Approval in Mississippi

The Mississippi State Department of Health’s Professional Licensure division regulates and licenses certain health-related professions in Mississippi. Licenses must be renewed annually. The Professional Licensure division also determines eligible continuing education courses.

The Board shall issue licenses which shall be subject to renewal biennially. The licensure period shall be construed as May 1 through April 30 of even numbered years.

Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education during the licensure period. No carryover of continuing education hours from one licensure period to another shall be allowed. Minimum requirements shall be:

• At least 30 percent (6 CE hours) of the required continuing education must be directly related to the clinical practice of occupational therapy. The 6 CE hours related to clinical practice shall be live face-to-face training i.e., no internet training, video training, television training, etc.

• Of the remaining required 14 hours of training, 50 percent or 7 hours may be non-live face-to-face training. Non-live training may include home study courses, video, internet, etc.

• 2 CE hours of an ethics course specifically related to the practice of occupational therapy shall be required during each licensure period. Ethics training may be live face-to-face training or non-live training. The hours awarded shall be included in the hours allowed for the type of training selected.

Individuals may choose to renew licensure by submitting proof of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)’s certification in lieu of continuing education certificates. NBCOT certification must be current and active at the time of licensure renewal.