Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11241)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11241 is "The Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2018."
Occupational Therapy is defined as a client-centered health and well-being approach through occupation, aimed at enabling people to participate in activities of everyday life by working with them or modifying their occupation or environment to support their engagement.
The Board is composed of a chairperson and two (2) members appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Professional Regulation Commission, from among occupational therapists of recognized standing nominated by the accredited professional organization.
Board members must be Philippine residents for at least five years, duly registered occupational therapists with valid licenses, have rendered occupational therapy services continuously for five years prior, members in good standing of the accredited professional organization, without prior conviction involving moral turpitude, and without pecuniary interest in schools or review centers for occupational therapy.
Grounds include gross neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, unprofessionalism, immorality, unethical or dishonorable conduct, final judgment of crimes involving moral turpitude, manipulation or rigging of licensure examinations, disclosure of confidential exam questions, or tampering with grades.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens or foreigners from countries with reciprocity agreements, not convicted of offenses involving moral turpitude, and graduates of recognized Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy programs.
A candidate must obtain a general average of at least 75% with no grade lower than 60% in any subject.
They may use the initials OTRP, meaning Occupational Therapist Registered Philippines, especially when signing professional documents.
Prohibited acts include practicing without valid registration, license or permit, representing oneself as an occupational therapist when license is invalid or suspended, lending professional credentials to others, using another's certificate or license, and violating the Code of Ethics.
Violators may face a fine between Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) and Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000), imprisonment from two to five years, or both, as decided by the court.