The Hand Therapy Certification Commission, Inc. (HTCC) believes that clear evidence of having met its Direct Practice Experience requirement is as critical to demonstrating competence as is successful completion of its examination. Only those who are able to conclusively demonstrate having achieved 4,000 hours of Direct Practice Experience in therapy of the upper quarter within the five years preceding the application deadline for the examination are permitted to sit for the examination.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to substantiate having met HTCC’s Direct Practice Experience component to the satisfaction of HTCC before HTCC may determine whether a candidate is eligible to sit for the certification examination.

The Employment Verification Form must be returned, signed by your employer or supervisor, along with an accompanying Explanation form as documentation of 4,000 hours of Direct Practice Experience in hand therapy. More than one form may be submitted for a total of 4,000 hours. A therapist who is self-employed, or who was self-employed during any time within the five-year period preceding the application deadline for the exam, is permitted to sign the form; however, any self-verification must include as an attachment proof of ownership/partnership in a private practice such as a business license or partnership agreement.

The 4,000 hours must be spent in upper quarter clinical practice but do not have to be completed under the direct supervision of a CHT. Direct Practice Experience is the direct provision of patient care through assessment and implementation of an individualized treatment plan, including but not limited to: orthotics/splinting, modalities and/or exercise to prevent dysfunction, maximize functional recovery, or influence the effect of pathology in the upper extremity.  Hand Therapy Clinical Practice does not include time spent in administration, research, teaching, consultation, or activities that promote professional practice. HTCC encourages each candidate to demonstrate experience that covers a variety of conditions and types of treatment because the examination covers many areas within the practice of hand therapy.

It is your responsibility to maintain a system for calculating and recording the hours with your employer or supervisor who verifies the hours. HTCC retains complete discretion in determining whether the documentation you submit demonstrates that you have met the Direct Practice Experience requirement. HTCC may attempt to verify the information you have submitted and/or may request additional documentation on how the hours were derived if the information is not clear from the application. If HTCC is unable to verify the information you submit to its satisfaction or otherwise determines that your documentation fails to demonstrate that you have met the Direct Practice Experience requirement, HTCC will notify you that you are not eligible to take the examination and will refund all examination fees you have submitted, less a $25 processing fee.

Should it be determined that the number of hours (or any other documentation) has been falsified, you may be subject to penalties, including, but not limited to, the denial of eligibility to sit for the examination for a period of ten years and the forfeiture of all fees you have submitted.

In providing documentation of your 4,000 hours of Direct Practice Experience, please note the following:

• You will be asked to provide HTCC with a list of your professional hand therapy work experience during the five years preceding the examination application deadline that you are submitting to meet the 4,000 hour requirement. Include pertinent job titles and describe your responsibilities.
• For the 2007 exam, a minimum of 4,000 hours of direct practice experience must have been accrued between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2007.
• Submit one Employment Verification Form and one explanation of Direct Practice Experience in Hand Therapy form for each job that you are submitting to meet the 4,000 hour requirement.
• You may copy the form if you have submitted more than one employer.

Click here to download the Employment Verification form and click here to download Explanation of Hours form.