Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Licensure in Mississippi
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Timeline 4-6 weeks
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Initial Costs $250
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Renewal Costs $100
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CE Requirements 20 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in Mississippi, you'll be working with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). You will submit your application through the MSDH Professional Licensure Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Head over to your university registrar and the NBCOT website. Request your official transcripts and verification of certification to be sent directly to the Mississippi State Department of Health. These must come straight from the source—no middleman!
- Tackle the Background Check: Mississippi requires a criminal history record check. You'll likely need to register and schedule a fingerprinting appointment (often through a specific vendor like MSDH SAFER or similar). Check the specific instructions on the MSDH website or within the application portal to ensure you use the correct codes.
- Submit the Online Application: Create an account on the MSDH Portal and fill out the application. You'll need to upload a clear photo of yourself (passport-style) and pay the application fee. Since you are a COTA, don't forget to submit the required Supervision Agreement form signed by your supervising OT.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A passport-style photo, your Social Security Number, and a detailed employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school) and NBCOT Verification (sent directly to MSDH).
- Exams: Be prepared for a Jurisprudence Exam if prompted during the application process, as the regulations state the Department may require one specific to Mississippi laws.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Mississippi:
- Application Fee: $200
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $50 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $250
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Mississippi Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by June 30th of even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Mississippi does not offer a grace period for practice; if your renewal is not processed by the deadline, your license is considered lapsed and you must stop working immediately.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: April 30th of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Mississippi has strict "Live" requirements for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs. At least 13 Contact Hours must be completed via live, face-to-face training. Only 7 Contact Hours may be completed through non-live formats such as home study or pre-recorded webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the profession of occupational therapy. The board automatically accepts courses approved by the AOTA, MSOTA, AMA, APTA, or ASHA. General portals like MedBridge are accepted for the non-live portion and any qualifying live webinars they offer.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics: (2 Contact Hours) specific to the practice of occupational therapy.
- Clinical Practice: (6 Contact Hours) must be directly related to clinical OT practice and must be part of your live face-to-face hours.
- Jurisprudence: No recurring exam is required for renewal, but the board may require one for initial licensure or at their discretion.
Excluded Topics: CPR, first aid, business management, marketing, personal financial topics, and orientation to specific facility policies or equipment.
New Licensee Rule: If you have been licensed for less than 12 months of the current cycle, your CE requirement is waived. If licensed for 12–24 months, you must complete 10 Contact Hours.
Reporting: Mississippi utilizes CE Broker for tracking and reporting. Travelers should upload their certificates to the portal to ensure a smooth renewal process.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Mississippi State Department of Health:
- Address: PO Box 1700 Jackson, MS 39215-1700
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (601) 364-7360
- Fax: (601) 364-5057
- Email: MSDHProfLicensure@msdh.ms.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in Mississippi, you'll be working with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). You will submit your application through the MSDH Professional Licensure Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Head over to your university registrar and the NBCOT website. Request your official transcripts and verification of certification to be sent directly to the Mississippi State Department of Health. These must come straight from the source—no middleman!
- Tackle the Background Check: Mississippi requires a criminal history record check. You'll likely need to register and schedule a fingerprinting appointment (often through a specific vendor like MSDH SAFER or similar). Check the specific instructions on the MSDH website or within the application portal to ensure you use the correct codes.
- Submit the Online Application: Create an account on the MSDH Portal and fill out the application. You'll need to upload a clear photo of yourself (passport-style) and pay the application fee. Since you are a COTA, don't forget to submit the required Supervision Agreement form signed by your supervising OT.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A passport-style photo, your Social Security Number, and a detailed employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school) and NBCOT Verification (sent directly to MSDH).
- Exams: Be prepared for a Jurisprudence Exam if prompted during the application process, as the regulations state the Department may require one specific to Mississippi laws.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Mississippi:
- Application Fee: $200
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $50 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $250
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Mississippi Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by June 30th of even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Mississippi does not offer a grace period for practice; if your renewal is not processed by the deadline, your license is considered lapsed and you must stop working immediately.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: April 30th of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Mississippi has strict "Live" requirements for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs. At least 13 Contact Hours must be completed via live, face-to-face training. Only 7 Contact Hours may be completed through non-live formats such as home study or pre-recorded webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the profession of occupational therapy. The board automatically accepts courses approved by the AOTA, MSOTA, AMA, APTA, or ASHA. General portals like MedBridge are accepted for the non-live portion and any qualifying live webinars they offer.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics: (2 Contact Hours) specific to the practice of occupational therapy.
- Clinical Practice: (6 Contact Hours) must be directly related to clinical OT practice and must be part of your live face-to-face hours.
- Jurisprudence: No recurring exam is required for renewal, but the board may require one for initial licensure or at their discretion.
Excluded Topics: CPR, first aid, business management, marketing, personal financial topics, and orientation to specific facility policies or equipment.
New Licensee Rule: If you have been licensed for less than 12 months of the current cycle, your CE requirement is waived. If licensed for 12–24 months, you must complete 10 Contact Hours.
Reporting: Mississippi utilizes CE Broker for tracking and reporting. Travelers should upload their certificates to the portal to ensure a smooth renewal process.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Mississippi State Department of Health:
- Address: PO Box 1700 Jackson, MS 39215-1700
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (601) 364-7360
- Fax: (601) 364-5057
- Email: MSDHProfLicensure@msdh.ms.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.