The occupational therapy profession in the USA is regulated by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the respective board of state. Occupational therapy is regulated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. The main purpose of regulation is to protect consumer rights in a state or jurisdiction from unqualified or unscrupulous practitioners.
Each state has made its laws which directly affect the practice of occupational therapy. These regulations/laws are developed by regulators, who are appointed public officials of various departments in state government. Both kinds of officials make decisions that directly and indirectly affect occupational therapy practitioners.
Information Regarding Certification or Verification of OT Licensure-
An OT license indicates that an individual has met the minimum requirements of the Education Law to enter practice or use a professional title within the issuing State. A license is valid for the life of the holder unless revoked, annulled, or suspended by the Board of Regents. The Education Law requires that individual licensees periodically register with the Department and pay a fee in order to actively practice or use a professional title within the issuing State.
How to Get an OT/OTA License-
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require occupational therapists (OT) and occupational therapy assistants (OTA) to be licensed. States have similar, but not identical requirements and procedures for obtaining a license. For specific state licensure requirements always consult the state occupational therapy regulatory agency or board.
General Occupational therapy license requirements-
Any use of the titles occupational therapist (OTR) or occupational therapy assistant (COTA) within any state requires licensure as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant.
To be licensed as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant in any state you must:
- be of good moral character;
- be at least 21 years of age for licensure as an occupational therapist (for New York State);
- be at least 18 years of age for licensure as an occupational therapy assistant (for New York State);
- meet education and examination requirements.
You must submit an Application for Licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form.
Specific Occupational therapy license requirements-
- Graduate from an ACOTE accredited OT or OTA educational program.
- Complete your fieldwork requirements.
- Apply for and Pass the NBCOT® Certification Examination.
- Apply for a license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which you wish to practice or hold a license as an OT or OTA.
Many, but not all states allow practitioners to practice on a temporary OT or OTA license or limited permit while waiting to take or receive the results of the certification exam. If you fail the exam, you may not be able to continue to practice. Each state OT regulatory agency should be consulted for specific requirements and procedure.
International candidate-
If your application is based on credit granted for the completion of courses of study in a country where English is not the principal language spoken, you must demonstrate proficiency in English by passing the TOEFL examination. The minimum TOEFL iBT Scores required is 89 out of 120, which must include a minimum scaled score on Speaking Section of TOEFL iBT: 26.
Occupational therapy license verification-
Anyone can verify the license of a therapist just by visiting the state regulatory agency or their website. This helps to curb unauthorized or illegal practice. The license verification process is very simple; you can check it just by entering the name or license number in the state authority’s web portal.
An OT professional must display a current OT registration certificate; this certificate lists the OT’s name, address, and dates of the registration period. Occupational Therapy professionals must reregister every three years to practice.
Occupational therapy License Renewal-
To renew your registration as an Occupational therapist or Occupational therapy assistant, you may need to complete some minimum requirement of contact hours of approved continuing competency within each three-year renewal period. (for ex. 36 contact hours of approved CE required in New York State)
Requirement of OT license renewal-
- Application form.
- License renewal fee
- Your license number
- Social security number
- Documentation showing proof of completion of a minimum continuing Education contact hours.
Occupational therapy license reciprocity-
What is Occupational Therapy license reciprocity?
All 50 states practice reciprocity ever since NBCOT became standardized nationally. If your license is valid and you have clean disciplinary/legal record in your state, just apply and pay a fee to be granted another license in the state you desire.
OT license reciprocity allows therapists who hold an out-of-state license to earn a license in a receiving state, subject to meeting state-specific requirements.
How to transfer occupational therapy license to another state-
Each state has their rules and regulation for controlling professional license. Along with the specific OT license requirements, you may have to fulfill some other requirements. But, these requirements are basic in nature, so nothing worries about it. Just follow the guidelines of specific states.
The agency may ask you to submit application along with the score of NBCOT exam, Transcripts or continuing education units (CEU).
When you apply to the new state for OT license, you have to provide the verification for every license held – current and/or expired. Occupational therapy agency in your previous or current states can provide proof of verification if you send the request to their mailing address with the appropriate fee.
Occupational therapy licensure requirements by state-
Each state has its own OT rules and regulation for issuing of a license to practice. Please visit the official website of the regulatory body of a specific State. Here is the list of each state’s OT regulatory authority.
Occupational Therapy Regulatory Authority Contact List-
Alabama
Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy
64 N. Union Street Suite 734
Montgomery, AL
36130-4510
Phone: 334-353-4466
Fax: 334-353-4465
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ot.alabama.gov.
Alaska
Alaska State PT & OT Board
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK
99801-0806
Phone: (907) 465-2580
Fax: 907-465-2974
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov.
