Continuing competence plans

 The Occupational Therapists Profession Regulation AR 217/2006 s13(1, 2) states:

13(1) As part of the continuing competence program, a regulated member must each year complete the following in a form approved by the Council:

(a) a practice challenge log identifying practice challenges;

(b) a self-assessment questionnaire indicating the areas where continuing competence activities are to be undertaken by the regulated member for the next registration year;

(c) a competence maintenance log that records professional activities that support the maintenance of competence or the enhancement of the regulated member’s practice;

(d) a continuing competence portfolio containing documentation that illustrates the quality of the regulated member’s practice.

(2) Every regulated member must, on the request of the Registrar or Competence Committee, submit any of the documentation referred to in subsection (1) to the Registrar or Competence Committee.

In order to assist you in maintaining and enhancing your practice the College recommends that you be engaged in reflective thinking about your practice, and as required by legislation, reflect on your practice challenge, our standards of practice and that you record all professional activities that maintain or enhance your practice.

The practice challenge log allows you to reflect on those challenges you have in practice through the year and can be completed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

The self-assessment questionnaire was developed to allow each member to reflect on their standards of practice and ensure they are meeting the standards and ethics as established by Council.  It should be noted that the Standards of Practice for the profession of Occupational Therapy in Alberta are the set of regulatory requirements, which define minimum standards upon which occupational therapists practicing in Alberta must base their practice. They exist for the primary purpose of public protection, but also serve to assist occupational therapists in evaluation and development of their practice. These are minimum standards only; the occupational therapist should endeavour to maintain the highest possible degree of skill in the interest of protection of the public whom they serve.

The competence maintenance log allows you to record professional activities that support the maintenance of competence or the enhancement of the regulated member’s practice.

With respect to setting goals, this is not a legislative requirement; however, the College recommends you identify at least two practice challenges you wish to address and that your competence maintenance log records at least 20 hours of professional activities to maintain or enhance your practice challenges.  Given this is not a legislative requirement,  the time frame of setting or completing your goals can be set in accordance with what best suits your practice.

2012-13 Continuing Competence plan

The document Essential Competencies of Practice for Occupational Therapists in Canada is a valuable resource for developing individual programs. It describes the foundational elements of ACOT’s continuing competence requirements. If members require further information on program requirements, contact the College for assistance.