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. Michigan OT continuing education requirements are developed by the Michigan 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 Michigan OTA CEU requirements here.
If anything we've shared has helped you, you can help us by using our app or the affiliate links on this page. The affiliate links don't cost you anything, and they support our efforts to provide this content.
Total CEUs Required
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.
Total CEUs required: 20
CEU Due Date: It varies
As an OT in Michigan, you need 20 CEUs every two years, the date depends on your initial license date.
First Renewal Rules
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.
To find out if Michigan requires OTs to complete CEUs for the first renewal, visit the Michigan board of occupational therapy website. You can find the link below.
Special Requirements
Pain and Symptom Management - 1 CEU
Human Trafficking (one time only) - 0 CEUs
Implicit Bias - 2 CEUs
Some states have requirements regarding specific topics or activity types. There may be a certain number of CEUs required, or you may have to complete a particular course or exam. The CEUs you earn for special requirements can usually be applied toward your total.
Michigan requires occupational therapists to complete the following as part of their total CEU requirement.
Pain and Symptom Management - 1 CEU
At least 1 hour of the continuing education shall be earned in the area of pain and symptom management.
Human Trafficking (one time only) - 0 CEUs
Per the Michigan OT licensing guide: "Beginning in 2019, and all renewals thereafter, licensees seeking renewal must have completed training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.1215 prior to renewing their license. The training must only be completed one time."
Implicit Bias - 2 CEUs
“A minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant’s license or registration cycle. Unless prohibited by the code or rules, this training may be used to satisfy other training or continuing education requirements for license renewal.”
Source: Michigan
Choosing Courses
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 Michigan, you shouldn't assume all courses on that site are approved for OTs in Michigan. 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!
Medbridge offers the largest selection with 1,800+ online OT continuing education courses including recorded courses, podcasts and live webinars.
You can read our Medbridge review to learn more about why we love it and continue to use it.
Use April's best Medbridge promo code CEUKEEPER to save $106 on your Medbridge subscription.
OccupationalTherapy.com offers a lower-priced option with 600+ evidence-based courses including live webinars, recorded webinars, text courses and audio courses.
Use our promo code CEUKEEPER to get an extra month free - 13 months for the price of 12 - on your OccupationalTherapy.com subscription.
Compact Privileges
Compact privileges: No
Michigan 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.
Additional Notes
NEW - Effective March 19, 2026: There is no longer a live requirement or a limit on how many hours may be earned online or by electronic media, such as videos, internet web-based seminars, video conferences, on-line continuing education programs, and on-line journal articles that are asynchronous and not interactive.
Sources
CEU Keeper strives to simplify Michigan 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.
Conclusion
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 Michigan OT CEU requirements compare to other states? Check out our state list of occupational therapy CEU requirements.