Continuing Education

Requirements | Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements

Licensed occupational therapists and assistants must complete and maintain proof of 24 hours of continuing education (CE) or continuing competency every two years to maintain their license. Review WAC 246-847-065 to ensure compliance with CE regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the board pre-approve continuing competency courses?

No. The board does not pre-approve continuing competency courses for presenters or licensees. The 30 contact hours may be obtained through two or more of the following methods, which have specified goals and objectives relating to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in RCW 18.59.020 and WAC 246-847-010; in services, coursework, conferences, workshops, peer-reviewed self-study, presentations or publications.

May I get an extension of time to complete my continuing competency?

Extensions may be granted for emergency situations only. It is not advisable to wait until the continuing education (CE) is due to request the extension. If you have exhausted all possibilities for fulfilling your continuing competency requirements and are contemplating requesting an extension, keep in mind that:

  • Requests could take six weeks or longer. If your license is set to expire before your request can be considered, you can't practice without an active license.
  • The average extension of time granted by the board is six months.
  • If your request is denied, you will still have to complete the 30 hours of continuing competency prior to your expiration date or before your license can be renewed.
  • If an extension is granted, you must complete all past due requirements in addition to the 30 hours of continuing competency required for the next reporting period.
  • The board grants extensions of time to complete continuing competency requirements only for extenuating circumstances. Each request is determined on a case-by-case basis.
What happens if I'm audited?

The board audits a percentage of all currently licensed occupational therapy practitioners to ensure compliance with the continuing competency requirements. 

If audited, you'll be required to provide:

  • Certificates of completion.
  • Course sponsors.
  • Dates of attendance.
  • Contact hours earned.
  • Two-page synopsis for all cassette tape, video tape and book reviews.
  • Course description/syllabus and exam scores for correspondence courses.