Frequently Asked Questions

Licensees may take all 26 continuing education hours as “live” interactive (in real time) courses online, as opposed to physically attending live courses.  To find providers offering interactive courses you may go to CE Broker www.CEBroker.com and search for “live” courses.   Such courses may be listed on providers’ sites as live, interactive, broadcasted interactive event, web-based in real-time program, etc.  Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host in real time.  See Rule 64B11-5.001(3), F.A.C.  Of the 26 required hours, licensees are limited to taking only 12 hours of home study hours which leaves 14 required “live” hours, however, this does not mean home study hours must be taken. The mandatory hours are for OT Board approved 2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors, 2 hours as Laws and Rules and 1 hour of HIV/Aids course for first renewal. The mandatory courses are most often found as home study courses. However, again, all 26 continuing education hours may be acquired as “live” interactive (in real time) courses online.

The Prescription Devices identified in the Florida Practice Act are: (1) Electrical Stimulation Device,  (2) Ultrasound Device and (3) Neurofeedback Device.

For purposes of this rule, a “neurofeedback device” is any device that provides immediate feedback from a computer-based program that measures brainwave activity with the use of sound, visual and/or tactile input to cue the brain to reorganize and retrain itself.

Rule 64B11-4.001 Use of Prescription Devices in paragraph (3) explains the training required for students, postgraduates, and licensees to qualify for the use of an electrical stimulation or an ultrasonic stimulation devices must include didactic training of at least sixteen (16) hours and performance of at least five (5) treatments under supervision. The required training may be obtained through educational programs, workshops, or seminars offered at a college or university approved for training of occupational therapists by the American Occupational Therapy Association or of physical therapists by the American Physical Therapy Association or at clinical facilities affiliated with such accredited colleges or universities or educational programs offered through the American Society of Hand Therapists or Florida Occupational Therapy Association. Online courses are not approved for the didactic or performance training.

Supervised treatment sessions to be conducted under the personal supervision of licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants who have completed sixteen (16) hours of coursework in the use of neurofeedback devices and five (5) supervised treatments, licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who have completed sixteen(16) hours of coursework in the use of neurofeedback devices and five (5) supervised treatments, medical doctors trained in the use of neurofeedback devices, psychologists trained in the use of neurofeedback devices, or other licensed healthcare professionals trained in the use of neurofeedback devices. Treatment supervisors must have a minimum of 24 months prior experience in the use of neurofeedback devices. Personal supervision means that the supervisor is in the room with the trainees and actively provides guidance and supervision of the performance treatments.

The Board has not made any changes regarding CE requirements at this time, as licensees may currently take all 26 continuing education hours as “live” interactive (in real time) courses online, as opposed to physically attending live courses.  To find providers offering interactive courses you may go to CE Broker and search for “live” courses.  Such courses may be listed on providers’ sites as live, interactive, broadcasted interactive event, web-based in real-time program, etc.  Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host in real time.  See Rule 64B11-5.001(3), F.A.C.

You may send in a written request to Voluntarily Relinquish your license to the Board email address at: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov or by mail, stating your request is not due to any disciplinary reasons. Be sure to include your name as listed on your license, license number, date of birth, or last for digits of social security number for security confirmation. Should you wish to work again in Florida you would need to re-apply for licensure.

No. You may not begin accruing required CE hours for renewal of a FL license, until after your FL license has been issued. Additionally, the CE Broker system only credits courses taken between the licensure biennium dates, beginning with 03/01/of each odd year – 02/28/of each odd year). When you renew prior to the deadline renewal date, wait until after the deadline date, beginning on and after March 1st to begin taking CE for the next/current renewal period.

For assistance with managing your CE transcript, CE status, self-submitting courses, etc. Contact CE Broker at: 1-877-434-6323 (M-F, 8-6pm) www.CEBroker.com

Any questions about billing or insurance coverage is not included in the Board’s Practice Act, falls outside of our department and should be directed to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) or Office of Insurance Regulation.

