2015 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
CHAPTER 36 - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Section 40-36-20. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "ACOTE" means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

(2) "AOTA" means the American Occupational Therapy Association.

(3) "Board" means the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy.

(4) "Direct supervision" means personal, daily supervision, and specific delineation of tasks and responsibilities by an occupational therapist and includes the responsibility for personally reviewing and interpreting the results of a supervisee on a daily basis.

(5) "NBCOT" means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

(6) "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy.

(7) "Occupational therapy" means the functional evaluation and treatment of individuals whose ability to cope with the tasks of living are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, poverty and cultural differences, physical injury or illness, or psychological or social disability. The treatment utilizes occupational, namely goal-oriented activities, to prevent or correct physical or emotional deficits or to minimize the disabling effect of these deficits in the life of the individual. Specific occupational therapy techniques include, but are not limited to, activities of daily living (ADL), the fabrication and application of splints, sensory-motor activities, the use of specifically designed crafts, guidance in the selection and use of adaptive equipment, exercises to enhance functional performance, prevocational evaluation and treatment and consultation concerning adaption of physical environments for the handicapped. These techniques are applied in the treatment of individual patients or clients, in groups, or through social systems.

(8) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person who has received on-the-job training in occupational therapy and is employed in an occupational therapy setting under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant.

(9) "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist.

(10) "On-site" means the same premises while direct client treatment is being performed.

(11) "Student" means a person who is enrolled in an educational program approved by ACOTE or other AOTA endorsed accrediting body for occupational therapy.

(12) "Supervision" means personal and direct involvement of an occupational therapist in a supervisee's professional experience which includes evaluation of the supervisee's performance with respect to each client treated by the supervisee.

HISTORY: 1977 Act No. 139 Section 2; 1988 Act No. 552, Sections 1, 2; 1998 Act No. 356, Section 1.