Washington OT License, CEU Requirements & Discounts!

Title 246  Chapter 246-847 Section 246-847-065
Continued Competency

Licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants must complete 24 hours of continued competency every two years in the form of continuing education and professional development. The licensee must submit documentation upon request as required by chapter 246-12 WAC.

(1) Beginning January 1, 2014, as part of their continued competency, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are required to obtain at least three hours of training every six years in suicide assessment as specified in WAC 246-847-066. The licensee must keep documentation for six years.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant must complete the first training required by this section during the first full continued competency reporting period after January 1, 2014, or the first full continued competency reporting period after initial licensure, whichever occurs later.

(b) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant applying for initial licensure on or after January 1, 2014, may delay completion of the first training required by this section for six years after initial licensure if
(i) He or she can demonstrate successful completion of a three-hour training program in suicide assessment that was completed no more than six years prior to the application for initial licensure; an
(ii) The training meets the qualifications listed in WAC 246-847-066.

(2) As of January 1, 2024, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are required to obtain at least two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years. The continuing education course must meet the minimum standards under RCW 43.70.613 and comply with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830. These hours can be counted towards the total required 24 hours of continuing education.

(3) The 24 hours of continuing education and professional development must be obtained through two or more of the activities listed in this subsection. A minimum of 20 hours must directly relate to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in RCW 18.59.020 and WAC 246-847-010. Any remaining hours may be in professional development activities that enhance the practice of the licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant. Documentation for all activities must include licensee’s name, date of activity, and number of hours. Additional specific documentation is defined below:

(a) Continuing education course work. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance.

(b) Employer sponsored in-service training or professional study groups. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance. A maximum of 15 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(c) Attendance at a professional conference or workshop presented by a professional organization. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of attendance.

(d) Course work offered by an accredited college or university, provided that the course work is taken after the licensee has obtained a degree in occupational therapy, and the course work provides skills and knowledge beyond entry-level skills or knowledge. The required documentation for this activity is a transcript. One course credit is equal to five hours. A maximum of 15 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(e) Interactive online courses and webinars. The required documentation for this activity is a certificate or documentation of completion.

(f) Presentation to professionals, including poster presentations. One hour of preparation time may be counted per hour of presentation time. The required documentation for this activity is a copy of the presentation or program listing. Any particular presentation may be reported only once per reporting period. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(g) Guest lecturing on an occupational therapy-related topic in an academic setting. The occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant must not be primarily employed in academia to submit credit for this activity. The required documentation for this activity is a letter or other documentation from the course instructor. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category. One hour of preparation time may be counted per hour of lecture time.

(h) Authoring a publication. The required documentation for this activity is a copy of the publication. For a peer reviewed journal article or chapter in a textbook a maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category. For nonpeer reviewed professional publication a maximum of five hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(i) Development of instructional materials incorporating alternative media such as: Video, audio or software programs to advance professional skills of others. The required documentation for this activity is a program description. The media or software materials must be available if requested during audit process. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(j) Professional manuscript review. The required documentation for this activity is a letter from the publishing organization verifying review of manuscript. One hour of continuing education may be counted per hour of review time. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(k) Service on a professional board, committee, disciplinary panel, or association. The required documentation for this activity is a letter or other documentation from the organization. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(l) Self-study of peer reviewed, role-related professional journal articles, textbooks or chapters, or professionally developed multimedia and digital media educational materials. The required documentation for this activity is a typed, one-page synopsis of each item written by the licensee or a certificate from OT practice continuing education article. A maximum of 10 hours is allowed per reporting period for this category. Time spent writing synopsis is not reportable.

(m) Direct supervision of an occupational therapy student or occupational therapy assistant student. The required documentation for this activity is a name of student(s), letter of verification from school, and dates of fieldwork. Forty hours of supervision per student is equal to one hour of continued competency. A maximum of 12 hours per supervisor is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(n) Mentoring. Mentoring in this section means a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or knowledgeable person for the informal transmission of knowledge and support relevant to professional development. The required documentation for this activity is a written report of goals, objectives and analysis of mentee performance signed by both mentor and mentee. Mentoring credits do not count towards the requirement of 20 hours directly related to the practice of occupational therapy. A maximum of five hours is allowed per reporting period for this category.

(o) Attending a Washington occupational therapy practice board meeting. A maximum of two credits per reporting period is allowed.

(p) Successfully pass the department’s occupational therapy jurisprudence examination with a passing score of 100 percent. A maximum of .5 hours per reporting period is allowed.