The Texas board that licenses occupational therapists proposes rules Oct. 30 for an electronic system to track its licensees’ continuing education. The agency began shopping for a vendor to run it in April, under a state law that gave health licensing boards until Sept. 1 to put one in place.
The agency posted a request for offers in April for a tracking system open to licensees, staff and the providers who teach the courses, with service to start Sept. 1, according to the solicitation. The 2025 law behind it bars a licensing agency from renewing a health practitioner’s license unless it verifies the person has met continuing education requirements, and says the tracking system’s own record satisfies that check. The system has to cost the agency nothing; the solicitation asks bidders to disclose what they would charge course providers.
The law reaches nearly every Texas health licensing board. The behavioral health council has required its licensees to log hours with CE Broker, a commercial service, since Jan. 1. The physical therapy board, which shares this agency and its staff, falls under the same deadline; the Department of Licensing and Regulation, which licenses speech-language pathologists among others, has until 2028.
Four pieces of the rulebook are in play — the board’s definitions and its chapters on continuing education, license renewal, and inactive and retired status. A proposal is only the first step: the text publishes in the Texas Register, a comment period runs, and the board can adopt no earlier than a later meeting. Its next one is set for Jan. 28, 2027. Members also take up agreed orders in 20 cases, identified on the notice by number only, that would close complaints against licensees without a hearing.
Two other items cover a search for an executive director — the process, the job posting and the applicants — and a closed session on the employment of “the Executive Director or Acting Executive Director,” standard personnel wording. The director works for the executive council that houses this board and the physical therapy board, not for this board alone. The agency’s staff page, last updated in May, lists Ralph Harper in the job; the Dispatch found nothing announcing a change, and the minutes of the board’s most recent meeting, in August, have not been posted.
Meeting at a glance
- When
- 9:00 AM, Friday, October 30, 2026. TRD 2026006258 was filed October 21 at 3:51 p.m.
- Where
- 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 10.900, Austin. The notice says the meeting may be held by videoconference, with the presiding member physically present and the room open to the public.
- Governing body & chair
- Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners — nine governor-appointed seats: four occupational therapists, two assistants, three public members. One therapist seat is vacant. Stephanie Johnston of Magnolia is presiding officer.
- Format
- Thirteen numbered items. Public comment is item three. The board may close any item under the Open Meetings Act; two of the items concern the executive director’s job.
- Live video
- None found. If the meeting is held by videoconference, the notice says an audio recording can be requested after November 5 by emailing info@ptot.texas.gov.
- Full agenda
- Secretary of State Open Meeting Viewer · OT Board page
Board members
- Stephanie Johnston — presiding officer; Magnolia; occupational therapist.
- Sally King — vice chair; Houston; occupational therapy assistant.
- Karen Gardner — secretary; Brenham; occupational therapist.
- Erin Smith — Dallas; occupational therapist.
- Lynn Wilde — Houston; occupational therapy assistant.
- Blanca Cardenas — Mission; public member.
- Chelsea Howell — McAllen; public member.
- Eddie Jessie — Houston; public member.
The board’s own roster page, last modified September 16 and read October 22, gives credentials, cities and term expirations and names these eight. Occupations Code §454.051 creates nine seats, so one therapist seat appears to be open; the governor designates the presiding officer, while the board elects its own vice chair. The board is housed in the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, which shares its Austin offices and staff and, under §452.101, employs the executive director. Meeting contact: Lea Weiss, (512) 305-6900.