Chapter 90C

This Chapter shall be known as the "North Carolina Recreational Therapy Licensure Act". (2005-378, s. 2.)

It is the purpose and intent of the Recreational Therapy Licensure Act to safeguard the health and safety of the public and to protect the public from harm by unqualified persons by establishing a minimum level of education, experience, and competence to assure the highest degree…

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Board. - The North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure. (2) Licensed recreational therapist. - A person who holds a license pursuant to this Chapter as a recreational t…

(a) The North Carolina Recreational Therapy Licensure Board is created. (b) Composition. - The Board shall consist of eight members appointed as follows: (1) Three practicing recreational therapists, one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed b…

(a) The Board shall have the following general powers and duties: (1) To administer this Chapter. (2) To issue interpretations of this Chapter. (3) To adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations in the manner prescribed by Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, as may be necessa…

The Executive Director shall deposit all fees payable to the Board in financial institutions designated by the Board as official depositories. The funds shall be deposited in the name of the Board and shall be used to pay all expenses incurred by the Board in carrying out the pur…

The Board may accept grants, contributions, devises, and gifts that shall be kept in a separate fund and shall be used by it to publicize the licensure program and its protective benefits to the public. (2005-378, s. 2; 2011-284, s. 67.)

(a) The Board shall license any person as a "Licensed Recreational Therapist" who meets the following education, credential, and experience requirements: (1) Passage of an appropriate examination as a therapeutic recreation specialist or a recreational therapist by the North Caro…

Applications for licensure shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Board. The Board may establish fees for the actual cost of duplication services, materials, and returned bank items. All fees derived from services provided by the Board under the provisions of this…

Every license issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be renewable every two years. Within 30 days before the expiration date, a person who desires to continue to be licensed in the field of therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy shall apply for license renewal on forms fur…

A person who has allowed his or her license to lapse by failure to renew it pursuant to this Chapter must apply for licensure on a reinstatement form provided by the Board. The Board shall require the applicant to return the completed reinstatement licensure form including renewa…

When a person licensed by the Board submits a request for inactive status and pays the inactive fee, the Board shall issue to the person a statement of inactive status and shall place the person's name on the "Inactive Status' list. While on that list, the person shall not hold h…

The Board may require remedial education, issue of a letter of reprimand, restrict, revoke, or suspend any license issued pursuant to this Chapter or deny any application for licensure if the Board determines that the licensee or applicant has done any of the following: (1) Given…

The Board may grant a license, without examination or by special examination, to any person who, at the time of application, is licensed as a recreational therapist or therapeutic recreation specialist by a similar Board of another country, state, or territory whose licensing sta…

Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent or restrict: (1) Any person qualified, registered, certified, or licensed to engage in another profession or occupation or any person working under the supervision of a person registered, certified, or licensed to engage in an…

Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect malpractice, misconduct, or incapacity of a person who is licensed pursuant to this Chapter or who has reasonable cause to suspect that any person is in violation of this Chapter should report the relevant facts to the Board. Upon re…

Any person not licensed under this Chapter who holds himself or herself out to be licensed under this Chapter or who practices recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any fine imposed as a result of conviction shall not exceed five…

(a) If the Board finds that a person is violating any of the provisions of this Chapter, it may apply in its own name to the superior court for a temporary or permanent restraining order or an injunction to prevent that person from continuing the illegal practices. The court is e…