Mountain Valley Special Education JPA

• Obtain a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
• Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement.
• One of the following requirements must be satisfied:

• Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). RICA is not required for the area of Early Childhood Special Education. Visit the Evaluation Systems, Pearson website for more information.
• Complete a course (two semester units or three quarter units) or pass an examination given by a regionally-accredited college or university in the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution.
• Complete a Commission-approved Education Specialist Credential program in an education specialist specialty area. Contact the institution for specific program requirements.

• Obtain a formal recommendation for the credential by the program sponsor.

• A baccalaureate degree or higher, except in professional education, from a regionally-accredited college or university
• Complete post baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester units in a California Commission-approved professional preparation program specializing in school psychology, including a practicum with school-aged children 
• Obtain the recommendation of a California college or university with a Commission-approved Pupil Personnel Services program specializing in school psychology. This process will result in the college or university submitting the recommendation online. 
• Complete the Basic Skills Requirement. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement for additional information.
• Complete the Live Scan fingerprint process (form 41-LS) 
• Pay the application processing fee (see Fee Information leaflet CL-659) once the recommendation has been submitted online by the college or university. Individuals will be notified via email that the application has been submitted and is awaiting payment in a secured database. 

 

• A Commission-approved specialized preparation program resulting in the formal recommendation for the credential by the college or university where the program was completed.
• Basic Skills Requirement. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement for additional information.
• Hold or have been recommended for a master’s degree or higher in speech-language pathology from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The master’s degree program must be accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Council on Academic Accreditation.
• An application must be submitted online by the recommending institution.
• If not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed Live Scan receipt is also required (form 41-LS). This form should be given to the credential analyst at the recommending institution prior to online application submission.

 

 

For a more detailed description of how to become an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant, please read the following.

 

Step 1: Complete Your Degree in Occupational Therapy

You must graduate from a NBCOT accredited university with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a occupational therapy related field in order to obtain a license as a Registered Occupational Therapist in California. There are seven universities in California who offer NBCOT approved OT programs:

• Loma Linda University
• California State University-Dominquez Hills
• Samuel Merritt University
• San Jose State University
• University of Southern California
• University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences-San Diego
• Dominican University of California

 

Step 2: Complete an Internship

All OT professionals must intern in a clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist in order to obtain a license. Most NBCOT approved degree programs offer internships through the school.You must complete 24 weeks of occupational therapy work under to supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist in order to obtain licensure.

 

Step 3: Pass the National Certification Exam

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy offers exams which test the knowledge of prospective Occupational Therapy Assistants and Registered Occupational Therapists. This exam may be taken as many times as necessary to pass, but you must wait 45 days between tests.You must pass the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) exam in order to obtain a license.

 

Step 4: Applying for California State License

Whether you are seeking license as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or as a Registered Occupational Therapist, the
procedure is the same.

• Submit a signed and completed application to the Board of Occupational Therapy
• Submit a Verification of Certification from the NBCOT
• Submit all transcripts of qualifying education
• Request letters of good standing from prior states in which you have practiced be sent to the Board of Occupational Therapy
• Submit your photograph and fingerprints for a background check
• You will be notified about the initial license fee, as fee amounts are subject to change on a monthly basis.

Allow three weeks for the board to review your application.

 

Step 5: Earn Continuing Education Credits

California requires that OT professionals supplement and maintain skills by participating in ongoing education. This is a requirement of maintaining your license, along with payment of license renewal fees.You must complete 24 professional development units within your two year licensure period to retain your Registered Occupational Therapist license.

 

The following are qualified to be a school ERMHS couselsor:

• School Psychologist with a Pupil Personnel Services credential
• LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• LPCC, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors

 

A candidate must possess the minimum of a Masters degree, meet requirements for either graduate-level coursework (225 hours) or college-level teaching and research in behavior analysis, meet experience requirements, and pass the Behavior Analyst Certification Examination.