You Graduated, Now What?: Navigating the State Licensure Process

This course is discounted for TNOTA members.

You Graduated, Now What?: Navigating the State Licensure Process

Self Paced 1 Hour Online Course
$20 ($15 for TNOTA Members)
NO CE Credit 

This course is created by the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association.

If you need assistance or accommodations, please contact us at Info@AspireOT.us
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This course was recorded at the 2021 Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference.

Please note this course is intended for students and does not carry CE credit.

This short course is hosted by recent OT/OTA graduates who hope to provide helpful tips to assist OT/OTA students, new graduates, and new state practitioners in successfully navigating the Tennessee state licensure process. The course will discuss each step required to complete the application process from creating an account with the TN Department of Health to gathering supporting documentation and beyond.

The occupational therapy professional development course will discuss the pros and cons as well as the process for obtaining a limited permit versus the traditional license. From their experiences, theyl discuss realistic time frames and expectations with licensure approval. Overall, this course is designed to boost new graduates' confidence by providing descriptive resources needed to navigate the licensure process efficiently.

Presented by: 
Savannah Carroll, OTD, OTR/L
Carly Fennell, OTD, OTR/L
Chanté Bowens, OTD, OTR/L
Helene Gattie, COTA



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Learning objectives
After completion of this occupational therapy continuing education course, participants will be able to:
  • Briefly outline and demonstrate the steps to apply for Tennessee state licensure.
  • Describe personal accounts from recent graduates on their experiences
  • Explain the steps needed to navigate the Tennessee state licensure process confidently.
Instructor bio
Savannah Carroll, OTD, OTR/L
TNOTA Guest Instructor

After earning a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Georgia, Savannah entered the occupational therapy world to explore her passion for disability advocacy and helping others live full and meaningful lives despite disability or chronic conditions. She is a recent OTD graduate from Belmont University and is currently practicing in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Her academic research was in early pediatric power mobility, and she maintains current research interests in neurological conditions and assistive technology.


Carly Fennell, OTD, OTR/L
TNOTA Guest Instructor

Carly is a Spring 2021 OTD graduate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is an Alabama native and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She currently reside in Chattanooga, TN, and practice in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Her academic research and advocacy efforts centered around OT student wellbeing. Her current practice and advocacy interests include OT's role in cognition, neurological conditions, and holistic elder care.


Chanté Bowens, OTD, OTR/L
TNOTA Guest Instructor

Chanté has lived in many different states but remained in TN for the longest. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Science at Clemson University in Clemson, SC. After which, she attended Belmont University to study occupational therapy and earned her OTD in Spring 2021. Her academic research focused on support and resources for working family caregivers of older adults. Her current practice and research interests include geriatrics, neurological conditions, low vision, dementia care, assistive technology, and aging in place.


Helene Gattie, COTA
TNOTA Guest Instructor

Helene is a Spring 2021 graduate of Nashville State Community College’s OTA program. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Canisius College in 2012. She is the 2021 recipient of the OTA academic and leadership award from Nashville State, and a member of TNOTA’s student involvement committee. She is originally from NJ, and lived in TN from 2014-2017, and returned in 2019.


Completion Requirements
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In order to receive the certificate of completion, participants must meet ALL of the following criteria:
  • Complete payment or TNOTA membership log in for course enrollment
  • View full duration of presentation recordings
  • Pass the course exam with a score of 80% or greater
Please note that no credit or certificate will be issued unless all criteria is met.  Partial credit will not be issued.  
cancellation policy
Live Courses and Webinars
Learner cancellations: In the event that the learner requests to cancel or is unable to attend a course, a refund for the total paid for the course will be granted if Aspire OT is notified via email at info@aspireot.us within 10 business days prior to date of the scheduled course, minus a non-refundable registration fee of 25% of registration price.  If the learner provides notification of cancellation less then 10 business days prior to the scheduled course, the learner will be offered the opportunity to attend the same webinar on an alternate date or enrollment in the recorded on-demand version of that webinar, instead of a refund.  

No refunds will be issued after a course has been attended for more than 30 minutes.  Partial credit will not be issued.  

Provider cancellations: In the event of inclement weather or other event resulting in the inability for a live course to be provided within the scheduled time, learners will be offered an alternate date or a full refund for registration paid.
On-Demand web Courses 
Web courses will remain available to learners for 1 year. No refunds will be available for web courses that have been attended or viewed for greater than 30 minutes. In the event of a refund, the learner will be unenrolled in the course immediately upon issuance of a refund. No refunds will be issued for any course in which a certificate has been issued.  

Course Author

Logo for Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association with blue letters and graphic spell TNOTA
This occupational therapy continuing education course is being offered as part of Aspire OT's State Association Partnership Program. This course is discounted for TNOTA Members.