R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-40.1-2: Declaration of purpose.

In order to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare; to protect the public from incompetent, unscrupulous, and unauthorized persons; to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct on the part of occupational therapists and to ensure the availability of occupational therapy services of high quality to persons in need of these services; it is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the regulation of persons offering occupational therapy services.