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Office of Occupational Therapy: Continuing Professional Competency

All Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants must begin to demonstrate Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) to practice occupational therapy in the state of Colorado after renewing their initial license. If your first license was issued during the middle of the DORA license cycle, you do not have to start working on your CPC requirements until AFTER you renew your license for the first time.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants must satisfy the requirements of CPC in order to renew or reinstate a license to practice occupational therapy by one of the following three methods:

1. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program

  • Complete the Reflective Self-Assessment.
  • Execution of a Learning Plan.
  • Accrual and documentation of 24 Professional Development Activities (PDA).

2. Deemed Status

  • A licensee who satisfies the continuing professional competency requirements of an accrediting body or entity approved by the Director (see CPC Program Manual for details).  Currently, the following organizations have been approved by the Director:
    • The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
    • The Colorado Department of Education (CE)

Be sure to retain NBCOT and/or CDE documentation verifying your Deemed Status for at least six (6) years.  The most current documentation at the time of an audit may not reflect the time period for which the audit is conducted.
                             

3. Military Exemption

  • If you were called to federally-funded active duty for more than 120 days for the purpose of serving in a war, emergency or contingency, you may be eligible for an exemption from CPC requirements.

A detailed explanation of continuing professional competency can be found in the CPC Program Manual found in the Resources section below.

 

**Audits of compliance will be conducted after a renewal period ends.**

Resources

After selecting the document, be sure to select the download icon in order to use the PDF fillable form.

  • CPC Program Manual - this document explains, in detail, continuing professional competency requirements and the CPD program.
  • Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT) - use this form at the beginning of each renewal cycle to reflect on your professional knowledge and skills. Using the results, you will create learning goals to complete during the renewal period.
  • Learning Plan Form - use this form to record the completion of your Professional Development Activities (PDA) and the learning goals that you created. If you are selected for an audit, you will provide this form (along with documentation as described in the PDA Chart).
  • Professional Development Activities (PDA) Chart - this document summarizes the PDA or categories that you can choose from to complete the required 24 PDA (each renewal period).
  • Independent Learning/Group Study Form - use this form to document any Professional Development Activities (PDA) completed in the Independent Learning category and/or the Group Study category. If you are selected for an audit, you will provide this form to document any hours completed in these categories.

Contact Information
Division Wide Programs
Continued Competency/Continued Professional Development
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-2363 | Fax: 303-869-0329 | Email:dora_dpo_continuedcompetency@state.co.us