Continuing Education Requirements

On April 29, 2022, the Board of Allied Health Professions issued regulations requiring licensees to complete continuing competence activities (i.e., continuing education) before renewal. All licensees should review the new regulations on Board of Allied Health Professionals.

As part of your renewal application, you will be required to certify that you have completed all continuing competence activities required to renew your license. If you do not so certify, the Board will not renew your license, even if you submit your renewal application, until you demonstrate compliance.

According to 259 CMR 7.01

7.01: Continuing Competence Requirements

(1) Licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants (hereinafter collectively "physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals") are required, as a condition of license renewal, to complete a minimum of 24 points of Board recognized activities for maintaining continuing competence during the preceding biennial renewal period. For each renewal period, each physical and occupational therapy professional's continuing competency points must include two points in ethics, laws and regulations governing practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or some combination thereof.

Clarification regarding MAOT’s Role in the

New Continuing Competency Licensure Requirements

All OT and OTA licensure regulations, statutes and enforcement are controlled by the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure at the Department of Public Health (DPH). Representatives of MAOT (the member-based professional association for OTs, OTAs and OT/OTA students) and/or the lobbyist retained by MAOT will attend public hearings at the Board of Allied Health Professionals regarding new licensure regulations to ask questions, seek clarification, and provide interpretations for MAOT members.

MAOT is very mindful about its communication regarding licensure requirements as this is governed by DPH, not MAOT.

MAOT provides resources and interpretations regarding these new regulations for MAOT members.

MAOT will be offering course providers with a course review and approval service through our newly developed Approved Provider Process. This service (with a fee) reviews courses for quality and evidence-based practice. Courses are approved if they meet guidelines established by MAOT. If courses are approved through this process, the course meets the regulatory requirements for points towards continuing competency for licensure.

MAOT does not assist the DPH in determining if all courses a licensee submits meet the regulatory requirements.  Nor does MAOT or DPH keep track of courses for licensees.  It is up to the individual licensee to maintain their own professional records.

MAOT members can ask questions from MAOT Leadership regarding continuing competency requirements. 

Please refer to these documents for details:

259 CMR 7.00: Continuing Competence

Continuing Competency Compliance

For additional questions regarding interpretation of these regulations, please contact the MA Board of Allied Health at alliedhealth@mass.gov

Click here for MAOT-Approved continuing education courses