ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this research survey was to investigate the current problems and validity of the Korean Occupational Therapy National Licensing Examination (KOTNLE), and to prepare basic framework for the development and improvement of KOTNLE.Methods : The participants were occupational therapists registered with Korean Association Occupational Therapists (KAOT). First of all, the study on the validity of subjects in KOTNLE (2002) and an outside occupational therapist licensing examination were reviewed. We conducted preliminary investigation suggestions five times regarding KOTNLE, and a panel discussion tried to then coordinate their different views. E-mail and mail with questionnaires were sent to 300 licensed occupational therapists who have experienced clinical training for over five years, and 95 responses in total were collected. Analysis of the data was doneusing description statistics. Lastly, we held a public hearing and collected extensive opinions.Results : The findings can be summarized as follows: 1) Examination subjects should be divided into occupational therapy and a practical examination. 2) Occupational therapy can be divided into five categories: basic knowledge, evaluation and treatment of impairment, activities of daily living and social participation, occupational therapy in selected conditions, and occupational therapy theory and occupational therapy law or specialist temperament. 3) A practical examination can be divided into three categories: occupational-based activity,purposeful activity, and preparatory methods.Conclusion : The subjects and items of the national examination, which are deduced from this research, will contribute to the improvement of the national examination system, reflecting its current occupational treatment and future demand. Also, it will help build the area and process of the treatment of occupational therapists and help patients of occupational treatment to understand the area of occupational therapy service.