In order to practice Occupational Therapy in Texas, you must periodically renew your Texas Occupational Therapy license. The requirements for license renewal, including any mandatory continuing education, vary from state to state. This guide will help you understand what the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners requires for OT/OTA license renewal.
Texas OT License Renewal Requirements
The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners determines the license renewal requirements for OTs in the state of Texas. Like many other states, Texas requires a certain number of “Continuing Education Units” or CEUs as part of a biennial license renewal. These units are often measured in “contact hours,” whereby the CEU value reflects the number of contact hours the activity required.
The CEU Requirements for a renewing a Texas OT license are as follows:
- 24 contact hours biennially
- One course must be on Human Trafficking Prevention (maximum 2 hours)
- No limit to online or home study coursework
- Proof is required only under audit
In addition to these Continuing Education requirements, Texas licensees need to do the following:
- Achieve a passing score on the Jurisprudence examination
- Be fingerprinted (a one-time requirement that began in 2019)
These license renewal requirements are the same for OTs and OTAs alike.
How do I complete my Texas CEU requirements?
There are many ways to fulfill your 24 contact hours. You could attend a class, webinar, or workshop, so long as the course qualifies as a CEU and you receive a certificate of completion.
These courses may cover a wide range of topics, from ethics to patient care to taxes and state law. You don’t need to worry about taking a particular set of courses, so long as each course meets the criteria specified in the OT Rules.
An academic or professional activity may also qualify as continuing education, such as attending a board meeting, editing a book, or participating in research. If you supervise OT students or volunteer on an OT committee, you might be able to earn up to 10 contact hours each renewal period.
For more details on Texas CEU options, check out the Texas Board OT Rules.
What kind of CEU Providers can I use?
Most OTs and OTAs complete their competency requirements through coursework. But you’ll want to make sure the coursework comes from a legitimate source.
The Texas Board of OT Examiners pre-approves any CEUs from the following providers: American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA). Any provider on this list is already approved by the AOTA and is fair game.
If you choose a provider besides these pre-approved organizations, then it’s your responsibility to ensure they meet the CE requirements outlined in chapter 367 of the Texas OT Rules.
Can I complete Texas OT CEUs online?
Nowadays continuing education occurs in all kinds of formats, whether as weekend workshops or virtual webinars. Texas’s Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners set no stipulations on course format and no limit to home study. That means you could complete all of your Texas CEUs online, through streaming video courses, internet workshops, and live webinars.
Best Texas OT CEU Provider: MedBridge
MedBridge is a leading provider of OT CEUs for a number of reasons, one being the wide variety of course topics and formats available with each yearly subscription. Their impressive library of 1300 courses is available to browse – even before signing up!
As a Physical Therapist, I use MedBridge to satisfy my state’s CEU requirements each license renewal period. I must say, the quality of these CEUs is top-notch. You’ll learn from some of the best in the field, through professional video presentations and a user-friendly format.
With MedBridge, you can fulfill all your CEU course requirements from one provider at an affordable price. Plus, you’ll enjoy the variety of courses available and the convenience of online learning.
For my full review on MedBridge Online CEUs, check out this article.
If you want to give MedBridge a try for your next renewal year, you can save $150 on your subscription with the promo code “PTProgress.”
Do I need to submit proof of my completed CEUs?
Every approved CEU provider, including MedBridge, issues a certificate of completion when you finish a CEU course or activity. The Texas Board of OT Examiners does not require this document or any other proof of your CEU completion with your license renewal.
Instead, you will simply report the CEU information on your application and retain the records for a few years after your license renewal period is complete. Be sure to store these documents safely in case you are selected by the board for a continuing competency audit.
How do I complete the other license requirements?
As part of your 24 CEU requirement, you must complete a course in Human Trafficking Prevention each time you renew your license. The Board will credit up to 2 contact hours of this course towards your overall CEU count.
But unlike your other CEU courses, this course must come from a short list of providers approved by Texas Health & Human Services (HHS). Each year, the HHS approves at least one free course, so this requirement needn’t cost you anything in addition to what you paid for the rest of your CEUs.
The jurisprudence exam is a 20-minute, open-book test that you’ll take online. It covers information about the Texas OT Practice Act and OT Rules from the Texas Board of OT Examiners. All you have to do is log into the portal, answer the multiple-choice and true/false questions, and get at least a 70% grade on the test.
Finally, the fingerprinting requirement will only apply to OTs renewing for the first time since 2019. Once it’s done, you won’t need to be fingerprinted again for an OT license renewal. The reason why this is required is so that the Board can access your criminal history from the Department of Public Safety and the FBI. But don’t let that intimidate you; the process is actually pretty simple, and you can read all about it here.
When does a Texas OT license expire?
Your OT license is valid for two years, but will expire biennially on the last day of your birth month.
How do I renew my OT license?
You may apply for your license renewal online through this portal.
How much is the renewal fee for a Texas OT license?
OTs pay $248 to renew their licenses each period; OTAs pay $184. If you need to be fingerprinted, plan to pay an additional $38.25 fee at your appointment.
Texas OT License Renewal Requirements
For more information on renewing your OT license in Texas, contact the Texas Executive Council of PT & OT Examiners.
