Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.

IF you were licensed in the first half of the biennium (Visit the Renewals, CE TAB for specific dates information at this link: https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/renewals/#tab-ce)

OR

This is a second or subsequent renewal, you are required to complete and confirm in CE Broker, 26 contact hours of approved continuing education to renew. The 26 hours must include:
• Two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors education required by section 456.013(7), Florida Statutes, given by an FL OT board approved provider
• Two (2) hours of a Laws and Rules education course as required in Rule Chapter 64B11-5.001, Florida Administrative Code, given by an FL OT board approved provider
• A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours.

NOTE: A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours are required if you take 12 hours of Home Study CE. Home Study hours are not required, only “limited” to 12 hours. You can 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.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST RENEWAL and you were licensed in the second half of the biennium you are exempt the 26 hours requirement and must only complete three (3) contact hours of approved continuing education as stated: (Visit the Renewals, CE TAB for specific dates information at this link: https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/renewals/#tab-ce)

• Two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors education required by section 456.013(7), Florida Statutes, given by an FL OT board approved provider, and
• One (1) hour of HIV/AIDS education as required by section 456.033, Florida Statutes.

Yes. Board Rule 64B11-6.001 (4)(b), Florida Administrative Code, states courses sponsored by an approved accredited (American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) www.aota.org) college or university when providing a program/curriculum for occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants shall be awarded 10 hours of continuing education credit per semester hour and shall be verified by official transcripts.

The Board’s measurement for Continuing Education hours is by contact hours. One (1) contact hour  equals a minimum of fifty (50) minutes.  One half (1/2 or .5) contact hours equals a minimum of twenty-five (25) minutes.

Two hours for renewal. Course must be given by a Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice approved provider. Even though you may have been required to complete a 2 hour course in prevention of medical errors for initial licensure purposes (prior to July 1, 2016), you must complete an additional 2 hours of prevention of medical errors for each renewal. Course must include: A study of root-cause analysis; Error reduction and prevention; Patient safety; and Contraindications and indications specific to occupational therapy management including medication and side effects.

You as a licensed professional can make the determination if a course is acceptable for OT continuing education. Subsection (5) of rule 64B11-6.001, Florida Administrative Code, states that courses and programs not approved shall be approved as appropriate continuing education if said course or program meets the criteria as specified in rule 64B11-6.001. The course shall be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy and 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. The Board of Occupational Therapy Practice and the staff do not approve individual courses.

You may go to CE Broker to search for Board approved CE Providers at www.CEBroker.com

Yes, if all your CE’s are interactive online courses. To find Board approved providers offering such 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”. Interactive courses must be in “real time” and allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host.

A PDU is a Professional Development Unit. Most often, it is equal to one contact hour. One AOTA CEU is equal to ten contact hours, or ten PDUs. For more clarification on the conversion from contact hours to PDUs when it is not an AOTA CEU course, please go to www.nbcot.org, click on "Certificants" in the left-hand menu, then on "Renewal Guidelines Handbook" in the left-hand menu. The handbook should give you all the information you need for NBCOT’s requirements and how to convert hours.

Yes. Any hours not reported by a provider, for which a licensee has proof of attendance, can be easily self-reported.

First, verify whether the course provider is a Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice approved provider by visiting the CE Providers Search option for approved providers on CE Broker, at: www.CEBroker.com. If they are a Board approved provider their courses are acceptable for continuing education credit.  Secondly, verify whether they are an approved CE Provider for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or a Florida Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) provider, which by Board Rule would also be acceptable continuing education.

If the provider does not have specific approval by the Board, AOTA or FOTA, you would need to consider whether the certification you are seeking meets the Board’s CE acceptance criteria for other courses relevant to the practice as defined in Board Rule 64B11-6.001, Florida Administrative Code.  Please compare the information from the course you are considering to the outlined criteria in this rule to determine whether it meets the stated requirements.  If you determine it is relevant to the practice of occupational therapy and to take the course, you will need to self-report the course to your personal CEBroker account according to the instructions below.  You are not required to have a paid account to self-report in Ce Broker.  You would need to login to your CEBroker dashboard, where you will see the option to self-report CE.  You would report under the category “Course/Program Relevant To The Practice Of Occupational Therapy”.

How to Self-Report non-Board approved, relevant to the practice of occupational therapy practice continuing education hours. ↓

Questions

1. 1. 1. What is the name of the continuing education provider?
         A:/ Short Answer
      2. What is the name of the course as indicated on your course completion certificate?
         A:/ Short Answer
      3. Was the course presented by an instructor possessing education and/or experience relevant to the subject matter of the course?
         A:/ Short Answer
      4. Please indicate, from the selections below, how this course was most relevant to the practice of occupational therapy as defined by Florida law?
         A:/ Multiple Choice:
         1. Most relevant to achieving functional outcomes by maximizing the independence and maintenance of an individual limited by a physical injury or illness.
         2. Most relevant to achieving functional outcomes by maximizing the independence and maintenance of an individual limited by a cognitive impairment, a psychosocial dysfunction, a mental illness, a developmental or a learning disability, or an adverse environmental condition.
         3. Most relevant to occupational therapy skills related to the observation or the administration and interpretation of standardized or non-standardized tests and measurements to identify areas for occupational therapy services.
         4. Most relevant to occupational therapy services involving treatment, education, consultation or interventions directed toward developing daily living skills, work readiness or work performance, play skills or leisure capacities, or enhancing educational performance skills.
         5. Most relevant to occupational therapy services providing for the development of sensory-motor, perceptual, or neuromuscular functioning; range of motion; or emotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance.

   Attachments: If submitting documentation, be prepared to attach your certificate of completion.

   Attestation: I hereby certify that the answers on this application are true and correct.

   Pursuant to Section 456.072(1), F.S., making misleading or fraudulent representations shall constitute grounds for which disciplinary actions specified in Section 456.072(2)(3), F.S., may be taken.

There are two exemptions allowed for continuing education requirements. One is for the person licensed in the second half of the biennium. They are exempt from continuing education requirements for that biennium, except for the 2 hours prevention of medical errors course and the 1 hour HIV/AIDS education until the beginning of the next renewal, at which time they must begin collecting their continuing education requirements for the next renewal. See 64B11-5.001, F.A.C. for further information. Two, 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. See 64B11-5.0065, F.A.C..

No. Always keep proof of continuing education requirements in a personal file. If you take a course not given by a Florida OT Board approved CE provider, you may self-submit your hours and a copy of certificate in CE Broker. If you take a course by a Florida OT Board approved CE provider, the provider is required to report your CE course completion credits to CE Broker within 90 days of course completion. If at that time you do not see credits posted to your records, please contact the CE provider.