Occupational Therapy Practice Act

The laws and regulations listed on this website are not to be considered the official authority on the current law. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this information, for legal purposes the law should be obtained from the Kansas statute books and the regulations from the Kansas Secretary of State's Administrative Regulations.

65-5401. Citation of act.
65-5402. Definitions.
65-5403. Administration of act by state board of healing arts.
65-5404. Occupational therapist council established; appointment of members; compensation.
65-5405. Duties of board.
65-5406. Application for registration; requirements.
65-5407. Examinations.
65-5408. Waiver of examination and other requirements; when waived; temporary registration.
65-5409. Fees.
65-5410. Denial, revocation, suspension, limitation, public or private censure of license or refusal to renew license; unprofessional conduct; procedure; reinstatement.
65-5411. Foreign trained occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants; requirements.
65-5412. Expiration of license; renewal; suspension; reinstatement; fees.
65-5413. Moneys received by board; disposition; healing arts fee fund.
65-5414. Representation as occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; prohibitions; misdemeanor.
65-5415. Injunction.
65-5416. State agency adjudicative proceedings and judicial review; conduct.
65-5417. Invalidity of part.
65-5418. Construction of occupational therapy practice act and practice of occupational therapy.
65-5419. Supervision of persons providing supportive services; supervision requirements.
65-5420. Registration deemed to be licensure on effective day of act.
65-5421. Licensed occupational therapist ownership limitations in professional corporations.


65-5401. Citation of act.

K.S.A. 65-5401 to 65-5417, inclusive, shall be known and may be cited as the occupational therapy practice act.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 1; July 1.


65-5402. Definitions.

As used in K.S.A. 65-5401 to 65-5417, inclusive, and K.S.A. 65-5418 to 65-5420, inclusive, and amendments thereto:

  1. "Board" means the state board of healing arts.
  2. "Practice of occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful occupations (goal-directed activities) to evaluate and treat, pursuant to the referral, supervision, order or direction of a physician, a licensed podiatrist, a licensed dentist, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse working pursuant to the order or direction of a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, a licensed chiropractor, or a licensed optometrist, individuals who have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles and to promote health and wellness. Occupational therapy intervention may include:
    1. Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological or neurological cognitive processes;
    2. adaptation of tasks, process, or the environment or the teaching of compensatory techniques in order to enhance performance;
    3. disability prevention methods and techniques that facilitate the development or safe application of performance skills; and
    4. health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities.
  3. "Occupational therapy services" include, but are not limited to:
    1. Evaluating, developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living (ADL), work or productive activities, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and play and leisure activities;
    2. evaluating, developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, cognitive or psychosocial components of performance;
    3. designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology or orthotic devices and training in the use of prosthetic devices;
    4. adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles, to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles;
    5. applying physical agent modalities as an adjunct to or in preparation for engagement in occupations;
    6. evaluating and providing intervention in collaboration with the client, family, caregiver or others;
    7. educating the client, family, caregiver or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and
    8. consulting with groups, programs, organizations or communities to provide population-based services.
  4. "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy as defined in this act.
  5. "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist.
  6. "Person" means any individual, partnership, unincorporated organization or corporation.
  7. "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
  8. "Occupational therapy aide," "occupational therapy tech" or "occupational therapy paraprofessional" means a person who provides supportive services to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in accordance with K.S.A. 65-5419, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 2; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 4; L. 2005, ch. 117, § 2; L. 2011, ch. 114, § 58; Jan. 1, 2012.


65-5403. Administration of act by state board of healing arts.

The board, in the manner hereinafter provided, shall administer the provisions of this act.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 3; July 1.


65-5404. Occupational therapist council established; appointment of members; compensation.

