The Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2018

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11241

AN ACT REGULATING THE REGISTRATION, LICENSURE, AND PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Short Title of Act. — This Act shall be known as "The Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2018."

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of occupational therapists in nation building. Hence, it shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded occupational therapists whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent, world-class and globally competitive through inviolable, honest, effective and credible licensure examinations and through regulatory measures, programs and activities that foster their continuing professional growth.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) Occupational Therapy — is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to...

Summary of Republic Act No. 11241 - The Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2018

Definitions and Scope (Section 3):
- Occupational Therapy: A client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation.
- Scope of Practice: Includes analysis and application of purposeful and meaningful activities in areas of self-care, work, play, and leisure to promote, maintain, or restore occupational performance, health, and psychosocial well-being.
- Occupational Therapist: A person holding a valid registration and professional license issued by the Board of Occupational Therapy and the Professional Regulation Commission.

Professional Regulatory Board of Occupational Therapy (Sections 4-11):
- Creation of the Board under the supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission.
- Powers and functions of the Board include:
    - Promulgate and enforce rules and regulations (Section 5a).
    - Supervise and regulate registration, licensure, and practice (Section 5b).
    - Administer oaths, adopt an official seal, maintain a roster of occupational therapists (Sections 5c-e).
    - Issue, reinstate, suspend, cancel or revoke licenses and permits (Section 5f).
    - Study conditions affecting the practice and adopt necessary measures (Section 5g).
    - Ensure compliance of educational institutions with prescribed policies and standards (Section 5h).
    - Prescribe the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (Section 5i).
    - Investigate violations and issue subpoenas (Section 5j).
    - Prescribe guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program (Section 5k).
    - Prescribe subjects, syllabi, and administer licensure examinations (Sections 5l-m).
    - Adopt a program for computerization of licensure examination (Section 5n).
    - Grant registration without examination and issue special permits (Sections 5o-p).
- Qualifications of Board members (Section 6).
- Term of office and removal of Board members (Sections 7-8).
- Compensation and allowances of the Board (Section 9).
- Supervision, records, secretariat, and support services by the Professional Regulation Commission (Section 10).
- Annual report submission by the Board (Section 11).

Licensure Examination and Registration (Sections 12-25):
- Requirement of licensure examination for all applicants (Section 12).
- Qualifications for examination include citizenship, no conviction of moral turpitude offense, and a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent (Section 13).
- Scope of examination covers basic sciences, health science foundations, and domains related to occupational therapy application, professional reasoning, and research (Section 14).
- Passing rating of 75% general average with no grade lower than 60% in any subject (Section 15).
- Issuance of Certificate of Registration, Professional License, and Professional Identification Card to successful examinees (Sections 16-18).
- Refusal to register for reasons such as conviction of moral turpitude offense or unsound mind (Section 19).
- Provisions for reinstatement, re-issuance, or replacement of certificates and licenses (Section 20).
- Oath of profession requirement (Section 21).
- Indication of licensure and privilege tax receipt on documents (Section 22).
- Revocation or suspension of certificate and license for causes such as unprofessional conduct, malpractice, or violation of the Act (Section 23).
- Maintenance of a roster of occupational therapists (Section 24).
- Issuance of special and temporary permits to foreign-licensed occupational therapists under specific conditions (Section 25).

Practice of Occupational Therapy (Sections 26-31):
- Prohibition on the practice of occupational therapy without a valid license or permit (Section 26).
- Prohibited acts such as representing oneself as an occupational therapist without a valid license or permit, allowing others to use one's license or permit, and violating the Code of Ethics (Section 27).
- Adoption and promulgation of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice by the Board (Section 28).
- Requirement for occupational therapists to abide by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program (Section 29).
- Integration of occupational therapists into one national professional organization accredited by the Board (Section 30).
- Foreign reciprocity provision for occupational therapists from countries that allow Filipino occupational therapists to practice (Section 31).

Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 32-38):
- Penal provisions for violation of the Act or its implementing rules and regulations, with fines ranging from ₱20,000 to ₱50,000 and/or imprisonment of 2 to 5 years (Section 32).
- Funding provision for the implementation of the Act (Section 33).
- Promulgation of implementing rules and regulations, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice within 60 days after the effectivity of the Act (Section 34).
- Transitory provision for the existing Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy to continue functioning until the new Board is constituted (Section 35).
- Separability clause (Section 36).
- Repealing clause for inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, including the modification of Republic Act No. 5680 (Section 37).
- Effectivity clause after 15 days following publication in the Official Gazette or two major newspapers (Section 38).