§ 5-96-3. Definitions.

Rhode IslandStatutes

Ask Donna

How this section applies to your facts.

RI Code › Title 5 › Chapter 5-96 › Section 5-96-3

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context shall clearly indicate another or different meaning or intent:

(1) €œActive duty military€ means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. ch. 1209 and 1211.

(2) €œAdverse action€ means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a state€™s laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, including actions against an individual€™s license or compact privilege such as censure, revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, or restriction on the licensee€™s practice.

(3) €œAlternative program€ means a non-disciplinary monitoring process approved by an occupational therapy licensing board.

(4) €œCompact privilege€ means the authorization, which is equivalent to a license, granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another member state to practice as an occupational therapist or practice as an occupational therapy assistant in the remote state under its laws and rules. The practice of occupational therapy occurs in the member state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter.

(5) €œContinuing competence€ or €œcontinuing education€ means a requirement, as a condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of participation in, and completion of, educational and professional activities relevant to practice or area of work.

(6) €œCurrent significant investigative information€ means investigative information that a licensing board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an opportunity for the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.

(7) €œData system€ means a repository of information about licensees including, but not limited to, license status, investigative information, compact privileges, and adverse actions.

(8) €œEncumbered license€ means a license in which an adverse action restricts the practice of occupational therapy by the licensee or said adverse action has been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).

(9) €œExecutive committee€ means a group of directors elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the commission.

(10) €œHome state€ means the member state that is the licensee€™s primary state of residence.

(11) €œImpaired practitioner€ means individuals whose professional practice is adversely affected by substance abuse, addiction, or other health-related conditions.

(12) €œInvestigative information€ means information, records, or documents received or generated by an occupational therapy licensing board pursuant to an investigation.

(13) €œJurisprudence requirement€ means the assessment of an individual€™s knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of occupational therapy in a state.

(14) €œLicensee€ means an individual who currently holds an authorization from the state to practice as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant.

(15) €œMember state€ means a state that has enacted the compact.

(16) €œOccupational therapist€ means an individual who is licensed by a state to practice occupational therapy.

(17) €œOccupational therapy assistant€ means an individual who is licensed by a state to assist in the practice of occupational therapy.

(18) €œOccupational therapy,€ €œoccupational therapy practice,€ and the €œpractice of occupational therapy€ mean the care and services provided by an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant as set forth in the member state€™s statutes and regulations.

tional therapy assistant€ means an individual who is licensed by a state to assist in the practice of occupational therapy.

(18) €œOccupational therapy,€ €œoccupational therapy practice,€ and the €œpractice of occupational therapy€ mean the care and services provided by an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant as set forth in the member state€™s statutes and regulations.

(19) €œOccupational therapy compact commission€ or €œcommission€ means the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the compact.

(20) €œOccupational therapy licensing board€ or €œlicensing board€ means the agency of a state that is authorized to license and regulate occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

(21) €œPrimary state of residence€ means the state in which an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant who is not active duty military declares a primary residence for legal purposes as verified by: driver€™s license, federal income tax return, lease, deed, mortgage or voter registration or other verifying documentation as further defined by commission rules.

(22) €œRemote state€ means a member state other than the home state, where a licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege.

(23) €œRule€ means a regulation promulgated by the commission that has the force of law.

(24) €œState€ means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of America that regulates the practice of occupational therapy.

(25) €œSingle-state license€ means an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant license issued by a member state that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a compact privilege in any other member state.

(26) €œTelehealth€ means the application of telecommunication technology to deliver occupational therapy services for assessment, intervention and/or consultation.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.

§ 5-96-3. Definitions. · R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-96-3 | Frix