Chapter 2 Practice
Article 7
An occupational therapist shall file an application to register his/her practice with the municipal or county (city) government authority that has jurisdiction over the place of his/her practice and must have received a practice license before practicing.
Practicing occupational therapists shall receive continuing education for a certain number of hours every 6 years in order to get a renewal of his/her practice license.
Regulations governing the qualifications, conditions, and documents required for the practice registration as well as the issuance, replacement, reissuance, and renewal of the practice license mentioned in the first paragraph hereof, and the curricula, scores, implementation methods, determination of completion of the continuing education mentioned in the previous paragraph and other compliance matters shall be established by the central competent authority.
Article 8
In any of the following circumstances, the practice license shall not be issued; any license already issued shall be revoked or cancelled:
1. An occupational therapist certificate has been revoked or cancelled.
2. An occupational therapist practice license was cancelled within one year.
3. The occupational therapist has been determined by a team of specialist physicians, occupational therapists and scholars/experts invited by the municipal or county (city) competent authority to be unable to practice due to objective facts.
After the cause listed in subparagraph 3 of the preceding paragraph is eliminated, the occupational therapist may still apply for practice license in accordance with this Act.
Article 9
An occupational therapist shall be subject to one place of practice only and he/she shall practice in a medical care institution, or occupational therapy clinic approved by and registered with the local competent authority, or other institution where the competent authority recognizes that it may employ an occupational therapist to practice. However, inter-institutional support or condition with prior approval is not subject to this restriction.
Article 10
When an occupational therapist suspends or terminates his/her business, a filing shall be made to the authority that issued his/her license for records within 30 days from the date of occurrence of the fact.
The period of business suspension as mentioned in the previous paragraph shall be limited to one year. If the suspension exceeds one year, termination of the business shall be processed.
When an occupational therapist changes the location of his/her practice or reinstates his/her practice, the provisions governing the practice shall apply mutatis mutandis.
When an occupational therapist is deceased, his/her practice license shall be de-registered by the authority that issued the license.
Article 11
Practicing occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants shall join the local occupational therapist’s association or the occupational therapy assistant’s association.
The occupational therapist’s association or the occupational therapy assistant’s association shall not deny membership application by a qualified person.
Article 12
An occupational therapist’s professional practice is as follows:
1. Occupational therapeutic evaluation.
2. Occupational therapy.
3. Industrial therapy.
4. Recreational therapy.
5. Sensory integration therapy.
6. Training and guidance for use of prosthetic limbs.
7. Design and fabrication of splints and functional devices, as well as training and guidance for their use.
8. Other occupational therapy functions as approved by the central competent authority.
Occupational therapists shall follow the diagnosis, counsels, and prescriptions issued by physicians when performing their duties. This shall not apply to purposes other than disease treatment.
Article 13
If an occupational therapist has a doubt about any diagnosis, counsels, or prescriptions issued by a physician, he/she shall enquire and verify with the physician before performing occupational therapy for the patient.
Article 14
When an occupational therapist finds a patient unfit for continuing occupational therapy, he/she shall stop the therapy immediately and advise the patient to seek further medical advice and treatment from a physician.
Article 15
In practicing his/her profession, an occupational therapist shall make records and specify the following:
1. The patient’s name, gender, date of birth, and address.
2. The administration of occupational therapy practice and the time thereof.
3. The physician’s name and his/her diagnosis, counsels, or prescriptions.
Article 16
An occupational therapist shall not make any false statement or report when interrogated by the health authority, judicial authority or judicial police.
Article 17
An occupational therapy assistant’s professional practice is as follows:
1. Occupational therapy.
2. Industrial therapy.
3. Recreational therapy.
4. Other occupational therapy functions as approved by the central competent authority.
Occupational therapy assistants shall follow the diagnosis and written instructions issued by physicians or practice under the supervision and guidance of an occupational therapist when performing their duties.
Article 18
When an occupational therapy assistant performs his/her duties under the previous article, the provisions governing the practice of an occupational therapist shall apply mutatis mutandis.