FAQ
This page is a free resource from the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association (MiOTA) to support the OT community across our state.
Our volunteers have compiled answers to common questions about licensure, continuing education, and practice in Michigan.
For more in-depth guidance — including legislative updates, networking opportunities, and access to expert insight — consider joining MiOTA. Your membership strengthens our profession and ensures OTs have a strong voice in Michigan.
Index of FAQ Sections
Licensure
Including:
- How to get licensed
- Renewal
- Implicit bias
Rules & Regulations
Including:
- Board of occupational therapy
- CE approval
- Writing credentials
Practice
Including:
- Lymphedema
- Dysphagia
- Assessment by OT
- OTA Supervision
Students
Including:
- Membership rates for students
- Rules for beginning practice
lICENSING
do I need to be licensed to practice in the State of Michigan?
Yes, state licensure is mandatory to practice as an OT or OTA. You may not practice legally in the state of Michigan without a license. It‘s against the law. People found practicing without a license will be prosecuted by the state.
Please note that NBCOT registration and state licensure are separate things. Maintaining your credential with NBCOT is a voluntary for OTs and OTAs practicing in the state of Michigan. After the first year of practice, you may choose to belong or not to continue your credential through NBCOT with no penalty but this regulation differs state to state.
What steps do I need to take to earn licensure in Michigan?
The following criteria must be met to receive a license to practice occupational therapy in the state of Michigan:
- Graduate from an accredited occupational therapy program
- Pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam
- Demonstrate evidence of good moral character, which means the propensity of the person to serve the public in a fair, honest, and open manner (338.41)
- Possess a working knowledge of English language
- Pay the required fee associated with the application
- Complete fingerprinting and background check (available through Integrated Biometric Technology)
- Submit the licensure application through the state of Michigan
- Pass jurisprudence Exam (see additional FAQ below)
- Take 1 hour continuing education related to pain management
- Course on identifying victims of human trafficking (1 time requirement)
Comprehensive information about licensing and the practice of OT in Michigan is available on the State website on the MICHIGAN – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST LICENSING GUIDE.
Does the State of Michigan require that OTs be a member of NBCOT or do they just need to have a license in Michigan?
Maintaining NBCOT registration or certification (beyond what you need to take the initial exam) is not required in the state of Michigan to maintain licensure.
Does the State of Michigan offer a temporary license for new graduates who have yet to pass their board exam?
No. Temporary licenses are not available in the State of Michigan.
What is required to renew an oT or OTA license in Michigan?
Below is a summary of requirements but keep in mind LARA is the primary resource for renewing and providing up-to-date information on licensing. Always check their website and resources for information.
1. Implicit Bias Training: 1 hour per year. This means you'll need 2 hours for a 2 year renewal cycle.
2. Human Trafficking Training: Beginning October 19, 2022, Proof of completion of a one-time training to identify victims of human trafficking is required.
3. Continuing Education Requirement: Beginning for license renewals in 2019, Proof of 20 continuing education contact hours over 2 year renewal period is required.
- A minimum of 10 hours must be completed in-person with live, synchronous contact.
- A minimum of 1 hour of continuing education in pain and symptom management is required.
(NBCOT requires 36 hours per 3 year renewal cycle.)
As a licensed occupational therapist in Michigan, you are responsible for knowing and fulfilling all continuing education (CE) requirements for license renewal.
While you do not need to submit proof of completion when renewing your license, you must retain documentation of all CEUs for four years from the date of renewal. If selected for a random audit, you will be required to provide copies of your documentation confirming completion of the required CE hours.
To make record-keeping easier, you can use tools such as the NBCOT Credit Tracker or CE Broker.
For the most current licensing information, view the LARA Occupational Therapy Licensing Guide.
As a reminder, when your license lapses, you can no longer practice your profession nor can you identify yourself as a licensed or registered individual. Reimbursement for your services may be jeopardized. Practicing without a valid license is a felony under the Public Health Code and can result in legal proceedings as well as disciplinary actions.
What is the Jurisprudence exam?
All applicants for licensure as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant must take and pass the jurisprudence examination before licensure can be issued. The passing score on the exam is 75%. The jurisprudence examination covers material that can be found in the Administrative Rules of the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy and the Michigan Public Health Code Article 1, parts 11 and 12 and Article 15, parts 161 and 183
The Jurisprudence Examination (see page 3) is now part of the application for an OT/OTA license in the state of Michigan for anyone applying for licensure after August 23rd, 2016 and needs to be completed through PSI (www.psiexams.com).
The Jurisprudence Examination covers information from two documents:
1. Michigan Public Health Code
2. Michigan Rules and Regulations for an OT/OTA
How long are the Occupational Therapist/Occupational Therapy Assistant licenses issued for? Can I renew my license early? How will I know when I need to renew?
Michigan has a 2 year renewal cycle. You will receive a renewal application 45-60 days prior to the expiration date of your license and it will state the renewal fee required.
