Service delivery hours…are they really too much?

Would you go for a root canal with a dentist who hadn’t actually touched a patient in 5 years? If you were told you needed to see a medical specialist because your needs were beyond the capacity of your general practitioner, would it be enough for you to see someone who rarely dealt with your condition?

One of the foundations of the AOTA Board and Specialty Certifications is that they are considered to be practice certifications. That doesn’t mean that managers, researchers, and faculty can’t apply. It does mean, however, that all applicants need to have some actual service delivery hours in the area. What does that mean for certification candidates?

Let’s break it down using the assumption of 4 vacation weeks in a year and a 35 hour work week.

Specialty Certification

Specialty certification is valid for a period of 4 years. Applicants need to have 600 hours delivering services with clients in the specialty area. Given the above criteria for work hours and vacation, that breaks down to approximately 3 hours a week over 4 years – less than 2 days a month.

Board Certification

A minimum of 5 years as an OT is necessary to apply for Board Certification and BC is valid for 5 years. Applicants need 5,000 hours in the certification area, which can include anything from service delivery, to teaching, to management, to research, to consultation. Those hours can be met in 3 years working full time in the area; 4 years if you don’t work summers.

Of the 5,000 hours, 500 need to be delivering services with clients (individuals or groups). Those 500 hours break down to approximately 2 hours a week over 5 years.

Want to do it in less time?
Here’s what you need to meet the service delivery hour requirement…

Specialty Certification

4 years = 3 hours/week = 9% of caseload
3 years = 4 hours/week = 18% of caseload
2 years = 6 hrs 15 min/week = 27% of caseload
1 year = 12½ hours/week = 36% of caseload
6 mos. = 25 hours/week = 72% of caseload

Board Certification

5 years = 2 hours/week = 6% of caseload
4 years = 2½ hours/week = 12% of caseload
3 years = 3½ hours/week = 18% of caseload
2 years = 5 hours/week = 24% of caseload
1 year = 10½ hours/week = 30% of caseload
6 mos. = 21 hours/week = 60% of caseload

So what do you do if you don’t have the hours? Keep working on getting them! And use that time to develop a great portfolio that really highlights your achievements in meeting the competencies and indicators. Then, when you have your hours, all you have to do is click “Submit” and you’re on your way!

Time to F.O.C.U.S.!

Here’s an approach you can try to help understand the competencies and indicators a bit more…F.O.C.U.S.!

In the presentations I’ve been doing at state conferences, people who have used the application manual and followed this process have shared that it has helped immensely. Take the application manual, a pen, highlighter, and make sure you have some time (meaning you have time to think critically about what you are reading and aren’t rushed). The F.O.C.U.S. approach is the following:

Frame the context of the competency and indicators by reading the client outcome.

• For each competency, read the competency, the client outcome(s), and the indicators for the competency. What is the real meaning of the competency? Possibly make some notes to yourself at the top of the page near the competency. Maybe you need to check out some of the references identified for that competency if things aren’t quite clicking for you.

Objectify thoughts by identifying key words.

• Go through the competency and indicators and highlight with a marker or underline “key” words in the competency. For example, “Engages client and relevant others in identification and prioritization of strengths and limitations to plan occupational therapy interventions for feeding, eating, and swallowing” is not just about prioritizing strengths and limitations for treatment planning. Key words here are that the specialist also “engages client and relevant others.” The client outcomes for this competency also speak to the client’s active participation in the process. Having a better understanding helps you start to organize your thoughts regarding the professional development activities you’ve been involved with that you can use to demonstrate your ability to address the competency.

Clarify key words by using the application glossary and Occupational Theapy Practice Framework.

• What words are confusing or possibly “new” to you? There is a glossary in each application handbook. “Relevant evidence” and “relevant others” are terms that are used in all the certifications extensively. Applicants would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not take a moment to check and see what the authors meant by these and other terms!

Unmask personal biases and put them aside so they don’t inappropriately influence your interpretation.

• We all have our own experiences, values, and preferences that we bring to every situation. Being able to recognize those and separate them in order to form an objective review of the competencies and indicators is important. Do you have biases about what clients can and can’t do based on your personal – not professional – experience that colors your view? Do you think you can’t learn anything from a fieldwork student? What are your biases?

Summarize & synthesize your interpretation of the competency by validating it against the indicators and client outcomes, and the indicator by validating it against the competency and client outcomes.

• Taking the time to make sure you clearly understand the competencies and indicators – and how they apply to your practice! – is an important first step in preparing a successful application. Once you’ve done all of the above, try to make sense of things relative to your work with clients. Once you’ve FOCUSed, then it’s easier to look at the Professional Development Activities List and determine what activities you’ve engaged in to best meet the indicators.

I think most of us do well if we have a goal and then set aside time regularly to work toward that goal. I’ve found in my discussions with people that working with someone toward certification is helpful and setting aside time to regularly go into your online application and work on writing the reflections to complete the process is helpful as well. Is there someone in your department who’d be interested in working on the application process with you as you go along? Someone form your state association? Or maybe just someone online! Whoever it is, make a plan to F.O.C.U.S.!

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

June 11, 2008 is Coming!

