OT License Renewal
OT License Renewal
New CE Requirement to Renew on or After 9/1/2020 - HHSC-Approved Training Course on the Prevention of Human Trafficking
See the Human Trafficking Training tab on the Continuing Education page.
CE Hours Change that went into effect 9/1/2019
Note that effective 9/1/2019, 24 contact hours of CE are required for license renewal.
Fingerprinting Requirement for Renewal, effective 1/1/2019
Please see the Renewal Requirements tab below for further information about this renewal requirement, including how to access the agency's Service Code, which must be used when scheduling/registering for fingerprinting.
See the announcement on the homepage for instructions regarding submitting fingerprints if you have not yet satisfied the fingerprinting requirement.
As per §370.1(a) “Licensee Renewal. Licensees are required to renew their licenses every two years by the end of their birth month. A licensee may not provide occupational therapy services without a current license. Licenses and license expiration dates should be verified on the Board's license verification web page."
If your license does not show as being current and unexpired on the License Verification page of our website, you may not provide occupational therapy services.
Remember that once you have submitted all required materials and made payment, it will take at least one or more business days for your license to show as being renewed on our website.
A license may be renewed up to three months prior to the expiration date.
Please see the full OT Rules and OT Practice Act for additional information and requirements. The Continuing Education page includes resources such as a decision tree, sample course titles, and tabs that address acceptable CE and unacceptable activities not eligible for CE credit.
If you were serving in the military during your renewal period, please see §370.2(b) for additional information regarding renewal fees and deadlines.
Renewal Information
Please see the full OT Rules and OT Practice Act for detailed renewal and CE information: Chapter 370 contains information regarding license renewal and Chapter 367 details continuing education. The Continuing Education page includes resources regarding CE.
The Board no longer provides renewal cards. Instead, go to the Occupational Therapy License Verification page and use the Last Name and DOB search to access links to print a statement of licensure or wallet card.
Licensees using Internet Explorer as their browser may experience problems with their renewals, for example, when taking the Jurisprudence Exam, making payment if renewing online, etc. Licensees may be more successful when using Google Chrome or Firefox. If you are not using the most recent version of your browser, you might need to update such.
Renew Online or Submit a Paper Renewal Application:
1. Renew Online: Please go to the "Renew Online" tab after reading this section.
You may only renew online if:
-you are renewing before your license expires;
-you are on active status (if you wish to initiate inactive status, please see "Renew by Paper Renewal Application" below);
-your SSN is on file with the Board;
-you have no renewal holds due to child support issues as per §370.1 of the OT Rules; or
-your CE is from your current renewal period.
2. Renew by Paper Renewal Application: Please go to the "Renew by Paper" tab after reading this section.
You may renew by paper renewal application if:
-you are renewing before your license expires;
-you are renewing less than one year after your license expired;
-you are on active status and wish to initiate inactive status;
-you are on inactive status and wish to maintain your inactive status or return to active status; or
-you are submitting with your application an SSN Statement, which is required if your SSN is not on file with the Board.
Please Note:
-Remember that once you have submitted all required materials and made payment, it will take at least one or more business days for your license to show as being renewed on our website. Your license must show as being current and unexpired in order to provide occupational therapy services.
-You may renew on time either online or by paper renewal form up to three months before your expiration date.
-Do not wait until the last minute to renew.
Website or technical issues may occur, you may have to speak with someone at the Board (which is not open after regular business hours), or you might have problems on the payment website (Texas Online), which means you might need to speak with another agency's staff, for example.
If you are renewing online and do not complete the payment portion of the renewal process before your license expires, you will be subject to late fees.
If you are renewing by paper renewal form and your completed license renewal form and any required documents, information, and fees are not postmarked before your license expires, you will be subject to late fees.
See the OT Rules and OT Practice Act and the "Late Renewal" tab for additional information.
-If your license has been expired one year or more, you are not eligible to renew. Please see §370.3, Restoration of a Texas License, for restoration requirements and visit the Restoration Page.
