Frequently Asked Questions

If you are renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the second half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2024) you are only required to complete

3 hours of continuing education to include:

• 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and
• 1 hour of a HIV/AIDS education course.

If you are renewing a license for the first time, and were licensed in the first half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2023 through to 02/28/2024 you are required to complete 26 hours of continuing education, to include:

• 1 hour HIV/AIDS education course (for first time renewal only),
• 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and
• 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Florida OT Laws and Rules.

If you are renewing as a subsequent renewal (repeatrenewal), you are required to complete 26 hours of continuing education, to include:

• 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and
• 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Florida OT Laws and Rules.
• Including 14 “live” hours See Rule 64B11-5.001(3)and
• no more than 12 Home Study hours. See Rule 64B11-5.001(4)

Note CE: Broker identifies Home Study hours as “Anytime hours”. See Rule 64B11-5.001.

Online courses may be “Live” or Home Study.  “Live” courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host. A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours are required, however, all 26 CE hours may be completed as “live” online hours when meeting the interactive in real-time definition. See Rule 64B11-5.001(3), F.A.C.

Home Study education defined by Board Rule does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or on-line instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forth with the instructor during the presentation of the program. Home Study education is independent study and requires a certificate of completion. No more than 12 hours of home study courses are allowed.  NOTE: Home Study hours are not required, only “limited” to 12 hours. See Rule 64B11-5.001(4).

A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours are required, if you take 12 hours of Home Study CE. NOTE: Home Study hours are not required, only “limited” to 12 hours. You are allowed to take all 26 CE hours as “live” hours, if you wish, or as online live interactive courses (in real-time). Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host. Rule 64B11-5.001(3), F.A.C.

To find Board approved providers offering such courses, you may search in CE Broker at: www.CEBroker.com.  Select “Live Courses”, and one of the following categories listed: “Broadcasted Interactive Event” or “Web Based Program”, etc.

The OT Board does not offer hardship extensions or exemptions. You are required to complete all of your profession’s renewal requirements, including CE’s, in order to renew. NOTE: Continuing education requirements may be completed by Florida OT Board approved providers, AOTA or FOTA providers, or any courses that are “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. Additionally, all CE may be completed online, if all your CE’s are interactive online (real time) courses. You may search in CE Broker at www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: Broadcasted Interactive Event or Web Based Program. See the FAQ’s at this link for further information: https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/continuing-education-faqs/

1. Visit the Board Website at this link at the bottom of the page: https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/licensing/ and click on Board Approved Continuing Education Provider to view the Instructions for Requirements and the link to Apply Online. The link will take you to: www.cebroker.com.
2. Select Organizations and then Providers in the drop-down list.
3. Next, select Florida Department of Health in the drop-down list on the Provider Suite page.
4. Select the button titled Apply to Provide CE.
5. Next, select Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice from the drop-down selections.
6. On the bottom-left of the screen, the applicant will click on View Application Requirements, which will provide the list of items to be submitted with the application.
7. Next, to begin the application process, select the button titled Apply to Become a CE Provider.
8. The next screen will start the application process by allowing for establishment of a login, or, if already approved for another Board, may enter previously established login. (NOTE: Deficiencies, course approvals, etc., will only be sent by email to the contact person listed in the application.
9. From there, the system will provide prompts on completing the application, paying the $250 application fee and submitting the application.
10. For additional questions or assistance when submitting your application, contact CE Broker at: 1-877-434-6323, by LIVE Chat on their site or by email at: support@cebroker.com

You may claim credit for any courses that are “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. See continuing education Rule 64B11-6.001 (b) “Shall be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in Section 468.203(4), Florida Statutes, must be offered for the purpose of keeping the licensee apprised of advancements and new development in occupational therapy, and shall be designed to enhance learning and skills consistent with contemporary standards for occupational therapy practice.”

Continuing Education is for the purpose of enhancing knowledge and skills as an OT or OTA (therapist or therapy assistant), and not necessarily as a “healthcare provider or employee”. Although a course may have “job relevance” does not always qualify it to be “occupational therapy practice relevant”. If you are in doubt, it may be best to take a course you are certain is occupational therapy relevant.

– Renew Clear/Active. Complete and confirm 26 continuing education hours in CE Broker (www.CEBroker.com) and submit a $60 renewal fee. Note: Continuing education hours must include 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved Laws and Rules course, 2 hours Florida OT Board approved Medical Errors course, and a minimum of 14 “live” interactive hours (in real-time). Hours may be completed with interactive online courses. Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host during the completion of the program or course. Visit: www.flhealthsource.gov or go directly to the Licensee Online Services Portal:  https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal to complete this transaction online and receive licensure renewal confirmation.

– Renew Clear/Inactive. To Renew your license into the same Inactive status, you may submit a $60 renewal fee online and selecting Clear/ Inactive status. NOTE: This status will “hold” a license for later reactivation, however, is not intended for a long-term status. Because you choose not to work in Florida, does not mean your license must be in an Inactive status. This is not the purpose for this status. Continuing education requirements and renewal fees continue to accrue for the biennial period you renewed Inactive and for each licensure biennial period in which the license remains in an Inactive status. Visit: www.flhealthsource.gov or go directly to the Licensee Online Services Portal:  https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal to complete this transaction online and receive licensure renewal confirmation.