  1. There is established an occupational therapist council to advise the board in carrying out the provisions of this act.  The council shall consist of five members, all citizens and residents of the state of Kansas appointed as follows: One member shall be a physician appointed by the state board of healing arts; one member shall be the president of the state board of healing arts or a person designated by the president; and three members shall be occupational therapists appointed by the governor. The governor shall, insofar as possible, appoint persons from different geographical areas and persons who represent various types of occupational therapy treatment. If a vacancy occurs on the council, the appointing authority of the position which has become vacant shall appoint a person of like qualifications to fill the vacant position for the unexpired term, if any. The Kansas occupational therapy association shall recommend the names of occupational therapists to the governor in a number equal to at least twice the positions or vacancies to be filled, and the governor may appoint members to fill the positions or vacancies from the submitted list. The terms of the members of the council appointed by the governor prior to the effective date of this act shall expire on July 1, 1988. Members of the council appointed by the governor on and after the effective date of this act shall be appointed for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualified except that of the members first appointed by the governor on or after the effective date of this act one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be appointed for a term of three years, as designated by the governor. The member appointed by the state board of healing arts shall serve at the pleasure of the state board of healing arts. A member designated by the president of the state board of healing arts shall serve at the pleasure of the president.
  2. Members of the council attending meetings of the council, or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the council, shall be paid amounts provided in subsection (e) of K.S.A. 75-3223 and amendments thereto from the healing arts fee fund.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 4; L. 1987, ch. 253, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 251, § 3; July 1.


65-5405. Duties of board.

The board shall pass upon the qualifications of all applicants for examination and licensure, determine the applicants who successfully pass the examination, duly license such applicants and adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to administer the provisions of this act. The board shall keep a record of all proceedings under this act and a roster of all individuals licensed under this act. Only an individual may be licensed under this act.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 5; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 5; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5406. Application for licensure; requirements.

  1. An applicant applying for licensure as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant shall file a written application on forms provided by the board, showing to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant meets the following requirements:
    1. Education: The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of having successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program in occupational therapy recognized by the board.
    2. Experience: The applicant shall submit to the board evidence of having successfully completed a period of supervised field work at a minimum recognized by the board.
    3. Examination: The applicant shall pass an examination as provided for in K.S.A. 65-5407 and amendments thereto.
    4. Fees: The applicants shall pay to the board all applicable fees established under K.S.A. 65-5409 and amendments thereto.
  2. The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing the criteria which an educational program in occupational therapy shall satisfy to be recognized by the board under paragraph (1) of subsection (a). The board may send a questionnaire developed by the board to any school or other entity conducting an educational program in occupational therapy for which the board does not have sufficient information to determine whether the program should be recognized by the board and whether the program meets the rules and regulations adopted under this section. The questionnaire providing the necessary information shall be completed and returned to the board in order for the program to be considered for recognition. The board may contract with investigative agencies, commissions or consultants to assist the board in obtaining information about an educational program in occupational therapy. In entering such contracts the authority to recognize an educational program in occupational therapy shall remain solely with the board.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 6; L. 1988, ch. 243, § 12; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 6; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5407. Examinations.

Each applicant for licensure under this act shall be examined by written examination required by the board to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relating to occupational therapy, and occupational therapy theory and practice, including the applicant's professional skills and judgment in the utilization of occupational therapy techniques and methods, and such other subjects as the board may deem useful to determine the applicant's fitness to practice. The board shall approve an examination for occupational therapy assistants and establish standards for acceptable performance.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 7; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 7; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5408. Waiver of examination and other requirements; when waived; temporary license.

  1. The board may waive the examination, education or experience requirements and grant licensure to any applicant who presents proof of current licensure or registration as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in another state, the District of Columbia or territory of the United States which requires standards for licensure or registration determined by the board to be equivalent to or exceed the requirements for licensure under this act.
  2. At the time of making an application under this section, the applicant shall pay to the board the application fee as required under K.S.A. 65-5409 and amendments thereto.
  3. The board may issue a temporary license to an applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant who applies for temporary licensure on a form provided by the board, who meets the requirements for licensure or who meets all the requirements for licensure except examination and who pays to the board the temporary license fee as required under K.S.A. 65-5409 and amendments thereto. Such temporary license shall expire one year from the date of issue or on the date that the board approves the application for licensure, whichever occurs first. No more than one such temporary license shall be permitted to any one person.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 8; L. 1987, ch. 253, § 2; L. 1991, ch. 192, § 5; L. 1997, ch. 26, § 1; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 8; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5409. Fees.

