LA HB1182

Replaces the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) as the certifying body for occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant licensure in Louisiana

Increases licensure fees significantly: initial OT license application rises from $50 to $150, initial OTA license application from $25 to $100, OT renewal from $25 to $100, and OTA renewal from $25 to $75

Eliminates the provision requiring OTA licensure fees to be no more than two-thirds of OT fees, establishing separate fee schedules for each credential

Removes the waiver provision that allowed state-classified employees (Occupational Therapy Aides I/II, Occupational Therapists I/II/III) to obtain licenses without meeting educational and examination requirements

Changes the board's authority regarding license denial challenges from mandatory ("shall") to permissive ("may") in establishing policies for open hearings