The state's renewal system is not set up to allow you to renew your license early. The State will email and/or mail you renewal information approximately 45-60 days before the expiration date of your current license. Remember to notify the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in writing of any address changes you have. It is your responsibility to renew your license on time. Failure to notify the State of an address change does not exempt you from renewing your license on time. You can renew online at www.michigan.gov/elicense .
Does licensure reciprocity exist between Michigan and other states?
No, Michigan does not currently have licensure reciprocity with other states.
Occupational therapists must apply for a separate license to practice in Michigan, even if they hold a license elsewhere. While the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact is designed to allow licensed OTs to practice across participating states, Michigan is not passed this through the state Senate.
Expanding interstate practice and joining the OT Compact remain top advocacy priorities for MiOTA.
Stay informed and help amplify our advocacy efforts by becoming a MiOTA member.
What are the re-entry requirements for the OT profession in Michigan?
Michigan is a licensure state and therefore we do not require certification through NBCOT.
Your specific process to re-enter practice in the state of Michigan depend on a number of variables, including:
- if you maintained your licensure/practice in another state.
- length of time since you had a license
- whether you maintained CEUs
If you did not have licensure in another state and did not have active certification then there are parameters that you need to take into account. If you did not maintain licensure, a good place to start is your certification via NBCOT: http://www.nbcot.org/certification-renewal-process.
You can find additional information regarding the process on the LARA website. If you're still having trouble navigating the process, consider calling the OT division of LARA directly to get information based on your situation.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
What is the Board of Occupational Therapy?
The Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists is authorized by the state legislature to develop rules and regulations and monitor the profession so that public safety is protected. The Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists is a legislative arm of the state and is not related to the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association.
The current members of the OT Board of Michigan are:
| Donald Frega | Professional Member | Royal Oak | Term Expires: 12/30/25 |
| Camron Moorehead | Professional Member | Saline | Term Expires: 12/30/25 |
| Matthew Swan | Professional Member | Eaton Rapids | Term Expires: 12/31/25 |
| Melissa Mafiah | Public Member | Livonia | Term Expires: 12/31/23 |
| Gregory Zimmerman | Public Member | 12/31/25 | |
| Cristian LaBar | Professional Member | Howell | 12/31/28 |
| Barry Lesnick | Public Member | West Bloomfield | 12/31/25 |
Information about OT regulation and the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists can be found on LARA's website. You
You can also check out The Public Health Code, which includes the regulation of OT profession.
What is the difference between MiOTA and the Board of Occupational Therapy?
MiOTA and the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy are two separate and independent organizations that serve different purposes.
MiOTA
A volunteer-run, membership-based professional association
Focuses on advocacy, professional networking, and continuing education opportunities for occupational therapists across Michigan
Represents and supports the profession — but does not issue licenses or enforce rules
Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy
A state-appointed regulatory body whose members are appointed by the Governor
Responsible for licensing, rule-making, and compliance concerns related to OT practice in Michigan
Handles official regulatory questions and enforcement issues
MiOTA often helps share updates from the Board to keep practitioners informed, but questions about licensing or compliance should be directed to the Board itself.
For professional development, advocacy, and advancing the field of OT in Michigan, MiOTA is your go-to resource.
Can I have any input into the development of the rules and regulations?
The rules and regulations that govern occupational therapy practice in Michigan are created by the state’s licensure board and the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy.
While individual practitioners cannot directly write or approve these regulations, your input can make a difference. By joining the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association (MiOTA), you add your voice to collective advocacy efforts that shape legislation and policy in the best interest of our profession and the people we serve.
How many CEUs can I receive from the MIOTA conference?
Conferences with MiOTA are a great way to get continuing education credits for your license renewal. The actually number of credits you receive depends on whether you attend the fall conferences or the spring conference and how many sessions you choose to attend. Visit the promotion page for the next conference to get an idea of how many CEUs will be available at that event.
What is the correct way to indicate occupational therapy credentials? OTRL or OTR/L?
Michigan rules and regulations denote that we do not add the forward slash (/). That means you should use just OTRL or OTAL without the /.
Does MiOTA approve courses for continuing education units for occupational therapists in Michigan? If not, do you know who does?
We currently do not have an approval process as part of our organization. There are no approval processes for Michigan besides what's provided through AOTA. However, most courses will meet NBCOT renewal requirements regardless.
pRACTICE
Can a therapist in Michigan treat a patient with lymphedema without certification? Is the training by a certified therapist to a COTA who has not been certified sufficient?
Since there is an extremely high liability and risk for putting patients into CHF or other complications if it isn't done correctly the preference is you be certified or under the supervision of someone is. Our licensure does not require we be certified to perform lymphedema therapy.
However, our licensure does require competency in the areas we do practice in and therefore, whether certified or not, the provider should have sufficient training and/or supervision/guidance to be able to manage, prevent and lower secondary risks of performing lymphedema therapy as well as be able to provide proof of their competency or understanding if their skills are called into question.
How often does in-person supervision need to occur or how often does phone/other supervision need to occur? How should the supervision be documented? Should it be documented per COTA or per consumer?
