ARC 9399C - Iowa Administrative Rules

Adopted and Filed

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants—continuing education, 805.2(3)

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ARC 9399C

INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS DEPARTMENT[481]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to continuing education

The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing hereby amends Chapter 805, “Continuing Education for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code chapters 148B and 272C and 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2682.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapters 148B and 272C and 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686.

Purpose and Summary

This rulemaking implements 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686. Chapter 805 sets forth continuing education and training requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The intended benefit of this chapter is to ensure that licensees maintain up-to-date practice standards and, as a result, provide high-quality services to Iowans. The Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy reviewed the continuing education requirements in the fall of 2023 pursuant to Executive Order 10. Subrule 805.2(3) is amended to comply with the statutory changes from 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686, allowing a licensee to carry over up to 50 percent of excess completed continuing education hours from the previous renewal cycle. This rulemaking grants occupational therapists the ability to carry over up to 15 hours of continuing education earned in excess of the 30 hours required by Iowa law every two years. This rulemaking grants occupational therapy assistants the ability to carry over up to 7.5 hours of continuing education earned in excess of the 15 hours required by Iowa law every two years.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on February 19, 2025, as ARC 8863C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●March 11, 2025

No one attended the public hearing. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rulemaking

This rulemaking was adopted by the Department on June 13, 2025.

Fiscal Impact

This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 481—Chapter 6.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rulemaking will become effective on August 13, 2025.

The following rulemaking action is adopted:

ITEM 1.Amend subrule 805.2(3) as follows:

805.2(3) With the exception of continuing education hours obtained by new licensees, no hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium.Licensees who complete continuing education hours in excess of the requirements for renewal may apply up to 50 percent of the required hours to the following renewal period. Occupational therapist licensees may apply a maximum of 15 hours from the previous renewal period. Occupational therapy assistant licensees may apply a maximum of 7.5 hours from the previous renewal period. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.

[Filed 6/16/25, effective 8/13/25]

[Published 7/9/25]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 7/9/25.