OT Student Guide to Licensure
Edited by Kristelle Cefre in July 2024
This article is designed to provide students with websites containing important information relevant to the occupational therapy (OT) licensure process. As students approach graduation, it is important to understand ahead of time the licensure process and how to avoid delays in order to focus studying for the NBCOT® exam after graduation. For individuals curious about obtaining another license in another state for situations such as travel therapy, this article provides resources and tips on what to be cognizant about in your OT journey. The process can be frustrating, and the information below is designed to help you take charge of your future as an occupational therapy practitioner!
Know your state’s licensure application process. Learn about the steps involved in becoming licensed in your state. AOTA compiled a contact list of all the State OT Regulatory Authority for those who need assistance with licensure and other state-specific requirements. While researching, consider the following:
- Continuing education (CE) requirements
- Renewal timeline
- Rules and statutes
- Temporary license information
Here is a list of of the required documents that must be compiled and submitted along with the application:
- Proof of graduating from an ACOTE®-accredited OT program (e.g., official transcript)
- Documentation demonstrating completing fieldwork and fieldwork requirements
- NBCOT certification exam score
- Initial licensure application
- Required initial application fee
- Criminal background check
The above items are the minimum requirements for every state. Some states may require you to submit the following additional documents:
- Letters of recommendation
- State Law Exam or State Jurisprudence Exam (documentation showing passage of an exam on a state’s laws and regulations or rules)
While many states have various protocols and requirements to obtain licensure, AOTA offers resources for students and new grads to learn the licensure steps to OT as well as how to maintain your OT license. Print out an Occupational Therapy Initial Licensure Application Checklist to keep track of core requirements to obtain your license.
Stay involved in your state association. It’s important to stay informed of your state’s regulations so as to increase occupational therapy’s influence on state policy and to network with fellow practitioners to broaden your occupational lens. AOTA provides a list containing the website and contact information of all 50 state OT associations.
Maintain your AOTA membership. Benefits of keeping an AOTA membership post-grad is maintaining access to practice resources, supporting national legislation, and networking on a national scale. Maintaining a state and national membership elevates our voice with professional issues such as our role in mental health, the potential for OTPs to be permanent Medicare telehealth providers, and the enactment of the OT Compact.
Stay up to date with the OT compact. The OT compact is a joint initiative of AOTA and NBCOT. If your state is a member of the OT Compact, you will be able topractice in other participating states via “compact privilege” without needing additional licenses. One of the many benefits is that if you have multiple state licenses, you only have to complete the CEUs for your home state. The live OT Compact Map shows which states have active legislation to pass this pact and which states are already compact members. Learn more about the OT Compact.
Take time to organize your OT license application/renewal plan. While this article provides resources to begin and refresh the licensure process, it is not customized to every state or every individual. Here are a few things to consider to stay proactive while obtaining your license:
- Identify the files required to complete your state licensure.
- Develop a checklist to track your progress on the required files.
- Make a note of when the file(s) were submitted to monitor the processing time.
- Research and verify with your state licensure board if your continuing education (CE) hours are prorated for the first renewal cycle. Depending on when you obtain your license, it may not be considered a full-year cycle. In some states, licensees renewing for the first time don’t require you to complete any CEs.
Take time to reflect on the following questions:
- What is your action plan and timeline for preparing to take the NBCOT exam?
- How will you track and organize your ongoing licensure requirements?
- What types of continuing education do you think you will pursue, and how will you select courses?
- How can membership in state and national organizations benefit you?
Final tips and tidbits!
Be aware of licensure scams. In the past few years, there have been scamming reports of individuals pretending to be licensure review board staff or members of law enforcement demanding money from practitioners to drop an alleged investigation. This article discusses red flags to identify to avoid being scammed.
NBCOT has a list of Certification Renewal Activities that may be accepted by some state licensing boards.
Research the appropriate abbreviations for credentials in your state (e.g. OTR, OTR/L, COTA, COTA/L). The OTR and COTA credentials are trademarks of NBCOT, available only to those who maintain their certification, while the “L” indicates licensure. Some practitioners use OTA or OT to show they earned their degree and were initially certified, but their careers placed them on a path where they are not practicing as occupational therapy practitioners so they are no longer licensed.