Occupational Therapy Specialist
In 1998 the Norwegian Association of Occupational
Therapists (NETF) National Assembly passed a resolution to
establish a certification process for achieving the title
"Occupational Therapy Specialist" (ergoterapispesialist).
The intention was to define a pathway for career advancement
for occupational therapy clinicians through documented clinical
competence. Since management and education are not specific
to occupational therapy, occupational therapists working as
administrators or educators have for quite some time had available
academic and educational opportunities for career advancement.
However analogous opportunities have not existed for those
wishing to remain clinicians without taking on administrative
or teaching duties. The certification process is administered
by the professional organisation NETF. This is the accepted
norm for professions in Norway, for example psychology, nursing
and social work.
Certification as an Occupational Therapy Specialist,
which is available only to members of NETF, requires:
- Degree in occupational therapy
- Minimum two years experience as a practising
occupational therapist
- Minimum four years experience in the speciality
field
- Received a minimum of 25 hours mentoring
in speciality field
- Relevant postgraduate education - minimum
one year/60ECTS
- Continuing education/courses - minimum
300 hours (in occupational therapy and speciality field)
- Professional publication (quantified requirement)
- Documentation of having furthered the profession
verbally (quantified requirement)
- Competence in research methodology and
mentoring (quantified requirement)
Occupational therapists may be certified in
the following speciality fields:
Occupational Therapy Specialists in somatic
health
Occupational Therapy Specialists in mental health
Occupational Therapy Specialists in children’s health
Occupational Therapy Specialists in elders’ health
Occupational Therapy Specialists in general health
Occupational Therapy Specialist in vocational health
Occupational Therapy Specialist in public health
The seven speciality fields are not
based on medical specialities or diagnoses (like paediatrics
or geriatrics), but rather founded upon the concept of health
and the active person. Additionally, a natural grouping of
occupational therapy recipients and governmental health priorities
delineates the speciality fields in order to promulgate the
role of occupational therapist in society.
Norwegian occupational therapy
The Norwegian
Association of Occupational Therapists (NETF)
Occupational Therapy in Norway
Work as an Occupational Therapist in Norway
Occupational
Therapy Training and Education
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