Hey, June applicants, are you getting nervous? Don't! You've been working hard on what I’m sure is a great application! As you’re giving everything the final once-over, make sure

• you have all the required evidence for your activities as identified in the Professional Development Activity List
• the page numbers in your application and your scanned evidence match( (it’s always the obvious things that trip us up, isn’t it!)
• you have made a clear connection between your activities and the indicators to which you’ve assigned them
• you proof your narratives for grammar and typos (best foot forward!) and have asked someone else to read them and give you feedback. It doesn't have to be another OT...a significant other, sibling, or friend will do!

For last minute questions and reassurances, don’t forget to take advantage of one of the remaining Q&A sessions on either Tuesday, June 3 at 4:00 EDT or Thursday, June 5 at 1:00 EDT. Sign up online!

Maria Elena E. Louch, Professional Development Program Manager

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Successful Certification Applications...Step 1!

Many times practitioners ask my advice on how to be successful in applying for Board or Specialty Certification. Simply, it is a goal-setting process in which you must carefully attend to all steps in the application process.

First of all, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading the directions! The first thing I tell practitioners to do when they are considering certification is to download the application and read over it completely. Read it once to just let the words wash over you; read it a second time for understanding. And as you are completing the application, read each section you are working on to make sure you are following the instructions correctly! Don’t hesitate (or wait until the last minute!) to ask questions either.

Then--just as we would do with a client--set realistic goals for the completion of each step. When I was preparing my application for board certification, I completely under-estimated the time it would take to gather all the evidence and to complete the reflections. Assuming you actually have a fairly well organized collection of evidence to support the various professional development activities you’ve engaged in, a minimum of 3 months is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if you’re not planning to block an entire weekend or more to work on the application!

Take your time with this…it’s supposed to be a meaningful process that helps you really look at your practice and think about where you’ve been, how you’ve grown professionally, and where you’re going next. Savor the journey…and take a friend along for the ride!

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

Competence/Competency - what's the difference?

Competence is all about building capacity. Competency is the examination of current performance against standards. This is considering an individual's actual performance in a particular situation.

AOTA certification programs focus on continuing competence, or the building of capacity to meet identified competencies. This is important because what a profession can be is dependent on the continuing competence of its members.

With this being said....what have you done lately to build your capacity? Have you begun your Board or Specialty Certification application? If so, great! Keep going. If not, what is holding you back? Maybe you don't know where to begin? The first step is to download the application handbook and read through it. Please continue to visit this blog as the process of applying for Board & Specialty Certification is presented and discussed. I look forward to your input & questions.

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

Why AOTA certification?

AOTA Board & Specialty Certification provide a framework for professional development that is specifically geared to the profession of occupational therapy.

For example, I am an occupational therapist Board Certified in mental health (BCMH). My signature looks like this: Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH.

I could have pursued certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner (CPRP) certification, which is administered by United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA). This is a certification related to psychiatric rehabilitation, and I value this certification; however, it is not unique to occupational therapy. My AOTA Board & Specialty Certification is unique to occupational therapy, and my employer recognizes my advanced knowledge and skills and the expertise which was required to obtain this certification.

I've heard of a couple of therapists who were successful in obtaining increased salaries as a result of obtaining Board and Specialty Certifications here in Iowa.

The process of Board & Specialty Certification is built upon the Standards of Continuing Competence, an AOTA Official Document developed by CCCPD. It is important that I emphasize that obtaining Board or Specialty Certification is a process, something that takes time. Recently in an article in the AOTA MHSIS Quarterly (page 2), Victoria Schindler chronicled her process in the development of her Board Certification application for mental health.

Take a minute and review Victoria's article. I'm certain you will find her review of the process helpful and encouraging. Then I encourage you to establish a personal goal for when you will begin your application!

Hope to see you at AOTA Conference and come back to visit this blog often!

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

Welcome to the Board & Specialty Certification Blog!

Greetings! I'm glad you took some time from your busy schedule to check out the Blog the Commission on Continuing Competence & Professional Development (CCCPD) has launched in conjunction with the Board for Advanced and Specialty Certification (BASC).

This Blog will provide information on the Board & Specialty Certification processes and offer resources and tips to assist you not just in preparing for certification, but in the ongoing process of professional development. We encourage you to come back regularly to see new information as it becomes available! AOTA Board and Specialty Certification is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated the capacity for meeting identified competencies and indicators that reflect either advanced (Board) or specialized (Specialty) occupational therapy practice through a peer reviewed reflective portfolio process. Check out the AOTA Certification Home Page link to download certification information.

Board Certification is available to occupational therapists who have been practicing for at least 5 years in a broad area of practice and have 5,000 hours in the certification area, 500 of which are direct service to clients. Board Certification is available in Gerontology, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Physical Rehabilitation.

Specialty Certification is available to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants with at least 2,000 hours experience in occupational therapy, 600 hours which must be concentrated in the specialty area delivering services to clients. Specialty Certification exists in the following areas: Driving & Community Mobility; Environmental Modification; Feeding, Eating & Swallowing; and Low Vision.

We hope that this Blog will help to answer some of your questions about getting started in the application process or help you navigate through the application process in your pursuit of Board or Specialty Certification.

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH