OT License Processing Timeframes by State

Below are the average license processing timeframes for traveling occupational therapists per state.

Licensing boards continue to face staffing and workload challenges across the country. Our team has continued to see processing and response delays across all boards. We encourage all candidates to apply for licensure as soon as possible and allow extra time for processing.

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Please select a state/states
Click above to see the average license processing timeframes for occupational therapists.
Alabama
Timeframe:

1 week

Application:

Alabama OT Form

Alaska
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

Alaska OT Form

Arizona
Timeframe:

Board review - 2nd Friday each month

Application:

Arizona OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required

Arkansas
Timeframe:

2 weeks

Application:

Arkansas OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required

California
Timeframe:

60 day permit issued once application is received

Application:

California OT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint card required

Colorado
Timeframe:

2-3 Weeks

Application:

Colorado OT Form

Connecticut
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Connecticut OT Form

Delaware
Timeframe:

1-2 Weeks

Application:

Delaware OT Form

Notes:

Need score report - not verification of certification

Florida
Timeframe:

5-6 weeks

Application:

Florida OT Form

Georgia
Timeframe:

6-8 weeks

Application:

Georgia OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required

Hawaii
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

Hawaii OT Form

Idaho
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Idaho OT Form

Illinois
Timeframe:

6-8 weeks

Application:

Illinois OT Form

Notes:

Need score report - not verification of certification

Indiana
Timeframe:

2-4 weeks

Application:

Indiana OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required and need score report- not verification of certification

Iowa
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Iowa OT Form

Notes:

Online application

Kansas
Timeframe:

4-8 weeks

Application:

Kansas OT Form

Kentucky
Timeframe:

Based on monthly board meetings

Application:

Kentucky OT Form

Louisiana
Timeframe:

6-10 weeks +Board meeting

Application:

Louisiana OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required - must appear before board meeting for license

Maine
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Application:

Maine OT Form

Maryland
Timeframe:

Board review - 3rd Friday of each month

Application:

Maryland OT Form

Notes:

Must have notary seal over a portion of passport photo on application

Massachusetts
Timeframe:

5-6 weeks

Application:

Massachusetts OT Form

Notes:

License processed through PCS in Tennessee

Michigan
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

Michigan OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required and need score report- not verification of certification

Minnesota
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks

Application:

Minnesota OT Form

Notes:

Need score report- not verification of certification

Mississippi
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks

Application:

Mississippi OT Form

Missouri
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks

Application:

Missouri OT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Montana
Timeframe:

1 week

Application:

Montana OT Form

Nebraska
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Nebraska OT Form

Notes:

Need score report- not verification of certification

Nevada
Timeframe:

2-3 Weeks

Application:

Nevada OT Form

New Hampshire
Timeframe:

Board review- 4th Monday each month

Application:

New Hampshire OT Form

Notes:

Must obtain criminal history reports from any state lived/worked in (done through state police); request application from board

New Jersey
Timeframe:

8-10 weeks

Application:

New Jersey OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required; score report required if NBCOT exam was after 1/1/2003

New Mexico
Timeframe:

1-2 Weeks

Application:

New Mexico OT Form

New York
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Application:

New York OT Form

North Carolina
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

North Carolina OT Form

Notes:

Must request application from board- $10 fee

North Dakota
Timeframe:

Varies. Licenses are mailed out weekly once all documentation is received.

Application:

North Dakota OT Form

Notes:

Need score report - not verification of certification

Ohio
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks with LiveScan; otherwise 3-4 months

Application:

Ohio OT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required; Need score report- not verification

Oklahoma
Timeframe:

Can practice 90 days while license is pending

Application:

Oklahoma OT Form

Notes:

Need score report- not verification of certification

Oregon
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Oregon OT Form

Notes:

New jurisprudence exam as of 1/1/2014

Pennsylvania
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Application:

Pennsylvania OT Form

Notes:

Effective 1/1/2013, OTs must have minimum of $1M professional liability insurance.

Rhone Island
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

Rhode Island OT Form

South Carolina
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

South Carolina OT Form

Notes:

Online application

South Dakota
Timeframe:

Varies

Application:

South Dakota OT Form

Notes:

Online application or call board at 605-367-7781.

Tennessee
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Application:

Tennessee OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required

Texas
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Texas OT Form

Notes:

Online application; Need score report- not verification of certification.

Utah
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Application:

Utah OT Form

Notes:

Score report or verification of certification

Vermont
Timeframe:

Same day

Application:

Vermont OT Form

Virginia
Timeframe:

30 days or less

Application:

Virginia OT Form

Notes:

Online application

Washington
Timeframe:

6-8 weeks

Application:

Washington OT Form

Notes:

AIDS education and training requirement.

West Virginia
Timeframe:

1-2 Weeks

Application:

West Virginia OT Form

Wisconsin
Timeframe:

6-10 weeks

Application:

Wisconsin OT Form

Wyoming
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Application:

Wyoming OT Form

District of Columbia
Timeframe:

3 weeks

Application:

District of Columbia OT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint card required

Please note that timeframes for verifications, transcripts, and background checks can affect the processing times for travel nurses, and each person’s situation may vary slightly. Please check with your recruiter to get more detailed information. Please note: time frames are subject to change!

Verifications: Most states require verifications of all professional occupational therapy licenses ever held, both current and expired. There is typically a form within the application package that you can use to submit your verification requests. You will need to copy this form and use one for each state in which you have ever been licensed as an occupational therapist. We recommend that you check with those state boards to find out the mailing address and fee for verifications.

Score Transfer: All states require you to request a transfer of your NBCOT scores. This request is an online process where you will submit your information and payment via the NBCOT website. Your score report will be mailed to the board within 15 business days.

Transcripts: Some states require original transcripts delivered directly from your school. Please read through the application carefully to see if this situation applies. If transcripts are required, the application package may contain a request form you can use to submit to your school. Always check with your school to confirm where these requests are to be sent and find out if they charge a fee for this service. Important: State boards will not accept copies of transcripts that you might already have received. They must be originals sent directly from the school.

CEUs: Some states require the completion of CEUs for licensure. Please read through the application carefully to see what CEUs, if any, are required for initial licensure.

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