  1. The board shall charge and collect in advance fees provided for in this act as fixed by the board by rules and regulations, subject to the following limitations:
    • Application fee, not more than . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80
    • Temporary license fee, not more than . . . . . . . . . .40
    • License renewal fee, not more than . . . . . . . . . . . 80
    • License late renewal fee, not more than . . . . . . . . 80
    • License reinstatement fee, not more than . . . . . . .80
    • Certified copy of license, not more than . . . . . . . . 40
    • Written verification of license, not more than . . . . 25
  2. The board shall charge and collect in advance fees for any examination administered by the board under the occupational therapy practice act as fixed by the board by rules and regulations in an amount equal to the cost to the board of the examination. If the examination is not administered by the board, the board may require that fees paid for any examination under the occupational therapy practice act be paid directly to the examination service by the person taking the examination.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 9; L. 1987, ch. 253, § 3; L. 1989, ch. 202, § 2; L. 1997, ch. 94, § 4; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 9; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5410. Denial, revocation, limitation or suspension of license or refusal to renew license; unprofessional conduct; procedure; reinstatement; penalties.

  1. The board may deny, refuse to renew, suspend, revoke or limit a license or the licensee may be publicly or privately censured where the licensee or applicant for licensure has been guilty of unprofessional conduct which has endangered or is likely to endanger the health, welfare or safety of the public. Unprofessional conduct includes:
    1. Obtaining a license by means of fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts;
    2. being guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined by rules and regulations adopted by the board;
    3. being convicted of a felony if the acts for which such person was convicted are found by the board to have a direct bearing on whether such person should be entrusted to serve the public in the capacity of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant;
    4. violating any lawful order or rule and regulation of the board; and
    5. violating any provision of this act.
  2. Such denial, refusal to renew, suspension, revocation or limitation of a license or public or private censure of a licensee may be ordered by the board after notice and hearing on the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act. Upon the end of the period of time established by the board for the revocation of a license, application may be made to the board for reinstatement. The board shall have discretion to accept or reject an application for reinstatement and may hold a hearing to consider such reinstatement. An application for reinstatement of a revoked license shall be accompanied by the license renewal fee and the license reinstatement fee established under K.S.A. 65-5409, and amendments thereto.
  3. The board, in addition to any other penalty prescribed in subsection (a), may assess a civil fine, after proper notice and an opportunity to be heard, against a licensee for unprofessional conduct in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for the first violation, $10,000 for the second violation and $15,000 for the third violation and for each subsequent violation. All fines assessed and collected under this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the state general fund.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 10; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 10; L. 2004, ch. 117, § 19; July 1.


65-5411. Foreign trained occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants; requirements.

Foreign trained occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall satisfy the examination requirements of K.S.A. 65-5406. The board shall require foreign trained applicants to furnish proof of completion of educational and supervised field work requirements, substantially equal to or greater than those contained in K.S.A. 65-5406 prior to taking the examination.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 11; July 1.


65-5412. Expiration of license; renewal; suspension; reinstatement; fees.

  1. Licenses issued under this act shall expire on the date of expiration established by rules and regulations of the board unless renewed in the manner prescribed by the board. The request for renewal shall be accompanied by the license renewal fee established pursuant to K.S.A. 65-5409, and amendments thereto. The board may establish additional requirements for licensure renewal which provide evidence of continued competency.
  2. At least 30 days before the expiration of a licensee's license, the board shall notify the licensee of the expiration by mail addressed to the licensee's last mailing address as noted upon the office records. If the licensee fails to pay the renewal fee by the date of expiration, the licensee shall be given a second notice that the license has expired and the license may be renewed only if the renewal fee and the late renewal fee are received by the board within the thirty-day period following the date of expiration and that, if both fees are not received within the thirty-day period, the license shall be deemed canceled by operation of law without further proceedings for failure to renew and shall be reissued only after the license has been reinstated under subsection (c).
  3. Any license canceled for failure to renew as herein provided may be reinstated upon recommendation of the board and upon payment of the renewal fee and the reinstatement fee and upon submitting evidence of satisfactory completion of any applicable continuing education requirements established by the board. The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing appropriate continuing education requirements for reinstatement of licenses canceled for failure to renew.
  4. A person whose license is suspended shall not engage in any conduct or activity in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was suspended.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 12; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 11; L. 2004, ch. 117, § 20; July 1.


