Kentucky-licensed Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) renew annually on October 31st. 12 CCUs (hours of continuing education) are required annually to renew. All 12 hours may be earned through online courses offered by an AOTA-approved provider.

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Over 100 courses are available at: http://www.pdresources.org/Courses/Occupational-Therapy/AllCourses/CourseID/1/

Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy (http://bot.ky.gov/)

The purpose of the Board of Occupational Therapy is to administer and enforce the statutory authority and to monitor the needs of the consuming public. The board examines and licenses all eligible candidates for entry into the profession of occupational therapy. It recommends appropriate changes in the law to assure fairness and equality. The board conducts formal hearings when necessary and prosecutes by due process any violators of KRS 319A.

A person licensed as an OT/L or an OTA/L shall annually, before October 31, pay to the board a renewal fee for the renewal of the license and file an “Annual Renewal Application.” A license not renewed before October 31 of each year shall expire.

Continuing Competence

Definitions:

• “Continuing competence” means a dynamic, multidimensional process to develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, interpersonal abilities and critical and ethical reasoning necessary to perform occupational therapy professional responsibilities.
• “Continuing competence unit” means an assigned unit of measure for each continuing competence activity.
• “Contact hour” means sixty (60) minutes engaged in a learning activity, excluding meals, breaks, and registration.
• “CCU” means continuing competence unit.

Continuing Competence Requirements:

1. A licensee applying for license renewal shall complete a minimum of twelve (12) CCUs of qualified activities for maintaining continuing competence during the preceding annual renewal period.
2. A licensee who is issued a license for a period less than twelve (12) months shall prorate the number of CCUs to one (1) CCU for each month licensed.
3. An applicant for reinstatement or licensure who was previously licensed by the board and whose license has been put on inactive status, revoked, or expired for three (3) years or less from the time the application is filed shall obtain twelve (12) CCUs of qualified activities for maintaining continuing competence for each year in which the license has been in the status prior to receiving the license.
4. An applicant for licensure who was previously licensed by the board and whose license has lapsed for more than three (3) years shall obtain thirty-six (36) CCUs of qualified activities for maintaining continuing competence.

Qualified Activities for Maintaining Continuing Competence:

The following activities qualify for the continuing competence requirements of this administrative regulation:

• Continuing education courses. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for each contact hour in continuing education courses including workshops, seminars, conferences, electronic courses, or self-study courses. Documentation for this activity shall include a certificate of completion or similar documentation including:

1. Name of course, date, and the author or instructor;
2. Name of sponsoring organization and the location of the course; and
3. The number of contact hours attended.

• Employer provided in-service training. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for each contact hour of in-service training provided to the licensee by the licensee’s employer. No more than six (6) CCUs of employer-provided training may be counted towards the total number of required CCUs.

• Academic coursework. Participation in on-site or distance learning academic courses from a university, college, or vocational technical adult education course related to the practice of occupational therapy shall be counted towards the requirements of this administrative regulation. A licensee may earn six (6) CCUs per credit hour.

• Independent study. Independent study may include reading books, journal articles, reviewing videos, and activities of a similar nature. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for one (1) contact hour spent in an independent study activity. No more than six (6) CCUs from this category shall be counted toward the total.

• Mentorship. Credit may be earned by each participant in a formalized mentorship agreement defined by a signed contract between the mentor and mentee that outlines specific goals and objectives and designates the plan of activities for the participants. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for five (5) contact hours spent in activities directly related to achievement of goals and objectives under a mentorship agreement.

• Fieldwork supervision. Credit may be earned by participation as the primary clinical fieldwork educator for an OT or OTA fieldwork student. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU per forty (40) hours of supervision for each fieldwork student supervised.

• Professional writing. Credit may be earned by the publication of a book, chapter, or article. Documentation for this activity shall consist of full reference for publication including, title, author, editor, and date of publication; or copy of acceptance letter if not yet published.

• Professional presentations and instruction. Credit may be earned by the presentation of academic guest lectures, state or national workshops or conferences, and employer-provided in-service training for OT/Ls or OTA/Ls. A licensee may earn two (2) CCUs for each hour of credit that is awarded for an activity. Documentation for this activity shall include a copy of official program, schedule, or syllabus including presentation title, date, hours of presentation, and type of audience or verification of that signed by the sponsor.

• Research. Credit may be earned for the development of or participation in extensive scholarly research activities or extensive outcome studies. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for one contact hour spent working on a research project. Documentation for this activity shall include verification from the primary investigator indicating the name of research project, dates of participation, major hypotheses or objectives of the project, and licensee’s role in the project.

• Grants. Credit may be earned for the development of a grant proposal. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for one contact hour spent working on a grant proposal. Documentation for this activity shall include name of grant proposal, name of grant source, purpose and objectives of the project, and verification from the grant author regarding licensee’s role in the development of the grant if not the author.

• Professional meetings and activities. Participation in board or committee work with agencies or organizations in professionally related areas to promote and enhance the practice of occupational therapy may be counted toward the requirements of this administrative regulation. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for five (5) contact hours on a committee or board. No more than six (6) CCUs from this category shall be counted toward the total.

• Specialty certifications. The board shall recognize completion of activities that result in an advanced competence credential or specialty certification earned or recertified during the current renewal period. A licensee may earn up to twelve (12) CCUs for each advanced competence recognition or specialty certification credential earned or recertified during a renewal period.

• Continuing competence plan. A licensee may earn two (2) CCUs for completion of activities related to the development and implementation of a continuing competence plan for professional development. Documentation for this activity shall include a signed document by the licensee attesting to the fact that he or she has used a formal assessment process which included the establishment of professional development goals and objectives and a portfolio approach to organize and document continuing competence activities related to the licensee’s plan.

• Volunteer services. Credit may be earned by participation in volunteer services performed for organizations, populations, or individuals if the services maintain or enhance the licensee’s competence in professional skills in the practice of occupational therapy. A licensee may earn one (1) CCU for each five (5) contact hours. Documentation for this activity shall include verification letter from organizations and report of outcomes of services provided. No more than six (6) CCUs from this category shall be counted toward the total.

Approval of Courses for Continuing Education Credit:

A continuing education course shall be current in subject matter and relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. A continuing education course shall qualify for credit under this administrative regulation if it is approved by one of the following methods:

• A recognized national, state, or local occupational therapy association;
• An accredited health care organization or facility; or
• An accredited college or university.

Documentation and Reporting Procedures:

1. A licensee shall maintain the required proof of completion for each continuing competence activity as specified in these administrative regulations.
2. The required documentation shall be retained by the licensee for a minimum of one (1) year following the last day of the license renewal period for which the continuing competence activities were earned.
3. A licensee shall not send his or her continuing competence activity documentation to the board unless audited or otherwise requested by the board.

Audit of Continuing Competence Activities:

1. The board shall perform a random audit of up to ten (10) percent of all licensees who shall be required by the board to furnish documentation of the completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours for the current renewal period.
2. A licensee who is audited shall respond to the audit within sixty (60) days of the date of the request.
3. A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing competence activity requirements of this administrative regulation may be subject to disciplinary action that may include suspension or revocation of license.

Other Provisions:

1. A licensee may not carry over continuing competence activity CCUs from one (1) licensure period to the next.
2. A licensee may not receive credit for completing the same continuing competence activity more than once.