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Qualified for registration under section 12(1)(a) of the SMPO
A person who holds the following qualifications as prescribed in section 4 of the Occupational Therapists (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulations shall be qualified for registration as an occupational therapist –
- A Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy awarded by the Hong Kong Polytechnic or The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;
- A Professional Diploma in Occupational Therapy issued by the Hong Kong Polytechnic on or before 1 January 1994; or
- A certificate from the Board that he has passed an examination relating to occupational therapy conducted under section 15A of the Ordinance for the purposes of section 12(1)(a) of the Ordinance.
Qualified for registration under section 12(1)(b) of the SMPO
The assessment criteria below have taken effect on 1 May 2015, with Note 2 and Note 4 added with effect from 26 June 2017.
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A person is eligible for registration as an occupational therapist under section 12(1)(b) of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance if he or she –
(a) has completed a program approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists ("WFOT");
(b) has completed at least 1,000 hours clinical training as part of the program curriculum under the supervision of qualified occupational therapists whose qualifications and registration status might be required as evidence [Note 1];
(c) has reached level 6.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with no score below 6 in each of the 4 tests in reading, listening, writing and speaking [Note 2];
(d) has produced documentary proof to evident his/her communication skills with patients in either English/Cantonese. Such evidence may include –
- Documentary proof that the training curriculum has built-in assessments on communication skills; or
- Clinical placement records, clinical case study, log book, etc. in 2 OT specialties; or
- A declaration by the clinical supervisor that he/she has communicated effectively with patients during the clinical practicum.
(e) is holding a current registration status with an occupational therapist governing body and current practising right in the jurisdiction [Note 3];
(f) has produced documentary proof that he/she has obtained appropriate experience directly relating to occupational therapy after obtaining the qualification acceptable for registration [Note 4]; and
(g) has declared whether there had been any disciplinary proceedings against him or her in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
[Note 1]
Definition of supervised clinical training
Supervision refers to the process of overseeing the student’s implementation of an OT process, where the supervisor is responsible for the quality of the student’s practice and for the safety of the recipient of occupational therapy. Recipients should be real clients with genuine OT needs for assessment and intervention. There should be clinical interaction between students and recipients. It is likely that supervision will initially include (a) discussion with the student; (b) review of the student’s intervention plans and records; and (c) observation of the student’s actions.
The amount and frequency of supervision will progress from close on-site supervision to independent practice as students progress through the program. The level of supervision will also vary with students’ knowledge base, familiarity with the practice setting and their learning needs; the contexts of practice – including the presence or absence of other health professions; the complexity of the occupational therapy intervention to be provided and the level of proficiency required for it to be effective; and the safety risks for both students and recipients of occupational therapy.
Applicants who have completed a WFOT-approved programme should also submit the Clinical Training Information Form certified by the institute as proof.
[Note 2]
With effect from 26 June 2017, applicants may apply for exemption from taking IELTS if they could provide proof that their English proficiency is comparable to the requisite IELTS levels. Applications for exemptions would be considered on individual merits.
[Note 3]
The requirement on registration status and practising right shall be exempted for applicants who have enrolled in, are studying or have been graduated from the OT programmes before 1 April 2016. Applicants who enroll in studying the OT programmes on or after 1 April 2016 are required to comply with this requirement.
[Note 4]
The appropriate experience obtained should be supervised by a registered occupational therapist. Applicants for Part I registration should have obtained not less than 1 years' recognized experience. Applicants for Part II registration should have obtained appropriate experience of not less than 30 hours.
Notwithstanding the foregoing assessment criteria, the training programmes leading to the following qualifications have been accredited by the Occupational Therapists Board and holders of these qualifications shall be qualified for registration as an occupational therapist -
- Master in Occupational Therapy awarded by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Occupational Therapy awarded by Tung Wah College
Registration under section 12(1)(c) of the SMPO
A person who, on the date on which section 12 of the SMP Ordinance commenced to apply to the occupational therapy profession (i.e. 1 October 1990), is practicing occupational therapy but who do not possess any formal qualifications may apply for registration under section 12(1)(c) of the Ordinance. The Supplementary Medical Professions Council and Occupational Therapists Board will consider each application and determine in which part of the register the name of the successful applicant shall be entered based on the applicant’s education, training, professional experience and skill. Each application will be considered on its own merits. |
