Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Licensure in Florida
-
Timeline 6-9 weeks
-
Initial Costs $225
-
Renewal Costs $65
-
CE Requirements 26 Hours
-
Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in Florida, you'll be working with the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the MQA Online Services portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and ensuring your NBCOT certification is active, as Florida relies heavily on electronic verification.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get the Ball Rolling: Head over to MQA Online Services to create your account and start the "Occupational Therapy Assistant" application. You'll pay the application and licensure fees here.
- Background Check: This is a crucial step for Florida. You must undergo a Livescan background check. You'll need to visit an approved Livescan service provider (like IdentoGO or a local vendor) and provide the Board's ORI Number: EDOH4650Z. Do this early, as your application cannot be approved without it.
- NBCOT Verification: Request an official verification of your certification or a score transfer from the NBCOT to be sent directly to the Florida Board. You can do this through the NBCOT portal.
- License Verification: If you hold or have held licenses in other states, request official verification from each state board. Most states use the online verification system, but check if you need to send a manual form.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Your Social Security Number, driver's license, and employment history for the last few years.
- Items to Request: Official NBCOT verification and license verifications from other states. While Florida often verifies education through NBCOT for endorsement, have your official transcripts ready to request from your school just in case.
- Courses & Exams: Florida requires specific Continuing Education (CE) courses like Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hours), Florida Laws and Rules (2 hours), and HIV/AIDS (1 hour). While these are often required for your first renewal, check your specific application checklist to see if they are needed prior to licensure.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Florida:
- Application Fee: $105
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $75 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $20
- Verifications: $25
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $225
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Florida Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by midnight Eastern Time on February 28 of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $65.
Note: Florida requires all continuing education hours to be fully reported in the CE Broker digital tracking system before your renewal can be processed.
CE Requirements
26 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: February 28th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: For your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs, Florida requires a minimum of 14 "Live" hours. The remaining 12 hours may be completed via home study. Note: Interactive, real-time webinars are currently accepted as "Live" hours by the Florida Board.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy, FOTA, or AOTA. General providers like MedBridge are widely accepted as they are AOTA-approved providers.
Mandatory Topics
- Prevention of Medical Errors (2 Hours)
- Florida Occupational Therapy Laws and Rules (2 Hours)
- Human Trafficking (1 Hour)
- HIV/AIDS (1 Hour — Required for first renewal only)
- Jurisprudence: The 2-hour Laws and Rules course serves as the required legislative update.
Excluded Topics: No more than 5 hours may be earned in non-clinical areas (e.g., risk management, cost containment). Personal development, business management, and marketing courses are strictly excluded.
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and were licensed in the second year of the biennium, you are exempt from general CE requirements but must still complete the mandatory hours for Medical Errors, HIV/AIDS, and Florida Laws and Rules.
Reporting: Florida is a CE Broker state. You must ensure all hours are reported to the CE Broker digital registry before your license can be renewed.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice:
- Address: 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin # C05 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (850) 245-4373
- Fax: (850) 414-6860
- Email: MQA.OccupationalTherapy@flhealth.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
Find vetted recruiters who have the jobs you want!
Get matched with vetted recruiters from multiple agencies who have the most jobs in your preferences!
How to Apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in Florida, you'll be working with the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the MQA Online Services portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and ensuring your NBCOT certification is active, as Florida relies heavily on electronic verification.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get the Ball Rolling: Head over to MQA Online Services to create your account and start the "Occupational Therapy Assistant" application. You'll pay the application and licensure fees here.
- Background Check: This is a crucial step for Florida. You must undergo a Livescan background check. You'll need to visit an approved Livescan service provider (like IdentoGO or a local vendor) and provide the Board's ORI Number: EDOH4650Z. Do this early, as your application cannot be approved without it.
- NBCOT Verification: Request an official verification of your certification or a score transfer from the NBCOT to be sent directly to the Florida Board. You can do this through the NBCOT portal.
- License Verification: If you hold or have held licenses in other states, request official verification from each state board. Most states use the online verification system, but check if you need to send a manual form.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Your Social Security Number, driver's license, and employment history for the last few years.
- Items to Request: Official NBCOT verification and license verifications from other states. While Florida often verifies education through NBCOT for endorsement, have your official transcripts ready to request from your school just in case.
- Courses & Exams: Florida requires specific Continuing Education (CE) courses like Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hours), Florida Laws and Rules (2 hours), and HIV/AIDS (1 hour). While these are often required for your first renewal, check your specific application checklist to see if they are needed prior to licensure.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Florida:
- Application Fee: $105
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $75 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $20
- Verifications: $25
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $225
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Florida Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by midnight Eastern Time on February 28 of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $65.
Note: Florida requires all continuing education hours to be fully reported in the CE Broker digital tracking system before your renewal can be processed.
CE Requirements
26 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: February 28th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: For your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs, Florida requires a minimum of 14 "Live" hours. The remaining 12 hours may be completed via home study. Note: Interactive, real-time webinars are currently accepted as "Live" hours by the Florida Board.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy, FOTA, or AOTA. General providers like MedBridge are widely accepted as they are AOTA-approved providers.
Mandatory Topics
- Prevention of Medical Errors (2 Hours)
- Florida Occupational Therapy Laws and Rules (2 Hours)
- Human Trafficking (1 Hour)
- HIV/AIDS (1 Hour — Required for first renewal only)
- Jurisprudence: The 2-hour Laws and Rules course serves as the required legislative update.
Excluded Topics: No more than 5 hours may be earned in non-clinical areas (e.g., risk management, cost containment). Personal development, business management, and marketing courses are strictly excluded.
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and were licensed in the second year of the biennium, you are exempt from general CE requirements but must still complete the mandatory hours for Medical Errors, HIV/AIDS, and Florida Laws and Rules.
Reporting: Florida is a CE Broker state. You must ensure all hours are reported to the CE Broker digital registry before your license can be renewed.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice:
- Address: 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin # C05 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (850) 245-4373
- Fax: (850) 414-6860
- Email: MQA.OccupationalTherapy@flhealth.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.