• Information related to Medicaid may be found on AHCA’s website at https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid
• Rules applicable to billing, reimbursement, and Medicaid may be found on AHCA’s website at https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/rules

Yes, you may apply for a temporary permit.  The temporary permit is granted as a courtesy of the Board to eligible applicants for licensure that are scheduled to take the exam for the first time, is only a one-time opportunity, and is immediately invalid upon receipt of unsuccessful examination results.

It is the Board’s strong encouragement that new graduates focus first on successfully completing the exam and apply by the Endorsement method. Temporary permits are not renewable, cannot be re-issued, so often, employers are left with the absence of a therapist or assistant, and applicants without employment, when unsuccessful exam results are received.

Our online applications are for licensure by Endorsement or Exam with Waiver and applications are streamlined; reviewed daily with licensing completed the same day to an average of 3 days.

To apply for a temporary permit you must download a paper application found on the Board’s website under the Resources Tab (https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/resources/) and select the Examination method. You may request a temporary permit on page 11 of the application.

NOTE: the application is for the issuance of a permanent license with a temporary permit opportunity. Issuance of a temporary permit is a courtesy of the Board and may be granted if eligible, and requirements and time deadlines are met.

Before a Temporary Permit may be issued you must submit:

1. A completed paper application with $180 application/licensure fee. (https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/resources/) Must be mailed.
2. Proof of scheduled Exam Date. This is not the NBCOT Authorization or eligibility to Test (ATT) letter. This letter/email must be from the exam vendor. Please note any previously submitted documents prior to the submission of an application, must be re-submitted with the application.
3. Proof of NBCOT Exam results requested to be sent to Florida (a score transfer). An email confirmation receipt is sufficient.
4. Employer and supervisor information. (Employer name, address, phone, Supervisor name, license number, email, and phone)
5. Application must be received and completed at least two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. We do not issue temporary permits for two weeks or less.

Again, it is the Board’s strong encouragement that one successfully completes the examination first, and then seek permanent licensure in the state, applying by Endorsement. The online application will advise you of requirements once you create a login account and begin completing the application. You MUST submit the $180 fee, a completed application, (leave no blanks) including your social security number. Applications without a fee are not processed.  Applications received without a social security number are deficient.

Your email address is initially used to create your user account to facilitate prompter correspondence when processing your licensure, for deficiencies, confirmation when your license is issued, and your renewal contact information.

Providing your email address is optional, however, it is strongly encouraged. Emails may be important to you as a licensee for historical records and documentation.

You may send an email to the Board’s email address: mqa.occupationaltherapy@flhealth.gov to request it be added to your records, or you may login to your account at MQA’s Online Services Licensee Resource page at: www.flhealthsource.gov and add it under Change my address.

Failure to renew by the expiration date will cause a license to become delinquent. To renew a delinquent license, you must complete the required continuing education hours online in CE Broker at www.cebroker.com and submit the renewal fee of $60, plus a delinquency fee of $55, totaling $115 and complete your renewal online at: www.flhealthsource.gov It is unlawful to practice your profession in Florida on a delinquent license.

Yes, according to the Board CE Rule you may claim the following:

(11) Fieldwork or Doctoral Capstone Experience – A licensee may earn up to twelve (12) continuing education hours per biennium for supervision of Level II Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant fieldwork students, or entry level doctoral capstone students, at the rate of no more than six (6) hours per student. Continuing education credit may be earned at 0.5 continuing education hours per week of student supervision.  To be eligible for the credit, the licensee must participate as the fieldwork supervisor or site mentor for the student for at least one full week.  No more that two (2) licensees may supervise a student for continuing education hours for each of the experiences. Documentation shall include verification provided by the school to the fieldwork supervisor or site mentor with the name of the student, school, and dates of fieldwork or doctoral capstone experience or the signature page of the completed student evaluation form. Evaluation scores and comments shall be deleted or blocked out. The doctoral capstone is an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development.