-If you have not given the Board your SSN, you must complete the SSN Statement and include this with your paper renewal. If you submit this form well in advance of your expiration date, once it is processed, you may be able to renew online.
-The Board must receive a release from the appropriate agency for those with renewal holds due to child support issues. Such individuals may submit a paper renewal application, but it will not be processed until the release is received. See the OT Rules and the "Late Renewal" tab for additional information if such is not received in a timely manner prior to your expiration date.
-To renew a license on retired status or initiate retired status, visit the Inactive & Retired Status page for further renewal information.
General Renewal Requirements
The general requirements for renewal are:
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The renewal fees: See current fees.
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Completion of the renewal form, on paper or online.
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Fingerprinting Requirement for Renewals, Effective 1/1/2019
Effective January 1, 2019, changes were made to the OT Act and Rules that require that OTs and OTAs submit their fingerprints for state and national criminal history record information checks for the Board as a one-time requirement for initial license issuance or license renewal.
Note: A licensee is not required to submit fingerprints for renewal if the licensee has previously submitted fingerprints for and satisfied the fingerprinting requirement under one of the following:
- Chapter 364 of the OT Rules (relating to Requirements for Licensure) for the initial issuance of the license;
- Chapter 370 of the OT Rules (relating to License Renewal) as part of a prior license renewal (including license restoration); or
- Chapter 371 of the OT Rules (relating to Inactive and Retired Status) as part of a prior license renewal or change of license status.
In addition, fingerprinting is not a requirement to initiate inactive status or renew an inactive status license.
Refer to Chapter 370, License Renewal, and/or Chapter 371, Inactive and Retired Status, for further information.
If you have already satisfied the requirement, DO NOT resubmit your fingerprints.
See the announcement on the homepage for further information and instructions regarding submitting fingerprints for renewal if you have not yet satisfied this requirement.
**The agency's Service Code must be used when scheduling/registering for fingerprinting. See the fingerprinting instructions for further instructions.**
Accessing the Agency's Service Code:
Approximately three months prior to their license's expiration date, licensees may access the agency's Service Code from emailed renewal reminder(s) from the Board and/or by logging in to the Board's website. Once logged in, licensees may access the Service Code from the top of the page containing the online CE Submission Form.
Licensees needing further assistance accessing the Service Code may send an email to exam@ptot.texas.gov to request the code.
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Completion of the required Continuing Education requirement. See Chapter 367, Continuing Education, in the OT Rules. The requirement is at least 24 contact hours that meet requirements in Chapter 367 of the OT Rules. This CE must include the completion of an HHSC approved course on human trafficking that meets requirements as per the OT Rules (new September 1, 2020); see the Continuing Education page for further information and to access an HHSC approved course. You must report your CE on the CE Submission Form either online or on the paper renewal form. The Continuing Education page includes further resources regarding CE.
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Passing score on the online Jurisprudence Examination (JP) Exam. This is an open-book, 20-question test based on the OT Rules and OT Practice Act. These are free to download and use during the exam.
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Current and correct information for your home and/or business contact information (address and phone number). A physical home address is required, but you may also supply a different mailing address. You must choose an Address of Record, the address that is shared with the public. If you do not choose an Address of Record, your business address will be used as the default. If no business address is available, the mailing address will be used. If no alternate address is available, the home address will be used.
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Your Social Security Number or the SSN Form if you do not presently have an SSN or if you have not previously reported your SSN to the Board.
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If your name has changed: mail or fax a copy of the marriage certificate or other legal documents for the name change. The name change cannot be made online during your renewal process or through an email. We must receive the documentation for any name change.
Submit all items above or any other required forms or information prior to the license expiration date to avoid late fees.
Please see the full OT Rules and OT Practice Act for further information and requirements.
Renewing Online: Instructions
Quick Online Renewal Links:
-Login in the Board's Website to Enter Your CE and Take the JP Exam
-Login to the TX Online Website if You Already Have Your Key Code
-OT and OTA School Codes - US and International