Colorado Occupational Therapist License Renewal

Colorado OT licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years — a fixed profession-wide date that applies to all licensees regardless of when they were first licensed. Renewal is completed online through DPO Online Services, which opens approximately 4–5 weeks before the December 31 expiration date. Renewal fees are not published publicly and are displayed within the system during renewal.

Colorado does not use a traditional continuing education hour system. Instead, Colorado requires Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) — a structured professional development framework that begins after the first renewal of a license. CPC can be satisfied through one of three pathways: the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, Deemed Status, or a Military Exemption.

Because CPC requirements do not start until after the first renewal, new licensees who are partway through their initial license period have time to learn the system before CPC compliance is required. However, CPC must be completed to renew, reactivate an inactive license, or reinstate an expired license in subsequent cycles.

OT Compact — Renewal Implications for Colorado Licensees

Colorado is an OT Compact member state. Compact privileges depend on maintaining an active, unencumbered Colorado home-state license. If your Colorado license lapses or becomes encumbered, compact privileges in other member states are also affected. Renewing your Colorado license does not automatically renew compact privileges — those are managed separately through CompactConnect. Verify current compact privilege eligibility and renewal requirements directly through the OT Compact Commission.

Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Requirements

Colorado’s CPC system replaces the traditional CE-hour model. All licensed Colorado OTs must satisfy CPC requirements to renew, reactivate, or reinstate a license — beginning after the first renewal of their initial license. The full CPC program manual is available on the Colorado OT CPC page.

Pathway 1: Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The primary pathway. Requirements:

• Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT): Complete a structured self-assessment of your professional competencies and identify learning needs
• Learning Plan: Develop a learning plan based on your RSAT results, identifying goals and planned activities
• 24 Professional Development Activities (PDAs): Accrue and document 24 PDAs aligned with your Learning Plan goals — activity categories, caps, and qualifying activities are detailed in the CPC Program Manual available on the DPO CPC page
• Learning Form: Document completed activities on the Learning Form

Pathway 2: Deemed Status

Licensees who maintain active compliance with the continuing competency requirements of an accrediting body or entity approved by the DPO Director may satisfy CPC through Deemed Status. NBCOT certification and active compliance with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) credentialing are commonly cited examples. Verify current approved entities in the CPC Program Manual.

Pathway 3: Military Exemption

Licensees who were called to federally-funded active duty for more than 120 days for the purpose of serving in a war, emergency, or contingency may be eligible for an exemption from CPC requirements. Verify current eligibility requirements with DPO.

Lapsed and Long-Expired Licenses

Colorado permits reinstatement of expired licenses through DPO Online Services. Download the current Occupational Therapist Reinstatement Checklist from the DPO OT Applications page.

For licenses that have been expired for an extended period, additional competency documentation may be required before reinstatement. Contact DPO directly at 303-894-7800 or dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us for current reinstatement requirements before attempting to reactivate a long-lapsed license.

Inactive Status

Colorado offers inactive license status for OTs not currently practicing. Download the current Change Status to Inactive and Reactivate Inactive License forms from the DPO OT Applications page. Reactivation requires completing CPC requirements covering the period of inactivity.

How to Renew

1. Log in to DPO Online Services at apps2.colorado.gov/dora/licensing — renewals open approximately 4–5 weeks before December 31
2. Confirm your CPC compliance before renewing — complete your RSAT, Learning Plan, and 24 PDAs if using the CPD pathway, or verify Deemed Status compliance
3. Complete the online renewal application and pay the renewal fee (displayed in the system)
4. Retain all CPC documentation — DPO may audit CPC compliance

Relevant Statutes and Rules

• Colorado DPO — OT Applications and Forms (Renewal Information)
• Colorado DPO — Occupational Therapy CPC Requirements
• Colorado DPO — OT Laws and Rules
• Colorado DPO — Occupational Therapy Homepage

Related Pages

• Colorado Occupational Therapist Initial License Requirements
• Arizona OT License Renewal
• Texas OT License Renewal
• Occupational Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Colorado OT license expire?

December 31 of even-numbered years — a fixed profession-wide date (2024, 2026, 2028, etc.) that applies to all Colorado OT licensees. Renewal opens approximately 4–5 weeks before this date. Log in to your DPO Online Services account to view your specific expiration date. Source: Colorado DPO — OT Applications

Does Colorado require continuing education hours for OT renewal?

Colorado does not use a traditional CE-hour system. Instead, Colorado requires Continuing Professional Competency (CPC), which begins after the first renewal of your initial license. The primary pathway is the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, which requires completing a Reflective Self-Assessment Tool, a Learning Plan, and 24 Professional Development Activities (PDAs) from at least 2 categories, with no single category exceeding 12 PDAs. Source: Colorado DPO — OT CPC

What is Colorado’s Deemed Status CPC pathway?

Deemed Status allows licensees who satisfy the continuing professional competency requirements of an accrediting body or entity approved by the DPO Director to satisfy CPC without completing the full CPD program. Maintaining active NBCOT certification is a common example. Verify current approved entities in the CPC Program Manual at dpo.colorado.gov/OccupationalTherapy/CPC.

What happens if my Colorado OT license expires?

Colorado allows reinstatement of expired licenses through DPO Online Services. Download the current Reinstatement Checklist from the DPO OT Applications page. For licenses that have been expired for an extended period, additional competency documentation may be required. Contact DPO at 303-894-7800 or dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us before attempting reinstatement if your license has been lapsed for a significant time. Source: Colorado DPO — OT Applications

What is the Colorado OT renewal fee?

Colorado DPO does not publish renewal fees on its public-facing pages. The current fee is displayed within DPO Online Services when you log in to renew at apps2.colorado.gov/dora/licensing. Source: Colorado DPO — OT Applications

Does CPC start with my first Colorado OT license?

No. CPC requirements begin after the first renewal of your initial license. If your first license was issued during the middle of the DORA license cycle, you do not need to start working on CPC requirements until after you renew for the first time. From that second renewal cycle onward, CPC compliance is required to renew, reactivate, or reinstate your license. Source: Colorado DPO — OT CPC