Occupational Therapy Board: Recency of practice
the recency of practice standard of the Occupational Therapy Board, clause by clause (R-1 to R-4), with the evidence the Board can ask for, the common gaps, and a free worksheet to fill in.
OT Board standards R-1 to R-4
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
CPD, professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice standards effective 1 December 2019
6 October 2026, Occupational Therapy Board registration standards page read 6 October 2026
Registered occupational therapists.
Occupational Therapy Board registration standards on the standards library
Revised CPD and recency of practice standards were consulted on (consultation closed 17 July 2026); the current standards stay in force until revised ones take their place.
A registered occupational therapist (other than students, recent graduates applying for the first time, and non-practising registrants) has completed at least 750 hours of practice in the previous five years, 450 hours in the previous three years, or 150 hours in the previous 12 months, within the current scope of practice. Practice includes non-clinical roles using professional knowledge. There are no exemptions.
- Practice hours record by year with roles
- Employer statements or payslips supporting the hours
- Hours counted from a different scope of practice
- Returning practitioner assuming an exemption
Meet the standard on application (including moving from non-practising to general registration), declare compliance at each renewal, and keep records evidencing the hours for five years for audit or a notification.
- Application and renewal declarations
- Five years of hours records
- No records for contract or sessional work
A therapist who wants to continue or return to practice without meeting the standard provides information on registration and practice history, time away, CPD or contact maintained, and the intended role, its risk, planned CPD and supervision; the Board may then require an assessment or examination, specific education, or a period of supervised practice, or impose conditions or refuse.
- Return-to-practice application with the history and plan
- Board decision and records of the required education or supervision
- Starting work before the Board's decision
- Supervision condition not built into the new role
Before extending scope, complete the advanced training or preparation peers would reasonably expect; for a substantial change to a different scope (for example administrative to clinical), develop a professional development plan and submit it to the Board for approval before starting in the new scope.
- Training records for the extended scope
- Professional development plan and the Board's approval
- Moving into paediatric clinical work from a non-clinical role without a Board-approved plan
| Ref | Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable) | Where it is kept | Owner | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-1 | |||||
| R-2 | |||||
| R-3 | |||||
| R-4 |
Completing this worksheet records what your practice holds and where. It does not make a practice compliant or ready for audit, and it is not legal advice.
Related requirements
Occupational Therapy Board registration standards
The same topic in other instruments (recency)
- Physiotherapy Board standards R-1, R-2, R-3Physiotherapy Board: Recency of practice
- Psychology Board standards R-1, R-2, R-3Psychology Board: Recency of practice
See every requirement for your practiceSee the specimen practice