Professional Education

Professional Education

• Occupational therapists are required to participate in continuing education as a part of their license renewal process.
• Continuing education can be in the form of meetings, conferences, lectures, workshops, seminars, and symposia.
• The number of hours required varies from state to state.
• In Florida, occupational therapists are required to complete 26 hours of continuing education every two years. They also must complete a two hour prevention of medical errors course, a two hours laws and rules course, and a one hours HIV/AIDS education course (Florida Department of Health, 2010).

Credentialing

·         Allows the public to know that the occupational therapist has at least the minimal standards to provide competent services.

·         State licensure is an example of credentialing.

·         The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is a private credentialing organization that allows the therapist to use the initials OTR (registered occupational therapist).