65-5413. Moneys received by board; disposition; healing arts fee fund.

The board shall remit all moneys received by or for it from fees, charges or penalties to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury. Ten percent of each such deposit shall be credited to the state general fund and the balance shall be credited to the healing arts fee fund. All expenditures from such fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the president of the board or by a person designated by the president of the board.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 13; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 262; L. 2011, ch. 53, § 35; July 1.


65-5414. Representation as occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; prohibitions; misdemeanor.

  1. It shall be unlawful for any person who is not licensed under this act as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant or whose license has been suspended or revoked to use, in connection with such person's name or place of business, the words "occupational therapist," "licensed occupational therapist," "occupational therapist licensed," "occupational therapy assistant," "licensed occupational therapy assistant," or the letters, "O.T.," " L.O.T.," "O.T.L.," "O.T.A." or " L.O.T.A." or any other words, letters, abbreviations or insignia indicating or implying that such person is an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant or who in any way, orally, in writing, in print or by sign, directly or by implication, represents oneself as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.
  2. Any violation of this section shall constitute a class C misdemeanor.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 14; L. 2002, ch. 203, § 12; Apr. 1, 2003.


65-5415. Injunction.

When it appears to the board that any person is violating any of the provisions of this act, the board may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction against such violation without regard to whether proceedings have been or may be instituted before the board or whether criminal proceedings have been or may be instituted.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 15; July 1.


65-5416. State agency adjudicative proceedings and judicial review; conduct.

All state agency adjudicative proceedings under K.S.A. 65-5401 to 65-5417, inclusive, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act and shall be reviewable in accordance with the Kansas judicial review act.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 16; L. 2010, ch. 17, § 164; July 1.


65-5417. Invalidity of part.

If any section of this act, or any part thereof, is adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder or any other section or part thereof.

History: L. 1986, ch. 323, § 17; July 1.


65-5418. Construction of occupational therapy practice act and practice of occupational therapy.

