rules on this.
9. Can an OT see a mental health patient such as someone with PTSD or Schizophrenia without a doctor’s referral?
If a patient/client/individual is in the hospital with acute PTSD, then it is a medical condition and it would be necessary to have a script. If seen in the community that says that the individual is stable enough to be in the community and therefore no script is necessary. Not just PTSD but you can […]