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

Occupational Therapists: OTs licensed in Nebraska must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education every two (2) years. 

New Licensees: CE not required during the first two (2) year license period.

OTAs: OTAs licensed in Nebraska must complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education every two (2) years. 

How is credit hour defined?

At least sixty (60) minutes of participation in an organized learning experience otherwise known as a contact hour.

One (1) academic semester hour is equal to fifteen (15) contact hours. An approved three (3) credit hour course provides forty-five (45) contact hours of continuing education credit.

One (1) academic quarter hour is equal to ten (10) contact hours. An approved three (3) credit hour course would provide thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education credit.

Due Date

On or before August 1st of each even-numbered year.

Can CE credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

No. Continuing education hours must be obtained during the preceding 24-month period.

Are there any specific requirements for continuing education?

N/A

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

Programs at State and National Association Meetings

Includes, but is not limited to, a meeting of the Nebraska or other state occupational therapy associations or the American Occupational Therapy Association. Must relate directly to the theory of Occupational Therapy. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One (1) hour for each hour of attendance.

Workshops, Seminars, Webinars and Conferences

The content of the continuing education activity must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, or education management, and includes monitored videotapes, and in-service programs. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One (1) hour for each hour of attendance.

University or College Sponsored Courses

The content of the course must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management. Documentation must include an official transcript and a program outline or objectives.

Formal Self-Study

The content of the self-study activity must relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management. The self-study program must have a testing mechanism. Documentation must include a certificate of completion and a program outline or objectives. One (1) hour for each hour of attendance.

Management Courses

Must pertain to the practice of occupational therapy. An occupational therapist may complete a maximum of ten (10) hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each twenty -four (24) month renewal period. An occupational therapy assistant may complete a maximum of seven and a half (7.5) hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each twenty-four (24) month renewal period. Documentation must include a certificate of attendance and a program outline or objectives. One (1) hour for each hour of attendance.

Supervision

Student supervision by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. One contact hour is earned for being a primary direct clinical supervisor for each student’s entire level II fieldwork experience. Licensee may receive a maximum of to (2) contact hours of continuing education by supervising a student each twenty-four (24) month renewal period. Documentation must include a copy of the signature page of the completed fieldwork evaluation form for each supervised student.

Research

Participation in research or other scholarly activities that result in professional publication or acceptance for publication that relate to occupational therapy. Four contact hours will be received for each publication. Licensees may earn up to a maximum of ten (10) contact hours of continuing education each twenty-four (24) month renewal period for authorship, editorship, co-authorship, co-editorship, or all of these, of a juried publication relating to occupational therapy. Documentation must include a copy of the final publication or verification of publication.

Informal Self-Study

A licensee may earn up to a maximum of two (2) contact hours of continuing education each twenty-four (24) month renewal period for completion of the following activities or a combination of such activities:

• Reading related to occupational therapy practice;
• Observing other occupational therapists;
• Viewing videotapes without a supervisor; and
• Quality assurance or peer review studies.

Documentation when reading or viewing videotapes must include the name of the article, book or videotape and a brief synopsis of what was learned. Documentation, when observing other therapists and participating in quality assurance and peer review studies, must include a statement from the licensee explaining what was learned.

Nationally Recognized Specialty Certification Examinations

A licensee will earn twenty (20) contact hours of continuing education each twenty-four (24) month renewal period for successful completion of a nationally recognized specialty certification examination related to an area of advanced practice in the field of occupational therapy. Documentation must include a copy of the certification.

Presentations

One (1) hour credit will be awarded for each hour of scientific presentation by a licensee at workshops, seminars, in-service training, conferences, or guest lectures which relate to the practice of occupational therapy. A licensee may receive continuing education credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period. Credit will not be given for subsequent presentations of the same program. A licensee may complete a maximum of four (4) hours of continuing education credit for presentations in a twenty-four (24) month renewal period. A licensee’s documentation must include the presentation outline, course objectives, date, location, time, and type of audience.

Are there limitations on the types of courses that can be taken?

N/A

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

N/A

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Continuing education credit will not be awarded for programs where the content does not relate to occupational therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, or management, including but not limited to:

• Medical terminology courses;
• Occupational therapy on-the-job training;
• Occupational therapy orientation programs, including orientation to new policies, procedures, equipment, forms, responsibilities, services, etc.; or
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other related training.

What are the reporting requirements?

N/A

How long must continuing education records be retained?

N/A

Waiver

Credential holders actively engaged in military service are not required to pay the renewal fee or meet the continuing competency requirements. The department may conduct an audit of military status. Each credential holder selected for audit must produce documentation of active military services within thirty (30) days.

Audit

N/A

Reference

172 NAC 114.008

172 NAC 10.004.03