OT CEU Requirements Alabama

Occupational therapy continuing education requirements are different for every state. They may even differ for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in the same state. While the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) does provide a national certification, only some states will accept it in lieu of meeting their own requirements. Alabama OT continuing education requirements are developed by the Alabama board of occupational therapy.

This guide focuses on the CEU requirements for occupational therapists; if you are an OTA, you can find the dedicated page for Alabama OTA CEU requirements here.

Almost all states have continuing education requirements for occupational therapists. Generally, OTs are required to complete a specific number of CEUs every one to two years. The CEU due date is often, but not always, the same as the license expiration date.

As an OT in Alabama, you need 30 contact hours every two years, the month depends on initial licensure (April or October).

For occupational therapists renewing for the first time, some states require the full number of CEUs, some require a prorated amount and some do not require any continuing education at all.

The rules may depend on whether you were licensed by examination or by endorsement. Generally, if you are newly licensed by examination, the exemption or prorated amount will apply to you. However, if you are newly licensed by endorsement, you will likely be expected to complete the full number of CEUs.

OTs in Alabama are required to complete a prorated number of CEUs for their first renewal.

According to the Alabama Board of Occupational Therapy: Initial licenses are valid for one year, with OTs required to submit 15 contact hours.

Alabama does not have any special requirements for occupational therapists.

Some states have limitations on how many CEUs you can earn per activity type. Included below is the most common limit for Alabama occupational therapists. For details on activity types not listed here, visit the Alabama occupational therapy board website. You can find the link below.

Administrative/Academic - 10 CEUs

To choose the right occupational therapy continuing education courses, consider a few key factors. First, choose topics that are interesting to you, applicable to your current clinical setting, or helpful for transitioning to a new role. However, personal interest isn’t the only priority; make sure the course is specifically approved for your state. Finally, consider the cost, especially if your employer doesn’t pay for continuing education.

A subscription site can simplify this process. They provide unlimited access to a wide variety of subjects, with both live and recorded options, all for one reasonable price. Most sites offer courses in every state, though you should always check for individual course approval. Just because one course is approved for OTs in Alabama, you shouldn't assume all courses on that site are approved for OTs in Alabama. Before signing up for a course, check with the CE provider to see if it is approved.

Discounts on CEUs

To help take the guesswork out of your search, we’ve partnered with a few of our favorite platforms to offer you the best discounts!

Alabama does not issue OT Compact privileges.

The OT Compact has started issuing privileges for a few states as of January 2026. Your state may have joined the compact but may not be actively issuing privileges yet. Continue to check here or the OT Compact website for updates.

What is the OT Compact?

The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact allows an OT licensed in one state to quickly and easily obtain privileges to practice in another state.

In order to take advantage of compact privileges, both your home state (the state you have your driver’s license in) as well as the state you want to practice in need to be part of the compact.

Compact privileges are intended to be temporary. If you move to a new state and you hold a compact privilege there, you won't be able to continue using that privilege. You'll need to apply for a license by endorsement in your new home state.

The OT Compact and CEU Requirements

Compact privileges have the same expiration date as your home state. You only need to meet the CEU requirements of your home state. You do not need to complete jurisprudence examinations in each state where you want to apply for a privilege.

All required documentation for renewal must be received, postmarked, or transmitted 60 days prior to license expiration date, by midnight.

CEU Keeper strives to simplify Alabama continuing education requirements for occupational therapists. We like to say “we read the rules so you don’t have to”. While we do read them often, the rules are subject to change and it’s always best to confirm or clarify directly from the source, the state board website.

Alabama Occupational Therapy Board

Alabama requirements

Understanding OT continuing education requirements can be confusing. When searching for this information on social media, it’s important to remember requirements can be different for each state and profession. If you ask a question about occupational therapy requirements, be sure to specify your state and either OT or OTA. With that said, you can always ask us your questions. We want to help and it's what we do!

Curious how Alabama OT CEU requirements compare to other states? Check out our state list of occupational therapy CEU requirements.