  1. Nothing in the occupational therapy practice act is intended to limit, preclude or otherwise interfere with the practices of other health care providers formally trained and licensed, registered, credentialed or certified by appropriate agencies of the state of Kansas.
  2. The practice of occupational therapy shall not be construed to include the following:
    1. Persons rendering assistance in the case of an emergency;
    2. members of any church practicing their religious tenets;
    3. persons whose services are performed pursuant to the delegation of and under the supervision of an occupational therapist who is licensed under this act;
    4. any person employed as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant by the government of the United States or any agency thereof, if such person practices occupational therapy solely under the direction or control of the organization by which such person is employed;
    5. licensees under the healing arts act when licensed and practicing in accordance with the provisions of law or persons performing services pursuant to a delegation authorized under subsection (g) of K.S.A. 65-2872 and amendments thereto;
    6. dentists practicing their professions, when licensed and practicing in accordance with the provisions of law;
    7. nurses practicing their professions, when licensed and practicing in accordance with the provisions of law or persons performing services pursuant to the delegation of a licensed nurse under subsection (m) of K.S.A. 65-1124 and amendments thereto;
    8. health care providers who have been formally trained and are practicing in accordance with the training or have received specific training in one or more functions included in the occupational therapy practice act pursuant to established educational protocols, or both;
    9. any person pursuing a supervised course of study leading to a degree or certificate in occupational therapy at an accredited or approved educational program, if the person is designated by the title which clearly indicates such person's status as a student or trainee;
    10. any person fulfilling the supervised fieldwork experience requirements as part of the experience necessary to meet the requirement of the occupational therapy practice act;
    11. self-care by a patient or gratuitous care by a friend or family member who does not represent or hold oneself out to the public to be an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant;
    12. optometrists practicing their profession when licensed and practicing in accordance with the provisions of article 15 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and amendments thereto;
    13. podiatrists practicing their profession when licensed and practicing in accordance with the provisions of article 15 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and amendments thereto;
    14. physical therapists practicing their profession when licensed and practicing in accordance with K.S.A. 65-2901 et seq. and amendments thereto;
    15. physician assistants practicing their profession when licensed and practicing in accordance with the physician assistant licensure act;
    16. athletic trainers practicing their profession when licensed and practicing in accordance with the athletic trainers licensure act;
    17. manufacturers of prosthetic devices;
    18. any person performing occupational therapy services, if these services are performed for no more than 45 days in a calendar year in association with an occupational therapist licensed under the occupational therapy practice act so long as (A) the person is registered or licensed under the laws of another state which has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the licensure requirements of this act, or (B) the person meets the requirements for certification as an occupational therapist registered (OTR) or a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) established by the national board for certification in occupational therapy (NBCOT).
  3. Any patient monitoring, assessment or other procedures designed to evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed occupational therapy must be performed by or pursuant to the delegation of a licensed occupational therapist or other health care provider.
  4. Education related therapy services provided by an occupational therapist to school systems or consultation regarding prevention, ergonomics and wellness within the occupational therapy scope of practice shall not require a referral, supervision, order or direction of a physician, a licensed podiatrist, a licensed dentist or a licensed optometrist. However, when in the course of providing such services an occupational therapist reasonably believes that an individual may have an underlying injury, illness, disease, disorder or impairment, the occupational therapist shall refer the individual to a physician, a licensed podiatrist, a licensed dentist or a licensed optometrist, as appropriate.
  5. Nothing in the occupational therapy practice act shall be construed to permit the practice of medicine and surgery. No statute granting authority to licensees of the state board of healing arts shall be construed to confer authority upon occupational therapists to engage in any activity not conferred by the occupational therapy practice act.
  6. This section shall be part of and supplemental to the occupational therapy practice act.

History: L. 2002, ch. 203, § 13; L. 2003, ch. 128, § 27; L. 2004, ch. 24, § 13; July 1.


65-5419. Supervision of persons providing supportive services; supervision requirements.

  1. An occupational therapy aide, occupational therapy tech or occupational therapy paraprofessional shall function under the guidance and responsibility of the licensed occupational therapist and may be supervised by the occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant for specifically selected routine tasks for which the occupational therapy aide, occupational therapy tech or occupational therapy paraprofessional has been trained and has demonstrated competence. The occupational therapy aide, occupational therapy tech or occupational therapy paraprofessional shall comply with supervision requirements developed by the board by rules and regulations which are consistent with prevailing professional standards.
  2. This section shall be part of and supplemental to the occupational therapy practice act.
  3. The provisions of this section shall take effect on and after April 1, 2003.

History: L. 2002, ch. 203, § 14; July 1.


65-5420. Registration deemed to be licensure on effective day of act.

  1. Any person holding a valid registration as an occupational therapist immediately prior to the effective date of this act which has been issued by the state board of healing arts shall be deemed to be a licensed occupational therapist and shall be subject to the provisions of article 54 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.
  2. Any person holding a valid registration as an occupational therapy assistant immediately prior to the effective date of this act which has been issued by the state board of healing arts shall be deemed to be a licensed occupational therapy assistant and shall be subject to the provisions of article 54 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.
  3. This section shall be part of and supplemental to the occupational therapy practice act.
  4. The provisions of this section shall take effect on and after April 1, 2003.

History: L. 2002, ch. 203, § 15; July 1.


65-5421. Licensed occupational therapist ownership limitations in professional corporations.

  1. The state board of healing arts shall adopt rules and regulations to limit the percentage of ownership when a licensed occupational therapist forms a professional corporation pursuant to K.S.A. 17-2706 et seq., and amendments thereto, in combination with other professional services.
  2. This section shall be part of and supplemental to the occupational therapy practice act.

History: L. 2004, ch. 143, § 106; Jan. 1, 2005.