Arizona
Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
4205 N. 7TH AVENUE, STE. 305
Phoenix, AZ
85013
Phone: 602-589-8353
Fax: 602-589-8354
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.occupationaltherapyboard.az.gov/.
Arkansas
Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee
1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 340
Little Rock, AR
72201-2936
Phone: 501-296-1978
Fax: 501-296-1972
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.armedicalboard.org/.
California
California Board of Occupational Therapy
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2250
Sacramento, CA
95815
Phone: 916-263-2294
Fax: (916) 263-2701
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.bot.ca.gov/.
Colorado
Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO
80202
Phone: 303.894.7800
Fax: 303.869.2310
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.colorado.gov/DORA/OT.
Connecticut
Department of Public Health Occupational Therapy Licensure
410 Capital Avenue Mail Stop # 12APP PO BOX 340308
Hartford, CT
06134
Phone: 860-509-7603 option 7
Fax: 860-509-8457
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ct.gov/dph/.
Delaware
Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
861 Silver Lake Blvd. Suite 203 Suite 203
Dover, DE
19904
Phone: 302-677-7304
Fax: 302-739-2711
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/OT.
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy
899 North Capitol Street NE Suite 200
Washington, DC
20002
Phone: 202-442-4782
Fax: 202-724-8677
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://doh.dc.gov/.
Florida
Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C05
Tallahassee, FL
32399
Phone: 850-245-4373
Fax: 850-414-6860
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/.
Georgia
Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA
31217
Phone: 478-207-2440
Fax: 478-207-1633
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/36.
Hawaii
Hawaii Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
DCCA/PVL-Occupational Therapist Program PO Box 3469
Honolulu, HI
96801
Phone: 808-586-2693
Fax: 808-586-2874
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/occupational/.
Idaho
Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID
83720-0063
Phone: 208-327-7000
Fax: 208-334-3945
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ibol.idaho.gov/IBOL/.
Illinois
Illinois Occupational Therapy Board
320 West Washington
Springfield, IL
62786
Phone: 800-560-6420
Fax: 217-782-7645
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.idfpr.com/profs/OccTherapy.asp.
Indiana
Indiana Occupational Therapy Committee
402 W. Washington St. Room W072
Indianapolis, IN
46204
Phone: 317-234-2060
Fax: 317-233-4236
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.in.gov/pla/ot.htm.
Iowa
Iowa Board of PT and OT
Bureau of Professional Licensure Lucas State Office Bldg., 5th Floor 321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA
50319
Phone: 515-281-4413
Fax: 515-281-3121
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://idph.iowa.gov/licensure/.
Kansas
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
800 SW Jackson, Lower Level-Suite A
Topeka, KS
66612
Phone: 785-296-8563
Fax: 785-296-0852
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ksbha.org/.
Kentucky
Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy
911 Leawood Drive
Frankfort, KY
40601
Phone: (502) 564-3296 ext. 226
Fax: 502-564-4818
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://bot.ky.gov/.
Louisiana
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
State Board of Medical Examiners 630 Camp Street
New Orleans, LA
70190
Phone: 800-296-7549
Fax: 504-568-6820 x 233
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.lsbme.la.gov.
Maine
Maine Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Dept. of Prof.& Financial Regulation 35 State House Station
Augusta, ME
04333
Phone: 207-624-8626
Fax: (207) 624-8637
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.maine.gov/pfrl.
Maryland
Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Spring Grove Hospital Center, Bland Bryant Building, 4th Floor
Baltimore, MD
21228
Phone: 410-402-8558
Fax: 410-402-8561
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/botp/.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Registration Allied Health Professions Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA
02118
Phone: 617-727-3071
Fax: 617-727-2669
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/ah/.
Michigan
Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy
Department of Community Health Bureau of Health Professions P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI
48909
Phone: 517-335-0918
Fax: 517-373-2179
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/.
Minnesota
Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 415
St. Paul, MN
55164
Phone: 612 548-2179
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://mn.gov/boards/occupational-therapy/.
Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Health
Professional Licensure P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS
39215
Phone: 601-364-7360
Fax: 601-364-5057
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/30,0,82.html.
Missouri
Missouri State Board of Occupational Therapy
3605 Missouri Blvd P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO
65102
Phone: 573-751-0877
Fax: 573-526-3489
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://pr.mo.gov/octherapy.asp.
Montana
Montana Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Department of Labor and Industry PO Box 200513 301 South Park, 4th floor
Helena, MT
59620
Phone: 406-841-2385
Fax: 406-841-2305
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/otp.
Nebraska
Nebraska Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Licensure Unit, Post Office Box 94986
Lincoln, NE
68509-4986
Phone: 402-471-0547
Fax: 402-472-1152
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages.
