Occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in helping individuals improve their ability to perform daily activities. To ensure they provide the best care possible, OTs in British Columbia must meet specific practice hour requirements, also known as currency hours. These requirements are essential for maintaining continued competence and ensuring high standards of care.
So, what exactly are these currency hour requirements, and how can OTs make sure they meet them? Let's dive into the details!
Understanding Currency Hour Requirements
Currency refers to the required practice hours in each period and is considered one indicator of an occupational therapist’s continued competence. OTs in British Columbia must have 600 practice hours within the profession’s scope of practice in the three years immediately preceding the date of application for initial registration, renewal, or reinstatement. Here are the options for meeting this requirement:
- 600 hours of occupational therapy practice within the past three years
- Graduation from an approved occupational therapy program within the past 18 months
- Successful completion of a College-approved Re-Entry Program within the last 18 months
For International Educated Occupational Therapists (IEOT), the CHCPBC will consider currency hours at the date of application to SEAS, provided the applicant completes the SEAS process within one year of their application.
What Does This Mean for Registration Renewal Applications?
When renewing your registration, you must indicate that you have practiced at least 600 hours in the immediate three years before registration. For example, if you renew on June 30, 2024, you must indicate that you have practiced at least 600 hours since July 1, 2021.
Here are some scenarios to help you understand how to accumulate these hours:
- If you work full-time, you will have accumulated at least 1,800 hours in the last year (based on 37.5 hours/week for 48 weeks/year).
- If you work part-time in a half-time (.5) position, you will have accumulated at least 900 hours in the last year (based on 18.75 hours/week for 48 weeks/year).
- If you work part-time and less than half-time but worked steadily in the past 3 years, you may also meet the requirement over 3 years (e.g., 6 hours/week for 48 weeks/year for 3 years is 864 hours).
Note: The calculations above are based on four weeks of holiday per year (the minimum required for employment standards, plus statutory holidays). If you receive more or less vacation, please adjust accordingly.
OTs at Risk of Not Meeting the Currency Requirements
Occupational therapists at most significant risk of not meeting the currency requirements include individuals:
- Who work in casual positions where hours fluctuate
- Who took practice leaves in the past three years
- Who changed their registration status to non-practising or cancelled their registration for any period during the past three years
If You Have Less Than 600 Practice Hours in the Last Three Years
The Registration Committee will consider the hours you spent in other activities that support your continuing competence and the delivery of safe, ethical, and effective care. These activities may include participation in volunteer work and continuing professional development (both formal and informal study). However, these hours cannot exceed 25%, i.e., 150 hours, of the 600 required hours, and cannot have been accumulated while your registration status was non-practising or cancelled, or while you were participating in a re-entry program.
To apply for consideration, you will complete the Currency Hours Review Form. On this form, you will be asked for your:
- Identifying information (full name, registration number)
- Registration status for each of the past three years (full, provisional, temporary, non-practising, and/or cancelled)
- Accumulated practice hours for each of the past three years, in the following four categories:
- Paid work
- Formal study
- Informal study
- Volunteer work
Note: Verification of these activities may be requested.
What Is Considered Formal Study?
Formal Study is a period of structured study that a person or organization provides. This can include e-learning or any other type of course or program that is relevant to your practice and occupational therapy. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Post-graduate education resulting in a recognized degree from an accredited program, e.g., Graduate Certificate, Masters or PhD
- Advanced certification from recognized institutions, e.g., sensory integration, hand therapy
- Modules, courses, or elements currently included in programs run by educational institutions
- Programs offered by regulatory organizations
What Is Considered Informal Study?
Informal Study is a period of study you structure yourself. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Review of CHCPBC webinars, podcasts
- Completion of learning modules
- Review of Occupational Therapist Practice Standards and Advisory Statements
- Critical appraisal of articles in practice publications, blogs, and scholarly journals
- Participation in journal clubs
- Participation in study groups, practice networks, etc.
What Is Considered Volunteer Work?
Volunteer Hours are considered when the work falls within the definition of occupational therapy practice as outlined in the governing legislation (Occupational Therapists Regulation). Depending on the occupational therapist’s role, this work may include clinical or nonclinical work.
The Occupational Therapists Regulation presents the scope of practice as “A registrant may assess occupational performance and modify human and environmental conditions to maintain, restore or enhance occupational performance and health.” The regulation also defines occupational performance as “the ability to choose, organize and effectively and safely perform everyday activities necessary for self-care and participation in educational, leisure, home management, and work activities.” OTs engaged in volunteer work as occupational therapists who wish to have these hours considered towards currency requirements must ensure that they abide by the formal structured components of occupational therapy practice (College Practice Standards).
If you will not meet the 600-hour requirement, despite these additional activities, you may apply for provisional registration for the purpose of completing a re-entry program. See Return to Practice for further information on re-entry.
For more information, please follow this link.
