Advanced certification: Recertification requirements

Maintain your certification

In spring 2021, the Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission (OTACC) developed and approved the following requirements for recertification. These requirements will apply both to those who obtain initial certification in 2021 and moving forward, and to those who currently hold one of AOTA’s advanced certifications.

Recertification is required every five years in order to maintain certification and to continue to use your advanced certification credential (BCG, BCMH, BCP, BCPR, SCDCM, SCEM, SCFES, SCLV, SCSS). The following requirements must be met to be eligible for recertification:

• Certified or licensed by, and in good standing with, an AOTA-recognized credentialing or regulatory body
• At least 1,500 hours of experience in the certification area within the last five years—may include direct intervention, supervision, teaching, research, consultation, administration, case or care management, community programming, or activities supporting professional organizations in area of certification
• At least 60 contact hours in professional development activities in the certification area within the last five years—may include CE courses, academic coursework, independent learning, mentorship, fieldwork supervision/capstone mentoring, professional writing, presentation and instruction, and other activities as outlined in the Recertification Handbook (currently under development).

Those who obtain an advanced certification in 2021 or after will be expected to meet the recertification requirements as stated above.

For those who currently hold an advanced certification (received initial certification prior to 2021), the requirements above will be phased in over the next six years. AOTA will continue to use an attestation process for renewals due through December 31, 2022.