Stop Overpaying for CEUs: Smarter, Affordable Options for Occupational Therapists
Still paying $100 every time you need a CEU? What if there was a better way—one that’s easier on your budget and actually helps you in your day-to-day practice?
I’m Dr. Brandy Archie, occupational therapist and founder of OT Connected by AskSAMIE. Today, I’ll walk you through how to meet your continuing education requirements without wasting money or time—and how to walk away with skills you can use at work tomorrow.
Because your CEUs shouldn’t just check a box. They should fuel your confidence, grow your impact, and keep your license secure—without draining your wallet.
What CEUs Are—and Why They Matter
CEUs—or Continuing Education Units—are how state licensing boards ensure occupational therapists stay current in their practice. Most states require between 20 and 30 contact hours every 1–2 years.
But here’s the tricky part: every state’s rules are different. Some require ethics, others limit self-study, and a growing number mandate courses on topics like implicit bias or human trafficking prevention.
And no one wants to spend hours digging through dense PDFs to figure it out.
💡 That’s why OT Connected’s AI-powered tool pulls your state’s requirements straight from the practice act and gives them back in plain English. No second-guessing, no wasted time.
The Truth About Low-Cost, High-Impact CEUs
The good news? Affordable, practical CEUs do exist. You just have to know where to look.
Here are some of the best low-cost or free OT CEU providers:
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AOTA (aota.org): Free CEUs included in membership—journal quizzes, ethics modules, on-demand recordings.
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OccupationalTherapy.com: One free course to start, then unlimited for $99/year. That’s less than $1 per course if you use it regularly.
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OT Potential: Great for research-driven OTs—CEUs tied to journal articles and a podcast.
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CDC and NIH: Free public health, disability, and falls prevention CEUs.
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OT Schoolhouse: Especially for school-based OTs—podcasts, webinars, and a PD membership.
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Universities (BU, MGH Institute, etc.): Free CEU webinars for alumni and the public.
These options prove you don’t need to pay $100+ for every course. With a little strategy, you can meet your requirements for a fraction of the cost.
CEU Hacks for Busy OTs
CEUs don’t have to be stressful. With the right hacks, they can actually become a professional growth tool:
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Schedule CEUs like workouts. Block one hour a month and you’ll never cram at the last minute.
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Use AI learning tools. Upload transcripts or articles into NotebookLM or ChatGPT to generate summaries, flashcards, or quizzes.
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Stay organized. Save certificates to Google Drive or your OT Connected profile so they’re ready at renewal.
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Choose CEUs with purpose. Don’t just check boxes—pick topics that align with your long-term goals like pelvic health, home modifications, or caregiver training.
Smarter CEUs with OT Connected
At OT Connected, we’ve designed CEUs with real therapists in mind:
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Monthly CEUs under $10—budget-friendly without sacrificing quality.
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CEU Tracker—instantly see which requirements you’ve met for your state.
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Member-driven topics—we build CEUs around your requests, not random slideshows.
Every session is actionable, relevant across practice areas, and created by clinicians who understand the day-to-day challenges of OT.
Conclusion
The bottom line? You don’t need to overpay or waste time to keep your license current. With the right approach, you can:
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Meet every state requirement stress-free
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Learn skills you’ll actually use tomorrow
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Save hundreds of dollars per renewal cycle
👉 Ready to stop overpaying for CEUs? Join OTConnected.com today to access affordable monthly CEUs, AI-powered CEU tracking, and a community of OTs learning smarter—not harder.
