OT License Renewal
OT License Renewal
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
New Renewal Requirement (Effective January 1, 2019) - Fingerprinting
Please see the announcement on the homepage for further information. Fingerprinting is a required item for renewals on or after January 1, 2019. Licensees in their 3-month renewal window are encouraged to submit their fingerprints early in their renewal window.
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. The Board will maintain a secure resource for verification of license status and expiration date on its website."
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.
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 SSN/DOB search to access links to print a license verification or wallet card.
Licensees using Internet Explorer as their browser often experience problems with their renewals, for example, when taking the Jurisprudence Exam, making payment if renewing online, etc. Licensees are frequently 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/loan issues; 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 or loan 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 renewal information.
General Renewal Requirements
The general requirements for renewal are:
-
The renewal fees: See current fees.
-
Completion of the renewal form, on paper or online.
-
New Requirement effective for renewals on or after January 1, 2019: Fingerprinting. Please see the announcement on the homepage for further information. Fingerprinting is a required item for renewals on or after January 1, 2019.
-
Completion of the required Continuing Education requirement, which includes courses and other activities (please see Chapter 367, Continuing Education, and Chapter 370, License Renewal, in the OT Rules). The requirement is at least 30 contact hours that meet requirements in Chapter 367. You must report your CE on the CE Submission Form either online or on the paper renewal form. The Continuing Education page includes resources regarding CE.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 Foreign
I. Preparation:
A. Locate Your School Code:
-Look at the box to the right and look up your school code, which you must enter before submitting payment.
- If your school is not on the list, contact the Board.
B. Submit fingerprints for your renewal. See the announcement on the homepage for further information.
C. Organize Your CE:
-Organize your CE so you can enter such by name, date, and number of hours.
-Read the "CE Form Tips" tab.
-For CE information, read Chapter 367, Continuing Education, in the OT Rules and consult the Continuing Education page and FAQs for further information.
-Remember that licensees must determine for themselves according to the OT Rules if an activity is eligible for CE.
D. Review the Current Version of the OT Rules and OT Practice Act:
-You must take the Jurisprudence (JP) Exam as part of the renewal process.
-This is an open-book exam. You will use the OT Rules and OT Practice Act to answer the questions.
-Reread the current OT Rules and OT Practice Act. Download or print them or open them in a new tab or window. Have them accessible for when you take the JP Exam.
II. Renewing
A. Login to the Website: See the link below.
-Click here to login to the Board's website to start your renewal.
-Licensees using Internet Explorer as their browser often experience problems with their renewals, for example, when taking the Jurisprudence Exam, making payment if renewing online, etc. Licensees are frequently 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.
B. Enter your CE:
-You can add CE during different sessions by logging in and out, but once your renewal is submitted, the CE may not be edited.
-Be sure to print or save a screen shot of the completed CE Submission form for your records prior to clicking the "Take Exam" button. The form is not available after the renewal is submitted.
C. Take and Pass the Online Jurisprudence Exam:
-After you hit "Submit" after entering your CE, you will be redirected to the JP Exam page.
-Access the downloaded or printed OT Rules and OT Practice Act or have them opened in a new tab or window.
-Do not use the forward, back, or refresh buttons on your browser during the exam.
-The exam will time out after a period of time (usually two hours). Try to take the exam in one sitting to reduce technical difficulties.
D. Record your Key Code:
-Once you pass the JP Exam, print out or write down your Key Code, which is made up of numbers and capital letters.
-You must retain this Key Code as you will use it for later renewal steps.
E. Enter Your Key Code on the Texas Online Website and Submit Payment:
-After you receive your Key Code, you will be redirected to the Texas Online website.
-You must enter your license number and Key Code. You must enter all letters as CAPITAL LETTERS.
F. If You HAVE NOT submitted payment successfully/Logging back in to the Texas Online Site:
-Once you have your Key Code, do not try to retake the JP Exam.
-If you have issues on the Texas Online website after you have received your Key Code (for example, if you cannot complete your payment on the Texas Online site), click here to continue to renew and pay online by logging in again on the Texas Online website. Remember that you may have to update your browser in order to use the Texas Online website to submit payment.
-If you cannot renew successfully online and ultimately renew by submitting a paper renewal form, you can write your Key Code on the paper renewal form. See the "Renew by Paper" tab for more information.
Online CE Submission Form Instructions and Tips
