|
Q. When does my license expire?
A. The licenses expire on February 28, 2009.
Q. How long is my license valid?
A. Regardless of when the license is initially granted during the biennium, it will expire on the expiration date of that biennium. It may be that the license is only valid for a few months depending upon when the licensure takes place.
Q. What is a licensure biennium?
A. A licensure biennium is the twenty-four month period between expiration dates. All occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy continuing education provider licenses expire on February 28 of every odd year. (2007, 2009, 2011…) It is during this time period that the continuing education requirements must be met for each renewal cycle.
Q. What is a renewal cycle?
A. The renewal cycle starts 120 days prior to the expiration date of a
license and ends on the expiration date. It is during this time that you
receive your renewal notice and when licensees begin sending in their
renewal notices and fees to renew the license for the next biennium. It
is your responsibility to notify the department of a change of address.
Q. How long will it take to process my renewal, especially if I wait to
renew until the last minute?
A. It takes approximately 4-6 weeks to process a renewal. If you wait
until the end of the renewal cycle to mail your renewal notice and fee,
you will not be current on the licensure computer system until the
renewal is processed. There may be a period of time that your license
will be in delinquent status. Your place of employment may not allow you
to work during this interim period; consequently, it is recommended that
you mail your renewal in no later than 30 days from the expiration date.
(Note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.)
Q. How do I renew if I do not receive a renewal notice?
A. Renewal notices are mailed approximately 120 days prior to the
expiration date. It is the responsibility of the licensee to make sure
he or she renews on time. If you do not get a notice, chances are that
your address is not current on the licensure computer system. These
changes can be requested online at our website, fax, mailing a request,
or by email. MQA On-line Services account ID and passwords can be found
directly on the renewal notice. If you do not receive a renewal notice,
the Department can provide you with you account ID and password over the
telephone or by email. To receive an account ID and password over the
telephone, you should contact the Department at (850) 488-0595 and press
menu option 3 and someone will assist you with this information. To
receive an account ID and password by email, you can email your request
to LicensureServices@doh.state.fl.us. Blank renewal forms are published
on the website and may be found through the Current Licensee portion.
There is no grace period after your expiration date.
Q. What happens if I do not renew on time?
A. Failure to renew by the expiration date will cause the license to
become delinquent. It is unlawful to practice your profession in Florida
on a delinquent license. To renew a delinquent license, you must submit
the renewal fee plus the delinquency fee. In addition, you must make the
following statement along with your check: “I affirm compliance with all
renewal requirements including continuing education requirements.”
Q. What happens if I do not renew my delinquent license by the end of
the second biennium?
A. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active or inactive before
the expiration date of the current licensure cycle renders the license
null and void without any further action by the board or the department.
Any subsequent licensure shall be as a result of applying for and
meeting all requirements for initial licensure.
Q. Can I place my license in the inactive category and be exempt from
the continuing education requirements?
A. All licensees accrue continuing education requirements, whether
active or inactive. You can renew without having the continuing
education requirements by requesting to put your license in an inactive
status and pay the renewal fee. You may even continue to renew inactive.
Understand that the only advantage to placing a license in inactive
status is to keep your license from becoming null and void for
non-renewal because you do not have to maintain and submit proof of
continuing education hours upon renewing. However, when you decide to
reactivate to an active status you must complete and submit proof of all
continuing education equal to the time you have been inactive, and pay
the appropriate change of status fee and reactivation fee.
Q. This is my first renewal. Do I need to retake the HIV/Aids one hour continuing education requirement I took for initial licensure?
A. No. As long as you have taken one HIV/AIDS course (ex: for initial licensure) no later than your first renewal, you do not have to take repeat HIV/AIDS courses for subsequent renewals.
Continuing Education:
Q. How much continuing education is required for me to renew?
A. 26 contact hours of approved continuing education are required to
renew. This includes one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS education required by
section 456.033, Florida Statutes, and two (2) hours of Prevention of
Medical Errors education required by section 456.013(7), Florida
Statutes, given by a board approved provider, and two (2) hours of a
Laws and Rules education course as required in Rule Chapter 64B11-5.001,
Florida Administrative Code (pdf - 50kb), given
by a board approved provider. You may access the links for the
prevention of medical errors courses (pdf - 48kb) and laws
and rules courses (pdf - 24kb).
Q. Where can I find a list of the Board approved providers for
continuing education?
A. You may go to www.CEBroker.com to search for CE Providers.
Q. What if a continuing education course that I took is not approved by
one of the approved providers listed in the rule or listed at www.CEBroker.com?
A. 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(pdf - 28kb). 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.
Q. How many home study hours can I take?
A. Up to 12 hours of continuing education per biennium.
Q. How many hours of HIV/AIDS education must I take?
A. One hour for renewal. Two hours for initial licensure.
Q. How many hours of Prevention of Medical Errors must I take?
A. Two hours for renewal and for initial licensure. Course must be given
by a board approved provider. 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.
Q. How many hours of Occupational Therapy Laws and Rules must I take?
A. Two hours for licensure renewal. Course must be given by a board
approved provider.
Q. How long is a contact hour and how does a CEU relate to continuing
education hours?
A. “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. 1 CEU = 10 contact continuing education hours.
Q. I am an OTA currently enrolled in graduate studies to become an OTR,
in an accredited program. Will my studies count for any CE requirements,
and how do I calculate the hours?
A. Yes, as long as you are in an approved OT program the courses count.
Courses must be “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. Your
transcripts would be your documentation. Rule 64B11-6.001(4)(b), Florida
Administrative Code (pdf - 28kb), states:
Courses sponsored by a college or university when providing a 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.
Q. I am an OTR currently enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program in an
accredited program. Will my studies count for any CE requirements, and
how do I calculate the hours?
A. Yes, see answer above.
Q. How Do I place my license in a Retired status and what does it mean?
A. You must submit a request to place your license in “retired” status and pay a one-time fee of $50.00. The Board will no longer contact you regarding your license. Retired status does not allow you to continue providing therapy
Q. How do I Reactivate my Retired license?
A. You must submit a written request to convert your retired license to an active status. To reactivate the license you must pay the same amount as the renewal fee for an active status licensee for each biennial licensure period in which the licensee was in retired status. You must also submit proof of completing 26 hours of CE, including the statutory mandated courses for each biennium the license was in the retired status.
Q. How do I place my license in an Inactive status and what does it mean?
A. You must renew your license every two years and pay the current renewal fee. The Board will continue to contact you regarding licensure renewals. Inactive status does not allow you to continue providing therapy.
Q. How do I Reactivate my Inactive license?
A. You must submit a written request to reactivate your inactive license to an active status. You must pay a $100 reactivation fee and submit proof of completing 26 hours of CE, including the statutory mandated courses for each biennium the license was in an inactive status.
Back to Top |
