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Mississippi Occupational Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

Updated 4/20/2025

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Occupational therapists licensed in Mississippi must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

Occupational therapy assistants licensed in Mississippi must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

New Licensees

Individuals applying for initial licensure within a licensing term must accrue continuing education hours on a prorated scale.  Written notification of required hours will be sent to the applicant at the time of licensure.

Can credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

No carryover of continuing education hours from one licensure period to another shall be allowed.

NBCOT Certification

Individuals may choose to renew licensure by submitting proof of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)’s certification in lieu of continuing education certificates with the exception of the 2 hours of ethic requirement. NBCOT certification must be current and active at the time of licensure renewal. All NBCOT hours can be obtained online as approved by NBCOT.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

Thirteen (13) hours are required to be live face-to-face training (i.e., no non-live internet training, video training, television training, etc.) Live webinars will be accepted, but the certificate must specify the CEU was provided in a live format. At least six (6) of the thirteen (13) required CEU live face-to face training hours must be directly related to the clinical practice of occupational therapy.

Two (2) contact hours of an ethic courses(s) related to the practice of occupational therapy shall be required during each licensure period. Ethics training may be live face-to-face or non-live training.

What types of activities can be used for the continuing education requirements?

Attendance at Educational Programs

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by the Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association (MSOTA).

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), including other state association educational programs. c.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and/or approved by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) and its components.

Attendance at other programs approved for continuing education credit by AOTA, AMA, APTA, ASHA, or their components.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by accredited universities or colleges.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by a licensure authority of any jurisdiction in the United States for occupational therapy.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), including other state association educational programs.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing education credit is given and approved by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), including other state association educational programs.

Presentations

Presentations made before recognized groups of occupational therapists, medical practitioners, or other health related professionals and directly related to the profession of occupational therapy. 

To be considered for continuing education credit, material outline and a synopsis must be submitted to the Department prior to the presentation date.  Notice of approval or disapproval will be sent following a review by the Department.

For approved presentations, the presenter may accrue one (1) hour of continuing education credit for each hour of the actual presentation, and one (1) hour of preparation time, for a total of (2) two hours. 

Presenter credit is given one (1) time only, even though the session may be presented multiple times.  No more than 30% of total required hours may be accrued through presentations.

Academic Course Work

Academic course work taken for credit from a regionally accredited college or university.  The courses must relate to the profession of occupational therapy. 

Undergraduate level courses are acceptable only when they can be demonstrated to update or enhance competency in licensee's specific practice field, and documented that course work has not been taken previously, to the satisfaction of the department. 

Graduate level courses are acceptable for occupational therapists.  Undergraduate courses are acceptable for occupational therapy assistants.

The courses must relate to the profession of occupational therapy.  One academic semester hour shall be equivalent to fifteen (15) clock hours for continuing education credit. 

No more than fifty percent (50%) of total required hours may be accrued through academic course work. 

Home Study Courses approved by the department.

Professional Publications

Professional publications where the licensee is an author.  To be considered for continuing education credit, a reprint of the published article must be submitted to the department.

A maximum of three (3) contact hours may be accrued through professional publication.

Supervision of Level I and Level II

Supervision of Level I and Level II occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students by a Mississippi licensed occupational therapy practitioner may not exceed twelve (12) hours during a licensure period.

Supervision of Doctoral Capstone occupational therapist students by a Mississippi licensed occupational therapist may not exceed fourteen (14) hours during a licensure period. Level I and Level II student supervision hours may not be combined with Doctoral Capstone supervision hours.

To be considered for continuing education credit, full direct supervision of a student must be performed for a complete clinical rotation.

The educational institution must provide written documentation of the supervision.

  • Supervision of Level I occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. One continuing education hour per student supervised will be awarded for the full supervision.  No more than a maximum of twelve (12) hours may be accrued under this provision during a licensure period.  Only the primary supervisor is eligible to receive continuing education credit under this provision.
  • Supervision of Level II occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. One continuing education hour per week of supervision per student supervised will be awarded for the full supervision.  The supervising OT(s) shall record dates and times of supervision provided to each student.  No more than a maximum of twelve (12) hours may be accrued under this provision during a licensure period.
  • Supervision of Doctoral Capstone occupational therapist students. One continuing education hour per week of supervision per student supervised will be awarded for full supervision. The supervising OT shall record dates and times of supervision provided to each student. No more than a maximum of fourteen (14) hours may be accrued under this provision during a licensure period.

Which type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Specific unacceptable activities include:

    • All in-service programs not approved.
    • Orientation to specific work-site programs dealing with organizational structures, processes, or procedures.
    • Meetings for purposes of policy decision.
    • Non-educational meetings at annual conferences, chapter, or organizational meetings.
    • Entertainment or recreational meetings or activities.
    • Committee meetings, holding of office, serving as an organizational delegate.
    • CPR education.
    • Self-directed studies other than those previously outlined.

What are the reporting requirements?

It is the responsibility of the licensee to insure that the following criteria are met with respect to continuing education credit:

    • Attendance at seminars, workshops, presentations, etc., approved by an organization listed in Rule 8.7.4(1) is automatically accepted for credit unless sessions are duplicated.  Verification of attendance may be made by submitting a continuing education certificate (must include source, number of continuing education hours and date of attendance) and proof of approval for the program/provider.
    • Credit for presentations: Submit a copy of the Department's approval letter.
    • Academic course work credits must meet the content criteria in Rule 8.7.3, and must be accompanied by a course description from the college or university catalog and a copy of the transcript or final grade report.  A minimum course grade of "C" is required for CE credit.
    • Home Study Course: A certificate of completion must be submitted to receive continuing education credit.
    • Publication: A letter of approval from the department.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

N/A

Can continuing education requirements be waived?

N/A

Does the board audit continuing education?

OT/OTAs who fail to accrue the required continuing education hours shall be issued a CE probationary license for the licensure term. 

Failure to accrue the required hours during the CE probationary period will result in the revocation of the license. 

Hours accrued are first credited for the delinquent hours lacking from the previous licensure period and then applied to the current (CE probationary) licensing period.

Reference

Miss. Code R. 15-19-60 Rule 8.7

About Me

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

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