CONTINUING EDUCATION
Your hours, your certificate, your renewal.
There's more flexibility in how CE hours work than most therapists realize. Here's a plain-language guide to what counts, how it works, and why you don't need to wait for an approved provider stamp to make these hours meaningful.
Here's something most continuing education providers don't tell you: in most states and for most credentials, you are responsible for self-reporting your own CE hours — and what your licensing board or credentialing body actually requires is documentation of what you completed, not a stamp from a specific approved organization. A certificate of completion with the course title, contact hours, instructor credentials, and provider information is the standard. That's exactly what Responsive Therapy provides.
UNDERSTANDING HOW CE WORKS
The approved provider myth
Many therapists assume that continuing education only counts if it comes from an "approved provider" — AOTA-approved, ASHA-approved, or otherwise credentialed by a national body. That assumption leads people to pass over genuinely excellent learning because a box wasn't checked by a third party.
The reality is more nuanced. Most licensing boards and credentialing bodies require that CE hours be relevant to your practice, documented appropriately, and completed through a qualified provider. They do not require that every course carry a specific organization's approval stamp. What they want to see is that you engaged in meaningful professional learning — and that you have documentation to show for it.
Responsive Therapy course content is grounded in evidence, directly relevant to pediatric practice, and documented with a full certificate of completion. That is what your board is looking for.
BY DISCIPLINE
What to know for your credential
Occupational Therapists
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION PROVIDED
OT continuing education requirements are set at the state level and administered through your state licensing board, with NBCOT managing recertification separately. Understanding how these two systems work together saves most OTs significant time and money.
NBCOT RECERTIFICATION
NBCOT accepts CE hours from a wide range of providers — not only AOTA-approved sources. RT courses qualify as professional development units (PDUs) for NBCOT renewal. Explorations alone provides 8 PDUs.
DUAL USE OF HOURS
For most OTs, the same RT course hours can satisfy both your NBCOT renewal and your state licensure renewal in the same cycle. One course. Two requirements met.
STATE LICENSURE
Most state OT boards accept hours from qualified CE providers regardless of AOTA approval status. Check your state board's specific language — it typically says "qualified provider" or "relevant professional development," not "AOTA-approved only."
YOUR CERTIFICATE INCLUDES
Course title, your full name, date completed, contact hours, instructor name and credentials, and provider information — everything your board needs to verify completion.
HOW TO VERIFY FOR YOUR STATE
We are confident in what we are sharing here. But, for good measure, if you want to be sure, look up your state OT practice act or licensing board website and search for the CE requirements section. Look for language about what qualifies as a qualified provider — all states are broader than therapists expect. If you're ever unsure, contact your state board directly or reach out to us.
Speech-Language Pathologists
CHECK YOUR STATE REQUIREMENTS
SLP CE requirements vary by state and by whether you hold ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). Here's how to think through what applies to you.
IF YOU HOLD ASHA CCC
ASHA requires ASHA-approved CEUs for CCC renewal. RT courses are not currently ASHA-approved, so they cannot fulfill your ASHA CEU requirement. Your state license renewal may have different — and more flexible — rules.
STATE LICENSURE
Many states accept general CE hours from qualified providers for SLP license renewal, independent of ASHA approval. Check your state board's specific requirements — the rules for your license and your ASHA CCC are separate.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
All participants receive a full certificate of completion. Many SLPs find this sufficient for their state license renewal, even when it cannot be applied to ASHA CCC renewal.
OUR HONEST POSITION
If your primary renewal need is ASHA CEUs for your CCC, these courses won't fulfill that right now. If your renewal need is your state license — or if you simply want to invest in the most important professional development of your clinical life and let the paperwork sort itself out — we'd love to have you. Reach out with questions and we'll help you figure out what applies to your situation.
Physical Therapists
CHECK YOUR STATE REQUIREMENTS
PT continuing education requirements are set by your state physical therapy board. Requirements vary considerably — some states are very flexible about what qualifies, others are more specific. Here's how to find out where you stand.
RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE
RT content — therapeutic use of self, co-regulation, nervous system science, relational presence — is directly applicable to pediatric PT practice and would generally satisfy a "relevant to practice" requirement.
STATE LICENSURE
Most state PT boards require that CE be relevant to physical therapy practice and completed through a qualified provider. Many do not require APTA or FSBPT approval specifically. Check your state board's CE rules directly.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
All participants receive a full certificate documenting contact hours, course content, and instructor credentials — the documentation most state PT boards require for self-reported CE.
HOW TO CHECK
Visit your state PT board's website and look at the CE requirements section. Most states list what qualifies — and many are considerably more flexible than therapists assume. If you'd like help figuring out whether RT hours apply to your renewal, reach out and we'll work through it with you.
Other pediatric providers
VARIES BY CREDENTIAL
Early intervention specialists, play therapists, mental health clinicians, developmental specialists, and school-based providers are all warmly welcome in RT courses. Whether these hours count toward your specific renewal depends on your licensing board or credentialing body — but the answer is often more favorable than people expect.
HOW TO CHECK
Contact your licensing board or credentialing body and ask whether CE hours from a qualified provider in a clinically relevant area satisfy your renewal requirements. Most do.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
A certificate of completion documenting your name, course title, contact hours, completion date, and instructor credentials — the standard documentation most boards and credentialing bodies require.
WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK US FIRST
If you're unsure whether RT hours will count toward your renewal, reach out before you register. We'll give you an honest answer and help you verify with your board if needed.
COMMON QUESTIONS
CEU questions, answered plainly
Why doesn't Responsive Therapy have AOTA approval?
Because it isn't necessary. AOTA provider approval is a paid designation that adds administrative overhead without changing the quality of the learning or its acceptability to most licensing boards. The vast majority of OT licensing boards and NBCOT accept CE hours from qualified providers — they don't require an AOTA stamp. We invest our resources in the quality of the content and the rigor of the certification, not in organizational branding that feels more like filling out forms in a complicated process to generate revenue than in verifying the quality of the content. Your certificate of completion is what your board actually needs.
How do I receive my certificate?
Certificates are issued upon completion of the course and any required post-course components. For Explorations, you receive your certificate at the end of the live session day. For Reflections, certificates are issued after all components are completed. You'll receive it by email and it will also be available in your course portal.
What information is on the certificate?
Your full name, course title, completion date, contact hours, instructor name and credentials, and provider information. This is the standard documentation required by most licensing boards and credentialing bodies for self-reported CE.
Can the same hours count for both NBCOT and my state OT license?
For most OTs, yes. NBCOT accepts PDUs from qualified CE providers, and most state OT boards accept hours from the same sources. That means one RT course can typically satisfy both renewal requirements in the same cycle. We recommend confirming with your state board, as requirements vary slightly across states.
I'm an SLP and I need ASHA CEUs specifically. What should I do?
If your ASHA CCC renewal requires ASHA-approved CEUs specifically, RT courses cannot fulfill that requirement right now. Check whether your state license renewal — which is separate from your ASHA CCC — accepts general CE hours, as many state boards do. You're still very welcome here, and we'd love to help you figure out what applies to your situation before you register.
I still have a question about my specific credential or state.
Please reach out. CE requirements vary enough across disciplines, states, and credentialing bodies that we'd rather have a direct conversation with you than leave you guessing. We'll respond personally.
READY TO REGISTER
Your hours, your renewal, your practice.
See the full 2026 course schedule and find the Explorations session that works for you.