Nevada
Nevada Board of Occupational Therapy
P.O. Box 34779
Reno, NV
89533-4779
Phone: 775-746-4101
Fax: 775-746-4105
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.nvot.info.
New Hampshire
Occupational Therapy Governing Board
121 South Fruit Street
Concord, NH
03301
Phone: 603-271-8389
Fax: 603-271-6702
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/allied-health.
New Jersey
NJ Occupational Therapy Advisory Council
PO Box 45037
Newark, NJ
07101
Phone: 973-504-6570
Fax: 973-648-4630
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ot.
New Mexico
NM Board of Examiners for Occupational Therapy
2550 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM
87505
Phone: 505-476-4827
Fax: 505-476-4645
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Occupational_Therapy.aspx.
New York
New York State Board for Occupational Therapy
The State Education Department 89 Washington Ave
Albany, NY
12234
Phone: 518-474-3817
Fax: 518-474-3706
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ot/.
North Carolina
North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy
Post Office Box 2280
Raleigh, NC
27602
Phone: 919-832-1380
Fax: 919-833-1059
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ncbot.org/.
North Dakota
North Dakota State Board of OT Practice
Post Office Box 4005, 2900 E Broadway #1
Bismarck, ND
58501-4005
Phone: 701-250-0847
Fax: 701-224-9824
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ndotboard.com.
Ohio
Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board
77 South High Street, 16th Floor
Columbus, OH
43215
Phone: 614-466-3774
Fax: 614-995-0816
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.otptat.ohio.gov.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
PO Box 18256
Oklahoma City, OK
73154
Phone: 405-962-1400
Fax: 405-848-8240
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.okmedicalboard.org/occupational_therapists.
Oregon
Oregon Occupational Therapy Licensing Board
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 407
Portland, OR
97232
Phone: 971-673-0198
Fax: 971-673-0226
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.otlb.state.or.us.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA
17105
Phone: 717-783-1389
Fax: 717-787-7769
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
PO box 10200
Santruce, PR
00908-0200
Phone: 787-723-2885 or 787-723-6849
Fax: 787-725-7903
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.salud.gov.pr/Profesionales-y-Proveedores/Pages/default.aspx.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy Practice Health Professions Regulation
Cannon Building 3 Capital Hill Room 104
Providence, RI
02908
Phone: 401-222-2828
Fax: 401-222-1272
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://sos.ri.gov/openmeetings/?page=view_entity&id=259.
South Carolina
South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy
110 Centerview Drive Suite 202 PO Box 11329
Columbia, SC
29211
Phone: 803-896-4683
Fax: 803-896-4719
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/OccupationalTherapy/.
South Dakota
South Dakota Occupational Therapy Committee
101 S. Main Ave. Ste 100
Sioux Falls, SD
57104
Phone: 605-367-7781
Fax: 605-367-7786
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.sdbmoe.gov/index.php.
Tennessee
Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy Examiners
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Heritage Place Metro Center
Nashville, TN
37243
Phone: 800-778-4123 ext. 25161
Fax: 615-741-7698
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/ot-board.
Texas
Texas Executive Council of PT & OT Examiners
333 Guadalupe Street #2-510
Austin, TX
78701
Phone: 512-305-6900
Fax: 512-305-6970
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ptot.texas.gov/occupational-therapy.
Utah
Utah Occupational Therapy Board
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT
84111
Phone: 801-530-6628
Fax: 801-530-6767
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/occupational_therapy.html.
Vermont
Vermont Occupational Therapy Advisors
89 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Montpelier, VT
05620-3402
Phone: 802-828-3228
Fax: 802-828-2465
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation.
Virginia
Virginia Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy
Board of Medicine 9960 Mayland Drive suite 300
Henrico, VA
23233
Phone: 804-367-4613
Fax: 804-527-4426
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Medicine/advisory/ot/.
Washington
Washington Occupational Therapy Practice Board
P.O. Box 47867
Olympia, WA
98504-7867
Phone: 360-236-4883
Fax: 360-236-2901
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates.
West Virginia
West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy
1063 Maple Drive, Ste. 4B
Morgantown, WV
26505
Phone: 304-285-3150
Fax: 304-285-3150
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.wvbot.org/.
Wisconsin
Bureau of Health Professions Department of Regulation and Licensing
OT Affiliated Credentialing Board PO Box 8935
Madison, WI
53708
Phone: 608-266-8098
Fax: 608-267-3816
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/OccupationalTherapist/Default.aspx.
Wyoming
Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy
6101 Yellowstone Road Suite 501
Cheyenne, WY
82002
Phone: 307-777-7764
Fax: 307-777-3314
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://occupationaltherapy.wyo.gov/contact-us.
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