Continuing Competency
Effective January 1, 2006, all 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.