Connecticut Occupational Therapist license renewal and CE requirements
Connecticut occupational therapists must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section.
Occupational therapy licenses renew every two years and expire on July 31 of odd numbered years. The department mails a renewal notice about 60 days before expiration. A 90 day grace period follows expiration, during which the licensee may keep practicing and renew; on the 91st day the license becomes void and reinstatement is required.
Summary
Connecticut occupational therapists must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. Occupational therapy licenses renew every two years and expire on July 31 of odd numbered years. The department mails a renewal notice about 60 days before expiration. A 90 day grace period follows expiration, during which the licensee may keep practicing and renew; on the 91st day the license becomes void and reinstatement is required. Connecticut also mandates specific subjects. Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and suicide prevention training: 2 contact hours on a periodic schedule set by the board. Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
Connecticut Occupational Therapist renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Same date for every licensee, 07/31 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 24 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Teaching as an appointed faculty member at an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy school, up to 6 contact hours per registration period, when teaching is not the licensee's primary role; Full time post-graduate attendance in an ACOTE accredited advanced educational program, 10 contact hours per semester credit hour; Passing the NBCOT Certification Examination for Occupational Therapist five years or more after graduation, 12 contact hours; First presentation of a paper, essay or formal lecture in occupational therapy, 1 contact hour; First presentation of a scientific or educational exhibit at a professional meeting, 1 contact hour per hour up to 12 per registration period; Article in a peer reviewed professional publication or chapter in a professional textbook, 10 contact hours; First article in a non peer reviewed publication, 5 contact hours; Appointment as a research assistant on a grant funded occupational therapy research project, 10 contact hours per project; Appointment as a teaching assistant at an ACOTE accredited school, 8 contact hours per registration period; Serving as primary direct clinical supervisor of a 12 week occupational therapy or 8 week occupational therapy assistant fieldwork placement, 1 contact hour per week up to 12 per registration period; Professional manuscript review or editing, 1 contact hour per 5 hours of review, up to 12 per registration period; Auditing formal academic coursework, 2 contact hours per 15 clock hours, up to 12 per registration period |
The department counts contact hours, and one contact hour is a minimum of 50 minutes of continued competency activity. The 24 contact hours must be completed during the two year period for which the license is being renewed, which matches the two year renewal cycle. Hours earned in one registration period cannot be carried over to the next. Home study, distance learning and internet based programs qualify when they require successful completion of a proficiency examination, and the department sets no cap on them; reading books or journals on one's own, correspondence courses, business meetings and banquet speeches do not qualify. Passing the NBCOT certification examination five years or more after graduation earns 12 contact hours, but current NBCOT certification is not itself a renewal requirement.
Required CE topics for Connecticut occupational therapists
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and suicide prevention trainingOn and after January 1, 2022 the renewal requirements include not less than two hours of training or education on screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and on suicide prevention, during the first renewal period and not less than once every six years after that. The training must be offered or approved by the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association, a hospital or other licensed health care institution, or a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The suicide prevention part may be satisfied by the evidence based youth suicide prevention training program administered under Conn. Gen. Stat. 17a-52a. | 2 contact hours | Periodic | All licensees | Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-74h |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 3 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | The department does not review or approve individual courses or providers; the activity must meet the criteria in the department's rules, including a provider mechanism to document attendance or home study completion, provider records kept three years, and a certificate of completion naming the participant, provider, subject, dates and contact hours. Licensees do not send documentation with the renewal; they submit it within 45 days when the department requests it. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Connecticut OT need to renew?
- Connecticut occupational therapists must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. The department counts contact hours, and one contact hour is a minimum of 50 minutes of continued competency activity. The 24 contact hours must be completed during the two year period for which the license is being renewed, which matches the two year renewal cycle. Hours earned in one registration period cannot be carried over to the next. Home study, distance learning and internet based programs qualify when they require successful completion of a proficiency examination, and the department sets no cap on them; reading books or journals on one's own, correspondence courses, business meetings and banquet speeches do not qualify. Passing the NBCOT certification examination five years or more after graduation earns 12 contact hours, but current NBCOT certification is not itself a renewal requirement.
- How often does a Connecticut OT license need to be renewed?
- Occupational Therapist licenses in Connecticut renew every two years. Occupational therapy licenses renew every two years and expire on July 31 of odd numbered years. The department mails a renewal notice about 60 days before expiration. A 90 day grace period follows expiration, during which the licensee may keep practicing and renew; on the 91st day the license becomes void and reinstatement is required.
- What specific CE topics are required for Connecticut occupational therapists?
- Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and suicide prevention training: 2 contact hours on a periodic schedule set by the board. Citations: screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and suicide prevention training (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-74h).
- Do Connecticut occupational therapists have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 3 years. The department does not review or approve individual courses or providers; the activity must meet the criteria in the department's rules, including a provider mechanism to document attendance or home study completion, provider records kept three years, and a certificate of completion naming the participant, provider, subject, dates and contact hours. Licensees do not send documentation with the renewal; they submit it within 45 days when the department requests it.
- Is the first Connecticut OT renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Connecticut does not require continuing education for a OT's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 9, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- OT Continuing Education, Connecticut Department of Public HealthState board page, accessed September 9, 2026
- OT Licensure Requirements, Connecticut Department of Public HealthState board page, accessed September 9, 2026
- Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 376a, Occupational Therapists (Sec. 20-74h, License renewal, training or education requirement)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 9, 2026
- Health Care Practitioner License Types that Expire Biennially, Connecticut DPHState board page, accessed September 9, 2026
- Health Care Practitioner Renewal Information, Connecticut DPHState board page, accessed September 9, 2026
Connecticut has no occupational therapy board: the Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section licenses occupational therapists directly, and it is a different regulator from the Board of Examiners for Physical Therapists. The 24 contact hour total, the 50 minute contact hour, the no carryover rule, the first renewal exemption, the three year retention and the on request document production were read on the department's own OT continuing education page. The two year cycle and the July 31 odd year expiration were confirmed twice: Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-74h says licenses for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants renew once every two years, and the department's list of license types that expire biennially states that occupational therapist licenses expire biennially on July 31 of odd numbered years. The occupational therapy assistant total is different, 18 contact hours, and is recorded separately in ct-ota. NBCOT certification is not required to renew; passing the NBCOT examination five years or more after graduation is worth 12 contact hours. The two hour post-traumatic stress, suicide risk and suicide prevention training in 20-74h applies to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants alike.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.