| 1975 |
Six therapists meet to form the American Society of Hand Therapists in San Francisco and organize nationally over the next two years. |
| 1978 |
First annual ASHT meeting is held in Dallas and first officers elected. |
| 1982-83 |
Early discussions and study of professional credentialing by ASHT Board of Directors occur. |
| 1984 |
Certification Committee is established and work begins on Role Delineation Study. |
| 1985 |
First Role Delineation Study is performed. |
| 1987 |
Role Delineation Study and Scope of Practice are published in Journal of Hand Therapy. |
| 1989 |
Hand Therapy Certification Commission incorporates as an independent agency. |
| 1990 |
Hand Therapy Certification Examination is field tested throughout the United States. |
| 1991 |
All current active members of ASHT become Charter Active members. After this time, the CHT credential will be required to become an active member. |
| 1991 |
Inaugural Hand Therapy Certification Examination is administered on May 4th. |
| 1993 |
Administrative Office moves to San Francisco. |
| 1994 |
Second Practice Analysis is performed and test blueprint is rewritten. |
| 1995 |
Examination changes to reflect the blueprint based on second practice analysis. |
| 1996 |
Administrative Office moves to Kansas City. 1991 CHTs recertify for first time. Results of first five years of the Hand Therapy Certification Examination published in the Journal of Hand Therapy as well as the Second Practice Analysis. |
| 1997 |
HTCC joins National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). |
| 1998 |
HTCC launches web site www.htcc.org. |
| 2000 |
A CHT assumes role of HTCC Executive Director. |
| 2001 |
Administrative Office moves to Rancho Cordova, California. First time two groups of CHTs (1991 & 1996) recertify in the same year. Third Practice Analysis Study is performed and test blueprint is rewritten.
|
| 2002 |
Examination changes to reflect blueprint based on the third practice analysis. Practice Analysis paper is published in the Journal of Hand Therapy. New online services initiated, including online certification application as well as online tracking for continuing education and work experience by CHTs. HTCC Board approves testing in Australia, beginning in 2003. |
| 2003 |
Competencies in Hand Therapy paper is published in the Journal of Hand Therapy. |
| 2008 |
Fourth Practice Analysis is performed. An updated profile of the domains, tasks, knowledge and techniques & tools used in hand therapy was developed. A large-scale online survey of hand therapists from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand overwhelmingly validated this profile. The results led to the revision of the test specifications of the Hand Therapy Certification Examination. The definition and scope of practice were also refined. Results were used to update HTCC policies regarding certification and recertificaiton eligibility requirements. |
| 2008 |
HTCC transitions from paper and pencil testing to computer based testing. |
| 2009 |
The CHT examination is administered twice a year over two one week windows in May and November |
| 2009 |
The 2008 Practice Analysis Study of Hand Therapy is published in the Journal of Hand Therapy |
| 2011 |
Beginning in 2011, HTCC no longer requires that work experience be acquired in any specific country. All occupational therapists or physical therapists in any country who meet the eligibility requirements may apply to take the exam. |
| 2011 |
HTCC celebrates the 20th anniversary of the CHT credential |
| 2012 |
HTCC website is redesigned www.htcc.org
|
| 2013 |
HTCC appoints new Executive Director
|
| 2013 |
The Mary Kasch Hand Therapy Certification Scholarship is founded by the tri-alliance of HTCC, ASHT and AHTF in memory of Mary Kasch
|
| 2014 |
Fifth Practice Analysis is performed. An updated profile of the domains, tasks, knowledge and techniques & tools used in hand therapy was developed. The results led to the revision of the test specifications of the Hand Therapy Certification Examination. Results were used to update HTCC policies regarding certification and recertificaiton eligibility requirements |
| 2016 |
HTCC celebrates the 25th anniversary of the CHT credential
|
| 2016 |
The 2014 Practice Analysis Study of Hand Therapy is published in the Journal of Hand Therapy |
| 2017 |
Change in examination eligibility requirements. Candidates for the Hand Therapy Certification Examination will be required to be licensed as an occupational therapist or a physical therapist for three (3) years instead of five (5). The requirement of 4000 hours in direct hand therapy practice experience remains unchanged. |