2023 sees six new states enact Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact legislation

Six new states—Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and South Dakota—passed Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact) legislation in 2023, bringing the total number of states that have enacted compact legislation to 28. That is more than half of the OT licensing jurisdictions in the United States!

Several other states considered, or are still considering, legislation in 2023. Specifically, OT Compact bills were considered but did not pass in Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont, while legislation is pending and could still be acted upon in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Additionally, when most state legislatures reconvene in early 2024, the push will continue to enact the bills that carry over from 2023 sessions, and several new states may introduce OT Compact legislation for consideration in 2024.

AOTA is working closely with NBCOT®, state occupational therapy associations, and state regulatory boards to create an interstate licensure compact for the occupational therapy profession. The OT Compact will provide licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants with the opportunity to practice in states that join the compact without having to secure a new license in each state.

As of October 2023, compact privilege applications are not yet open. Over the next two years, the OT Compact Commission (OTCC) will be working to develop operational infrastructure, including the creation of a data system. The OTCC reports that privileges to practice are expected to be available in mid-2025.

For more information on the OT Compact, please visit the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact website: https://otcompact.org/.