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HB 173

An Act relating to occupational therapist licensure; relating to occupational therapy assistant licensure; relating to an occupational therapist licensure compact; relating to an executive administrator for the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board; relating to physical therapist licensure; relating to physical therapist assistant licensure; relating to audiologist licensure; relating to speech-language pathologist licensure; and relating to national criminal history record checks.

34th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jeremy Bynum and 15 co-sponsors

Alaska establishes occupational therapist and assistant licenses and joins an interstate compact allowing licensed practitioners to work across multiple states without separate state licenses.

(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/30/26
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Bill Summary · HB 173

Legislative bill overview

HB 173 establishes licensing requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in Alaska and authorizes the state to join an interstate occupational therapist licensure compact. This compact allows licensed practitioners to practice across multiple participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each state.

Why is this important

Occupational therapy is a regulated healthcare profession, and formal licensure establishes minimum competency standards to protect public safety. The interstate compact addresses workforce mobility—a critical issue in rural and underserved areas like Alaska where healthcare professionals are scarce, enabling practitioners to serve patients across state lines more efficiently.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of practice definition: Disagreement may arise over what specific services occupational therapists and assistants can provide, particularly in rural settings where supervision requirements might be impractical
  • Compact reciprocity standards: Concerns about whether other states' licensing standards are equivalent to Alaska's, potentially affecting quality control if standards vary significantly
  • Implementation costs: State funding needed for licensing board operations, initial credential review, and ongoing administration of the compact system

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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