Continuing education (CE) is required for occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) to maintain their professional credentials and right to practice. These requirements ensure practitioners remain current with evidence-based practices and advancements in healthcare. Compliance involves satisfying specific unit requirements within a defined renewal period, a process supervised by multiple regulatory bodies. Understanding the dual nature of these requirements is key to sustained professional compliance.
Understanding Continuing Competency Requirements
Occupational therapy professionals must satisfy two distinct sets of requirements to maintain their status: national certification and state licensure. State licensing boards typically use the term Continuing Education Units (CEUs), while the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) uses Professional Development Units (PDUs). Both fall under the umbrella of Continuing Competency (CC). Practitioners must meet the standards set by the NBCOT for national certification and the specific requirements of the state licensing board where they practice.
The Primary Requirement: NBCOT Certification Renewal
The NBCOT governs the national certification for Registered Occupational Therapists (OTR) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA). Maintaining this certification allows practitioners to use the OTR or COTA credential. NBCOT requires certificants to accrue a minimum of 36 Professional Development Units (PDUs) during each three-year renewal cycle. Certificants must submit a renewal application and fee by March 31st of their renewal year to remain in “Active in Good Standing” status.
NBCOT PDUs are calculated based on the type of activity completed. Generally, one contact hour of education equals one PDU. However, some activities, such as courses with an assessment component, may yield 1.25 PDUs per contact hour.
State-Specific Licensing Requirements
The number of continuing education hours required for an occupational therapy license is determined by the specific state licensing board. Requirements vary widely across states. License renewal cycles typically occur every one or two years, and the required hours are often proportional to this cycle length. For example, some states may require 10 contact hours annually, while others demand 20, 24, or 30 contact hours biennially.
The total required hours can also differ between an occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant, even within the same state. Many state boards mandate specific content areas, such as ethics training, implicit bias training, or specialized training in topics like suicide assessment. Practitioners must check their specific state’s occupational therapy licensing board website to find the exact and most current requirements.
Qualifying Activities and Methods for Earning CEUs
Continuing education activities are categorized by licensing boards and the NBCOT. Many boards place limits on how many units can be earned from certain categories to encourage diverse professional growth.
Formal Academic Education
This category includes activities where the practitioner is enrolled in structured learning environments, often resulting in formal credit. Examples include university coursework completed after the initial degree or continuing education courses offered by approved providers. These courses often involve a formal assessment and generally yield the highest PDU or CEU value.
Professional Development Activities
Activities involving real-time, interactive participation are considered professional development. This includes attending workshops, seminars, professional conferences, or participating in live online webinars. Giving an official presentation or publishing a professional article or book chapter also typically qualifies under this category.
Supervising and Mentoring
Directly supervising an occupational therapy student during their Level I or Level II fieldwork is recognized as a professional development activity. Formal participation in a structured mentoring program can also count toward CEU requirements. State boards often cap the total number of hours a practitioner can claim for supervision per renewal cycle.
Independent/Self-Study Activities
Independent or self-study activities involve learning without direct interaction with an instructor. Examples include reading professional journals, writing articles for publication, completing recorded online courses that lack a formal assessment, or engaging in professional study groups. Because these activities are asynchronous, state boards frequently limit the maximum number of hours that can be earned in this category.
Tracking, Auditing, and Documentation
Compliance with continuing education requirements necessitates careful record-keeping. All documentation must be retained for a specific period, which can range from two to six years, even if it is not submitted at the time of renewal. Required records include certificates of completion from course providers, official transcripts for academic work, and dated logs verifying the activity and duration.
Many state boards and the NBCOT use an audit system where practitioners are randomly selected to submit documentation for verification. NBCOT provides an online tracking system, the Renewal Log, which certificants can use to log activities. Failure to produce the required documentation during an audit, even if the activities were completed, is considered non-compliance. Practitioners must ensure their documentation clearly states the activity, date, and number of contact hours awarded.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failing to meet continuing education requirements carries serious professional consequences. If a practitioner does not complete the required CEUs or PDUs by the renewal deadline, their license or certification status will change to non-compliant or expired. An expired license legally prohibits the individual from practicing occupational therapy in that state.
Consequences can include fines, non-renewal of the license, or the suspension of practice privileges. Reinstating an expired license typically involves completing all missing CEUs, paying reinstatement fees, and undergoing a formal reinstatement procedure. Loss of the NBCOT certification means the practitioner can no longer use the OTR or COTA credentials, which affects employment status and professional standing.