Yes, the state practice act clearly defines a live meeting (does not need to be face to face can be telephonic) for supervision monthly that is documented and signed by both parties. The documentation is by the COTA supervised, not consumer. However, based on regulatory requirements co-signature of notes are often required not be state practice act but by payer requirements. There is no particular document that is required. However, the State Practice Act defines that the OTL needs to determine if the OTAL requires general or direct supervision for any interventions. It's a good idea to include IF any interventions require direct supervision into the documentation you're doing for your supervision meetings.
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If you get a script for OT from an NP or PA , is their signature enough on the evaluation or does it also require the physician's signature ( according to Medicare rules)?
NP's and PA's are referred to as Non-physician Providers by Medicare, commonly abbreviated as NPP or NPP's.
Michigan‘s OT practice act does not restrict us from accepting scripts from NP's and PA's, however, historically, Michigan's PT practice did restrict them, so you may have heard of the restriction because of that.
In regards to Medicare, scripts from NPP's are acceptable. Prior to 1998, they were only acceptable in rural health care areas (provider shortage areas).
You can read more at (majority of info you are looking for is around page 10 but up to page 10 is useful as well):
https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Monitoring-Programs/Medical-Review/Downloads/TherapyCapSlidesv10_09052012.pdf
And you may also find this helpful:
https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-00-00290.pdf
Do Occupational Therapists in the State of Michigan have direct access (i.e can provide OT services to clients without a physician's script)?
Yes, OTs are not limited in our practice act to require a script before providing evaluation and treatment. Insurance companies do often require, but if you only do cash pay, that would not affect you. The only exception that you may have is that some malpractice insurances may require you to have a script to be insurable.
What are the regulations in Michigan for providing OT services via telehealth?
Currently, Michigan OT regulations have no language regarding the capacity to deliver services via telehealth modes of service delivery. However, we are working to discuss and define actions that our MiOTA lobbyist could support us with at this time.
Does Michigan have any rules or requirements in place that would prohibit an OT from completing a dysphagia evaluation and treatment?
AOTA has a position paper regarding dysphasia and feeding issues.
The Practice of Occupational Therapy in Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2017, Vol. 71(Supplement_2), 7112410015p1–7112410015p13. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.716S04
You may want to also check with the Board of OT under LARA as our licensure also specifies that therapist‘s must be able to demonstrate/prove competency in practice areas of which they are treating.
The Michigan Occupational Therapy Association is a member-driven advocacy organization for the profession of OT in Michigan, and although we contribute via public comment to policies being made in various state levels, we do not set guidelines for training and competency in specific issues. ACOTE (the American certification for Occupational therapy education) sets minimal education guidelines for graduation from accredited programs, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) sets guidelines for practice and each state board (ours through LARA) sets guidelines for how practice is to be regulated in the state. Different states have different policies and LARA would be best able to answer that specific question for Michigan.
It's helpful to note that AOTA‘s white paper cited above does recommend higher standards for higher risk issues.
Although clinicians may have exposure to this area in classroom education, not all therapists may have clinical practice in this area when they complete fieldwork experiences. Please reference the AOTA document above. AOTA does offer a certification program for clinicians wanting to advance their skills. Info can be found in their website.
What would be the liability if a licensed OT provided treatment on a patient not assessed by them but assessed by a healthcare professional of a different discipline?
Based on our review it is not appropriate for OT to use other disciplines evaluations to develop a plan of care and implement treatment. OT can perform multi-dimensional interdisciplinary evaluations where multiple individuals are performing their respective evaluation with others present.
We recommend using the OT Practice Framework Document from AOTA (an official document) to educate on the OT Process which starts with an occupational profile; observe valued important occupations, perform assessments to characterize client factors impacting practice and then proceeding with plan of care and intervention. Our OT evaluation should be distinct from other disciplines.
STUDENTS
How long can students keep their student membership rate through MiOTA?
Students can keep their student membership rate throughout their schooling and may renew at the $30 rate for up to two years post-graduation.
Can MiOTA waive the fieldwork requirement to allow students to graduate on time, sit for the NBCOT exam and enter the field?
MiOTA is not able to make any adjustments to these requirements as this is part of the Accreditation of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requirements in order for entry level field requirements to be completed to then sit for a national examination. American Occupational Therapy Association has been contacted regarding this question as well and they agree with our understanding.
Are graduates able to practice under supervision once they've passed the NBCOT exam and have applied for licensure?
No, Michigan licensure law prohibits anyone from practicing OT without a license, including new grads whether they have passed the NBCOT exam or not.
How long from the time an occupational therapy candidate passes their NBCOT board exam until the state of Michigan is able to grant a license?
The state is able to issue licensure to an applicant as soon as all of the requirements are completed. This includes LARA receiving test results from NBCOT and any necessary documentation from your education institution upon graduation. The timeframe for the NBCOT exams results is not something that LARA can control. Each license of course may have individual circumstances, but in general once the requirements are fulfilled the license is issued immediately. For questions or problems, reach out to LARA or NBCOT.
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