Minnesota OT License Renewal: Requirements, CE Hours & Fees (2026)
This page covers renewal requirements for Minnesota occupational therapist licenses. Data is based on direct review of Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice sources and Minnesota Statutes — including the continuing education statute as amended through 2025 — conducted in June 2026. This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. View the primary source at the Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
- Minnesota-licensed OTs preparing for biennial license renewal
- OTs who have let their Minnesota license lapse and need to understand the renewal-after-expiration process
- Travel OTs with a Minnesota home state license who want to understand compact renewal implications
Minnesota OT License Renewal — At a Glance
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial (every 2 years) |
| Renewal Fee | $185.00 |
| Late / Penalty Fee | $50.00 late fee for renewal after expiration; additional escalating penalty fees apply for practicing after expiration per Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11 |
| License Expiration | Biennial; specific expiration date type not stated on Board pages — verify in your online account |
| Grace Period | Not identified — Board instructs renewal on or before expiration date to avoid late fee |
| CE Hours Required | 24 contact hours per two-year licensure period |
| Mandatory CE Topics | None identified; at least one-half of hours must be directly related to OT practice per statute |
| Approved CE Providers | No Board pre-approval process; activities must meet statutory standards under Minn. Stat. §148.6443 — organized learning, qualified presenters, attendance verification; AOTA approval may satisfy requirements but is not explicitly required by statute |
| Renewal Method | Online only |
| Payment Methods | Visa, MasterCard, American Express |
| Lapsed License Rule | Escalating penalty fees accrue for up to 36 months of lapsed practice per Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11; beyond 36 months moves to Board discretion — contact Board for reinstatement guidance |
| Renewal Portal | Board Online Account Login |
| Board Contact | Occupational.therapy@state.mn.us | 612-548-2179 | 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 240, St. Paul, MN 55102 |
Minnesota OT licenses renew on a biennial cycle and all renewals are completed online through the Board’s account system. Renewal requires completion of 24 continuing education contact hours during the two-year licensure period. There is no mandatory CE topic requirement, but Minnesota Statute §148.6443 governs what qualifies as acceptable CE activity, including content standards, provider qualifications, and category limits. Multiple subdivisions of §148.6443 were amended in 2025 per the Revisor of Statutes’ published amendment history, so practitioners should confirm their CE activities against the current version of the statute.
The Board sends courtesy renewal notices approximately 90 days before your license expires. However, the responsibility to renew on time remains with the licensee regardless of whether a notice is received. Licenses not renewed by the expiration date incur a late fee, and any practice after expiration triggers separate, escalating penalty fees under Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11.
A distinctive feature of Minnesota’s CE framework is that the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers. OTs are responsible for ensuring their CE activities meet the standards in §148.6443 — including the requirement that sponsors either hold AOTA approval or be conducted by individuals with appropriate expertise. Random audits are conducted on a percentage of renewals, and CE records must be retained for two years after the end of the licensure period.
Minnesota OT Renewal Requirements
Continuing Education — 24 Hours
Licensed occupational therapists must earn a minimum of 24 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year licensure period. All hours must be earned between the effective and expiration dates of the license. If your license was issued for a period shorter than two years, a prorated number of hours applies — your exact requirement will be shown in your online account.
At least one-half of the required contact hours must be directly related to occupational therapy practice per Minn. Stat. §148.6443 Subd. 3(b). The remaining hours may relate to OT practice, the delivery of OT services, or the practitioner’s current professional role.
CE Category Limits
Minnesota’s CE statute sets limits on certain activity types per Minn. Stat. §148.6443 Subd. 3. The following activities qualify for CE credit but are subject to caps:
- Teaching, student supervision, and research: A maximum of one-half of the required contact hours in any two-year period may come from teaching CE or OT-related courses, supervising OT or OTA students from ACOTE-accredited programs, and OT-related research activities.
- Personal skills, CPR, and committee participation: A maximum of two contact hours per two-year period may come from personal skill topics (career burnout, communication skills, human relations), basic life support and CPR training, and participation for at least one year on a professional committee or board.
For detailed interpretation of how specific activities are categorized, practitioners should review Minn. Stat. §148.6443 Subd. 3 directly or contact the Board, as some category determinations involve Board interpretive guidance in addition to statutory text.
CE Provider Standards — No Pre-Approval
Minnesota does not have a process for pre-approval of CE courses. Sponsors and practitioners are responsible for ensuring activities comply with Minn. Stat. §148.6443 Subd. 2, which requires that qualifying activities constitute an organized program of learning, reasonably advance OT knowledge and skills, be presented by sponsors with mechanisms to verify participation and maintain attendance records for at least three years, and be conducted by presenters with appropriate education, training, and experience in the subject matter. AOTA-approved sponsors may satisfy these requirements, but AOTA approval is not explicitly required by statute — practitioners should evaluate each activity against the statutory standards directly.
Activities That Do Not Qualify
The following do not qualify for CE credit: hospital patient rounds, entertainment or recreational activities, volunteering, non-educational association meetings, and employment orientation or routine training required by an employer.
How to Renew Your Minnesota OT License
- Log into your Board online account.
