Renewal Information for California Occupational Therapists

California-licensed Occupational Therapist

Click to view online PDU courses

Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants work with people experiencing different medical conditions or disabilities to develop, improve or restore functional daily living skills.

For millions of people, the service of occupational therapy is a lifeline. People of all ages receive it to help them participate in the activities of their daily life. Sometimes people need occupational therapy to do things we take for granted, like getting dressed, being productive at school or work, eating unassisted, even socializing.

Occupational therapists do this by helping people surmount their disabilities or medical conditions to do everyday things. The nature of the therapy depends on the individual and their environment; occupational therapists consider the whole person when developing a therapy plan. Occupational therapists collaborate with physicians and other professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach.

Occupational therapy has its roots, a century ago, in helping war veterans return to life at home. These days, occupational therapists work in rehabilitation hospitals and on the front lines of combat. Some occupational therapy programs help soldiers recognize and relieve stress. In addition, occupational therapy helps soldiers learn to care for themselves after an injury, including helping them use artificial limbs.

Effective January 1, 2006, all California-licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants renewing a license or certificate in active status must certify that they completed the required number professional development units (PDU) through participation in professional development activities.

The Board transitioned from an annual to a biennial renewal. As of January 2009, all renewing practitioners will need to complete 24 PDUs. The PDUs must be earned during the renewal period. Your renewal period begins the day after your license expires and ends on your expiration date. For example, if your license expires on October 31, 2009, your PDUs must have been completed during the period November 1, 2007 – October 31, 2009.

If you have any questions or are unclear as to how many PDUs are need, please contact the Board.

You do not need to submit documentation of your PDUs with your renewal form, however, you are required to maintain documentation for a period of four (4) years following the renewal period. You must submit the evidence of completion if you are audited by the Board. Failure to provide records documenting completion of the continued competency requirements is grounds for citation and fine or disciplinary action.

A list of activities that qualify can be found in the CCR Section 4161.

One half (1/2) of the required number of PDUs must be directly related to the delivery of occupational therapy services. The remaining units can be in other areas related to your practice. The Board does not require that you take courses from approved providers. You are also allowed to take online or home study courses, as long as a course completion certificate is provided.

If you earn more than the required number of PDUs within your renewal period, a maximum of six (6) PDUs may be carried to the next renewal period.

Exemptions from the continued competency requirements can be found in the CCR Section 4163.

Continuing Competency Frequently Asked Questions

http://www.bot.ca.gov/

Q. When do the continuing competency requirements go into effect?

A. January 1, 2006.

Q. What is a Professional Development Unit?

A. Sixty minutes (or one contact hour) of participation in a profession development activity qualifies for one Professional Development Unit PDU.

Q. How many PDUs do I need?

A. You are required to complete 24 PDUs, which may be earned any time during your renewal period.

Q. When is my “renewal period?”

A. Your renewal period starts the day after your license expires and continues until your license expiration date or the date you sign your renewal form.

Q. Do I have to take a Board-approved course?

A. No. The Board does not approve courses for continuing competency. Twelve of the 24 units must be directly related to the delivery of OT services. The remaining units may include, but are not limited to, occupation based theory assessment/interview techniques, intervention strategies, and community/environment as related to your practice. All activities must be objectively measurable in terms of hours involved.

Q. Are continuing education courses the only way I can earn PDUs?

A. No. There are a variety of ways you can earn PDUs. They include involvement in a structured special interest or study group; structured mentoring; supervising the fieldwork of Level II students; publication of an article in a professional publication; publication of a chapter in a textbook; and making a first time presentation at a seminar, workshop or conference. Section 4161(c) of Title 16, California Code of Regulations (CCR) outlines how many units can be earned through these activities.

Q. Can I take courses on the internet?

A. Yes. Internet, DVD and video courses are acceptable as long as you receive a certificate of completion from the provider.

Q. Can I earn PDUs by reading books or articles?

A. You cannot count reading unless it is objectively measurable in terms of the hours involved (Title 16 CCR section 4161(b)(3)). If you read an article in a professional journal and receive credits and a certificate of completion, you may count those units; reading on your own will not be accepted.

Q. Can I carry over units into my next renewal period?

A. If you earn more than the required number of units during your renewal period, you can carry over six of the extra hours into the next renewal period.

Q. Can I use the same units that I use for my NBCOT certification?

A. Yes. If you maintain certification with NBCOT you can use the same units you completed for NBCOT to renew your license as long as those units were earned within your renewal period and meet the requirements outlined in Title 16 CCR, Sections 4161(b) and (c).

Q. Can I use the same units that I earned for my advanced practice certification?

A. Yes

Q. Do I have to send my course completion certificates to the Board?

A. No. You will be required certify that you completed the required number of units on your renewal form and list the activities on the back of the renewal form. You must maintain copies of course completion certificates and documentation of other activities completed for a period of four (4) years following the renewal period. The Board will conduct periodic random audits. Failure to complete continuing competency requirements or provide documentation during an audit can result in your license being placed on inactive status, a citation and fine, or other disciplinary action.

Q. My license is inactive. Do I need to earn PDUs?

A. No. Inactive licenses are exempt from continuing competency requirements. At the time that you decide to reactive your license, you will need to complete the required number of PDUs for a single renewal period.

