Bill Text: NJ A2344 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises licensing provisions for orthotists and prosthetists and assistants.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee [A2344 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2344-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Revises licensing provisions for orthotists and prosthetists and assistants.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning orthotists and prosthetists, and amending P.L.1991, c.512 and P.L.1999, c.115.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 11 of P.L.1991, c.512 (C.45:12B-11) is amended to read as follows:
11. To be eligible for a license to practice orthotics or prosthetics in this State, an individual shall:
a. (1) Possess a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education;
(2) (a) Complete a clinical internship in the professional area for which a license is sought of not less than 1900 hours under the supervision of a licensed orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be; or (b) Complete a clinical internship in the professional area for which a license is sought of not less than of 1900 hours through a residency program accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education under the supervision of an orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be, who is certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc.; and
(3) Pass all written, practical and oral examinations, which shall be approved and required by the board and which shall be administered at least once each year ; or
b. Meet the following requirements within five years after the date procedures are established by the board for applying for licensure:
(1) Complete a clinical practice in the professional area for which a license is sought of not less than 1900 hours under the supervision of a licensed orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be;
(2) Pass all written, practical and oral examinations, which shall be approved and required by the board and which shall be administered at least once each year; and
(3) Possess an associate's degree in science from a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education with satisfactory completion of course work in biology, anatomy and physiology, physics and chemistry.
The standards and requirements for licensure established by the board shall be substantially equal to or in excess of standards commonly accepted in the fields of orthotics and prosthetics.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.115, s.4)
2. Section 10 of P.L.1999, c.115 (C.45:12B-11.1) is amended to read as follows:
10. To be eligible for licensure as an orthotist assistant, prosthetist assistant or prosthetist-orthotist assistant, an individual shall submit satisfactory evidence to the board that he:
a. Is at least 18 years of age;
b. Is of good moral character;
c. Possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent;
d. (1) Has completed not less than 40 hours of a formal training program in orthotics or prosthetics in the case of an individual seeking licensure as an orthotist assistant or prosthetist assistant, as the case may be, or not less than 80 hours of a formal training program in the case of an individual seeking licensure as a prosthetist-orthotist assistant; or (2) Possesses certification as an orthotic, prosthetic or prosthetic-orthotic assistant, as the case may be, from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc.;
e. Has completed 1900 hours of [clinical practice] work experience in the professional area in which a license is sought under the supervision of a licensed orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be , or under the supervision of an orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be, who is certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc.; and
f. Has passed all written, practical and oral examinations, which shall be approved and required by the board for the examination of assistants and which shall be administered at least once each year.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.115, s.10)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides an alternative pathway for individuals seeking licensure to practice orthotics or prosthetics in New Jersey, to satisfy the clinical practice requirements contained in the "Orthotist and Prosthetist Licensing Act." The bill permits individuals seeking licensure to practice orthotics or prosthetics in this State to satisfactorily complete 1900 hours of clinical internship in the professional area in which a license is sought through a residency program accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education under the supervision of an orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be, who is certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics.
Under current law, an individual seeking licensure as an orthotist-assistant, prosthetist-assistant, or prosthetist-orthotist assistant in New Jersey is required, as part of the requirements for that licensure, to complete 1900 hours of clinical practice in the professional area in which a license is sought under the supervision of a licensed orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be. The bill removes the reference to clinical practice in the law and replaces it with "work experience." In addition, the bill permits an alternative pathway for orthotist assistants, prosthetist assistants, and prosthetist-orthotist assistants to satisfy this work experience requirement by completing the 1900 hours under the supervision of an orthotist or prosthetist, as the case may be, who is certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics.
Additionally, under current law, as part of the requirements for licensure as an orthotic, prosthetic or prosthetic-orthotic assistant, an individual must complete a formal training program. The bill stipulates, instead, that this formal training program is not required for an individual seeking licensure who possesses certification as an orthotic, prosthetic or prosthetic-orthotic assistant, as the case may be, from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc.