- Complete the renewal form online and confirm your continuing education completion per Minn. Stat. §148.6443.
- Pay the $185.00 renewal fee by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.
- Save your confirmation number. New license cards are mailed to your address on file after payment.
- Use the License Lookup tool to verify your renewed license and new expiration date.
You must update your name, address, and employment information with the Board within 30 days of any changes, as required by Minn. Stat. §148.6428. All Board notices sent to your address on file are legally considered received.
Renewal After Expiration
If your Minnesota OT license expires, you must stop practicing and stop using protected OT titles immediately. Practicing after expiration triggers escalating penalty fees under Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11, assessed on a per-month basis for up to 36 months, based on the statutory renewal fee. The Board’s fee schedule notes the fee for the first month and each subsequent month up to 36 months — at the current $185.00 renewal fee, these penalties can accumulate significantly over time.
After 36 months of lapsed practice, the penalty framework described in §148.6445 Subd. 11 does not specify further consequences — at that point, the matter moves into Board discretion, which may include a reinstatement process, reapplication, or additional background check requirements. Contact the Board directly if your license has been expired for an extended period.
OT Compact and Minnesota License Renewal
Minnesota is a participating member of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). For Minnesota-licensed OTs who hold compact privileges in other member states, maintaining an active, unencumbered Minnesota license is a foundational requirement for retaining those privileges — home state license status is a key factor under the compact framework.
For OTs practicing in Minnesota under compact privileges from another home state, your renewal obligations are primarily governed by your home state’s requirements. However, compact privilege maintenance also depends on compact commission rules and privilege-state requirements — it is not purely a home state matter. If you are considering changing your home state to Minnesota, the Board’s licensing page lists a compact privilege conversion application pathway.
Because the OT Compact is in phased implementation, contact the Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice directly at Occupational.therapy@state.mn.us to confirm current compact renewal and privilege procedures before making any practice decisions based on compact status.
- Renew before expiration. There is no identified grace period. A late fee of $50.00 applies on the first day after expiration, and practicing on an expired license triggers much larger escalating penalty fees.
- Keep your CE records for 2 years. Random audits are conducted. Documentation must be maintained for two years after the last day of the biennial period, even after renewal is submitted.
- No pre-approved course list exists. You are responsible for verifying that any CE activity meets the standards in Minn. Stat. §148.6443 before counting it toward your renewal requirement.
- Update your contact info promptly. By statute, you must update name, address, and employment information within 30 days of changes. Board notices sent to your address on file are considered legally received.
- Courtesy notices are not guaranteed. The Board sends renewal notices approximately 90 days before expiration, but it is your responsibility to renew on time whether or not you receive a notice.
Relevant Statutes
- Minn. Stat. §148.6443 — Continuing Education Requirements (amended 2025)
- Minn. Stat. §148.6445 — Fees and Penalty Fees
- Minn. Stat. §148.6428 — Licensee Duty to Maintain Current Contact Information
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 148 — Occupational Therapy Practice
Related Pages
- Minnesota OT Initial Licensing Requirements
- Wisconsin OT License Renewal
- Iowa OT License Renewal
- Occupational Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a Minnesota OT license need to be renewed?
Minnesota OT licenses renew biennially — every two years. All renewals are completed online through the Board’s account system. Source: Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Renewal Information
What is the renewal fee for a Minnesota OT license?
The biennial renewal fee for an occupational therapist is $185.00. A late fee of $50.00 applies if renewal is submitted after the expiration date. Additional escalating penalty fees apply for any period of practice on an expired license under Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11. Source: Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Fees
How many CE hours are required for Minnesota OT renewal?
Licensed occupational therapists must earn 24 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year licensure period. At least one-half of the hours must be directly related to occupational therapy practice. If your license was issued for a period shorter or longer than two years, a prorated requirement applies — check your online account for your specific requirement. Source: Minn. Stat. §148.6443
Does Minnesota pre-approve CE courses for OT renewal?
No. Minnesota does not have a process for pre-approval of CE courses or providers. Occupational therapists and CE sponsors are responsible for ensuring activities meet the requirements of Minn. Stat. §148.6443, including standards for organized learning, presenter qualifications, and attendance verification. Source: Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Continuing Education
What happens if I practice on an expired Minnesota OT license?
Practicing occupational therapy or using protected OT titles after your license expires triggers escalating penalty fees under Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11, assessed on a per-month basis for up to 36 months. After 36 months, the matter moves to Board discretion, which may include a reinstatement process. You must stop practicing and stop using protected titles immediately upon expiration. Source: Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Fees; Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Subd. 11
Are CE records subject to audit in Minnesota?
Yes. The Board conducts random audits on a percentage of renewals. Licensees must keep all CE documentation — including certificates, transcripts, and attendance records — for two years after the last day of the biennial licensure period in which the hours were earned. Renewal applications submitted after the expiration date may also be subject to a CE audit. Source: Minn. Stat. §148.6443 Subd. 6
Page History
- 2026-06-08 — Page created. Data sourced from Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice and Minnesota Statutes (including §148.6443 as amended through 2025) reviewed June 2026.