Committee discusses dry-needling CEUs, plans outreach to AOTA and LOTA

Members of the Occupational Therapy Advisory Committee discussed whether continuing-education units for dry needling are currently available to occupational therapists under LSBME rules. Committee members noted that the board's approved CEU providers are AOTA, NBCOT and LOTA, and that dry-needling CEUs presently fall under physical-therapy (PT) courses rather than OT-specific approvals.

The chair asked staff to reach out to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to determine whether AOTA offers an approved course and suggested including Dr. Allen on a Zoom call with AOTA to clarify options. Committee members also relayed that an individual OT can contact LOTA in advance to request course approval and that LOTA charges a fee for pre-approval; the committee stressed that LSBME will not intervene in LOTA's internal approval process.

Members asked staff to follow up with AOTA and report back to the committee; no formal vote was taken on a rule change.