– Reactivate from the Inactive status, to a Clear/Active status.  This transaction cannot be completed online.  Requirements are 1) Submit the Reactivation Application form (download from the Board’s website, “Resources” tab or send a request to the Board office at: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov), 2) submit online in CE Broker, the required 26 hours of continuing education for the renewal biennium you changed your status to Inactive and 26 hours for each licensure biennium, in which the license remained in an Inactive status. 3) a $100 reactivation fee, along with any delinquent renewal fees, and if you choose to reactivate outside of a renewal window, an additional $50 change of status fee is required.  These fees and changes must be completed by mail. See Rule 64B11-5.006 Inactive and Delinquent Status Fees.

– Renew Retired. This transaction cannot be completed online. Submit a written request to change license to Retired status by mail and submit a $50 fee.

–  Reactivate a Retired license. You may Reactivate a Retired license by mail (transaction cannot be completed online) by submitting the Reactivation Application form (download from the Board’s website, “Resources” tab or send a request to the Board office at: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov,  You must submit a written request to convert your retired license to an active status. To reactivate the license you must pay the same amount as the renewal fee $60 for an active status licensee for each biennial licensure period in which the licensee was in retired status. You must also submit proof of completing 26 hours of CE, in CE Broker (www.CEBroker.com) including the statutory mandated courses (2 hours laws and rules and 2 hours medical errors) for each biennium the license was in a retired status.  This is not a status valid to work in Florida. It is unlawful to practice your profession in Florida on a Retired status license. You may email the Board office for your specific requirements at: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov See 64B11-5.0041 Retired Status and Reactivation of Retired Status License; Fees.

– Not Renew or change licensure status. You may choose to not do anything at this time, and your license will go into a Delinquent Status after the renewal deadline. (NOTE: this is not a derogatory status, only indicates your license has not been renewed). This is not a status valid to work in Florida. It is unlawful to practice your profession in Florida with a delinquent license status. To renew a delinquent license, you will be required to complete the CE requirements in CE Broker and submit a $55 delinquent fee, along with the past renewal fee $60 ($115), if submitted prior to the next renewal deadline. After a second non-renewed biennium period, the license will go into a Null and Void status. A Null and Void license cannot be renewed or reactivated. Should you ever desire to work in Florida you would be required to re-apply for licensure and meet the current licensure eligibility requirements.

– Voluntarily Relinquish. You may choose to send a written request to voluntarily relinquish your license to the Board email address at: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov stating your request is not due to any disciplinary reasons. Should you ever desire to work in Florida you would be required to re-apply for licensure and meet the current licensure eligibility requirements.

No. A temporary permit shall not be issued to an applicant for licensure who has previously failed the national board examination and has not subsequently passed the examination. (www.nbcot.org)

If you were issued a Temporary Permit and received unsuccessful exam scores, you must STOP working immediately, notify your employer and the Board, as the Temporary Permit is invalid upon knowledge of your unsuccessful score. Please review the language in your temporary permit letter. An applicant can have only one temporary permit and it cannot be extended. The temporary permit will be revoked by the Board upon receipt of your score.

Applicants with an Exam application on file having taken the exam 3 times without success must complete additional education as prescribed by the Board, pursuant to 468.211(6), F.S. The Florida OT Board recommends that one takes advantage of the following tools from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy in preparing to re-take the examination, as their “prescribed additional education” for those who have failed the exam three times:

Available at: https://www.nbcot.org/get-certified

• NBCOT Entry-Level Self-Assessment Tools
  NBCOT Aspire study tools allows you to identify your readiness for the exam and identify areas where more study might be helpful. Available on the NBCOT website at: https://www.nbcot.org/study-tools
• Review of Examination Content
  Provides a breakdown of the 3 major areas to be covered on the exam and provides the percentage of each domain to assist in determining which areas on which to place the most focus in preparing for the exam. Available at:  https://www.nbcot.org/exam-info
• Study Guides, Practice Tests, Mini Tests, Flashcards, Study Plans, etc.,
  are available to order on the NBCOT website. The NBCOT Exam Study pack is available 24 hours a day. Available on the NBCOT website https://www.nbcot.org/Products/studypack

Yes, a licensee who is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States is exempt from all licensure renewal provisions for any period of time in which the licensee is absent from the State of Florida due to the spouse’s duties with the Armed Forces. The licensee must document the absence and submit copies of the spouse’s military orders/status to the Board, per Board Rule 64B11-5.0065, F.A.C.

• Must submit a request to be placed in Military/ Active status with official military orders. If orders do not include spouse in written content, a marriage certificate must also be submitted with the request.

Although the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice does not specify that OT’s or OTA’s must obtain a certain “set” of modality certifications; appropriate training/certification should be sought for the modalities that an OT or OTA intends to use in practice. The Board’s regulations specifically address the type of training required for an OT or OTA to use (1) Electrical Stimulation, (2) Ultrasound Devices or (3) Neurofeedback Device in practice. Those requirements are found in Rule 64B11-4.001, F.A.C., Use of Prescription Devices.

It is important to note that many courses may be Board approved courses for “continuing education credit” purposes, and given by approved providers found in the course search features in www.CEBroker.com.  However, for purpose of fulfilling the “modalities certification” requirements, paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(c) and (3)(c) of this Rule indicate that online courses are NOT approved for either didactic or performance training for these specific modalities.