Q. Do I need to earn PDUs for my advanced practice certification?

A. No. Advanced practice certifications do not require renewal and, therefore, do not have continuing competency requirements.

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.

Renewal Information for Ohio OTs

Are you prepared to renew your Ohio OT license this month? Do you know your CE requirements?
I retrieved the following information from your Board website for your convenience:

  • License Renewal Deadline: June 30, 2011 (please note, OT assistants renew in even years)
  • CE Required: 20 hours
  • Ethics Required: 1 hour each renewal
  • Online Courses Allowed: No limit if AOTA-approved (self-study, must have posttest and certificate of completion)

Still need CE? Visit www.pdresources.org today to save 10% on all your CE needs. Enter code PDRE100 at checkout to redeem.

Looking for additional ways to save on CE? Check out our Spring CE Sale (sale ends 6/30/2011) and our Operation Goodbye Books Closeout list! Remember, you have 3 years to complete courses for credit.

Feel free to call or email if you have any questions. After all, I specialize in CE so you don’t have to!

Your friend in CE,
Gina ([email protected])

Gina Ulery

Gina Ulery, MS, RD, LD/N
Continuing Education Coordinator
Professional Development Resources
904.645.3456 (800.795.9213)
www.pdresources.org

Renewal Information for Missouri OTs

Missouri-Licensed Occupational Therapist

Click on image to view CE courses for OTs

Missouri-licensed Occupational Therapists are required to earn 24 CCCs (hours of continuing education) every 2 years for license renewal on June 30th (odd years). 50% of the 24 required hours must be directly related to delivery of OT services.

All 24 hours may be earned through online coursework offered by an AOTA-approved provider. Certificates of completion must be retained for a minimum of 2 years in case of an audit. The Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy will conduct a random audit after the June 30th renewal.

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 80 online courses are available to meet the CCC needs of Missouri OTs.

Add to FacebookAdd to DiggAdd to Del.icio.usAdd to StumbleuponAdd to RedditAdd to BlinklistAdd to TwitterAdd to TechnoratiAdd to Yahoo BuzzAdd to Newsvine

Renewal Information for North Carolina OTs

Renewal Information for North Carolina OTs

Click on image to view SALE CE courses approved for North Carolina OTs

North Carolina-licensed Occupational Therapists (OTs), are required to earn 15 points (hours) of continuing education each year for license renewal on June 30th. 1 hour on OT Ethics is required every other year (due odd years). All 15 hours are allowed from online/home study courses that are offered by an AOTA-approved provider and require a posttest.

Continuing competence activities must be complete by May 31 of the renewal year. Continuing competence activities must be related to roles and responsibilities in occupational therapy and must serve to protect the public by enhancing the licensee’s continuing competence.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants applying for license renewal shall document having earned a minimum of 15 points for approved continuing competence activities.

For more information, please see Section .0800 of the Rules of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. Information on Continuing Competence is also contained in the PowerPoint Presentation, presented at the 2010 North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association‘s Fall Conference.

Click here to download the activity record card from the NC Board of OT website.

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA-Approved Provider (#3159) of continuing education for OTs. Over 100 course topics are available, including Ethics for Occupational Therapists. Successful completion of a posttest is required to earn a certificate of completion.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Add to FacebookAdd to DiggAdd to Del.icio.usAdd to StumbleuponAdd to RedditAdd to BlinklistAdd to TwitterAdd to TechnoratiAdd to Yahoo BuzzAdd to Newsvine

Florida Occupational Therapists – License Renewal Reminder

Florida OT License Renewal Deadline: February 28, 2011

  • 26 hours of continuing education (CE) are required to renew license

Please visit the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy website for more information regarding licensure renewal.

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. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34) and is CE Broker compliant.

 

Florida OT License Renewal

Florida Board of Occupational Therapy

View the Board Website or Email the Board
Phone: 850-488-0595
CE Required: 26 hours every 2 years, of which:
2 hrs Preventing Medical Errors is required each renewal,
2 hrs Florida Occupational Therapy Laws & Rules is required each renewal,
1 hr HIV/AIDS is required for the first renewal only
Home Study Allowed: 12 hours
License Expiration: 2/28, odd years
National Accreditation Accepted: AOTA
Date of Info: 12/15/2010

Renewal Information from the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy:

Renewing online is as simple as going to www.FLHealthsource.com, clicking on the “Renew My License” button on the homepage, and following the instructions. The system will allow licensees not knowing their User ID and Password to log in after answering several specific validation questions.

By renewing and submitting the appropriate renewal fees, you are acknowledging compliance with all requirements for renewal have all been completed, including continuing education requirements. You are responsible for retaining proof of all earned continuing education hours for a period of four (4) years. All licensees renewing active licenses are subject to audit and may be asked to show proof of appropriate continuing education.

If you have any problems using online renewal or other questions about your renewal, please contact the Division’s customer contact center at 850-488-0595 and choose option 3.

Please note when you complete your licensure renewal you are confirming all renewal requirements are complete, including 26 hours of continuing education have been completed as required by Rule.

Current License Holder Renewal Information

  • $60 renewal fee ($55 renewal fee = $5 unlicensed activity fee)
  • 26 hours continuing education per each biennium

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. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34) and is CE Broker compliant.

Twelve (12) hours of home study per biennium are allowed. Home study education is independent study and requires a certificate of completion. Home study education does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or online instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forthwith the instructor during the presentation of the program.