Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Arkansas: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Arkansas?
Arkansas is issuing Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact privileges, so the answer depends on what you're doing. If you live in and are licensed by another issuing state, you can practice in Arkansas on a compact privilege (the $75 commission fee plus Arkansas's fee) without an Arkansas license. If you're moving to Arkansas, or your home state isn't issuing, you need an Arkansas license from the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee): endorsement fee $4 (The ASMB application packet (rev. 10/11/2024) and fee schedule list a $4 OT application fee (OTA $3; temporary permit $1), payable by check or money order. The fee schedule says this is a reduced fee under Act 114 of 2023, in effect July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. + $39.36 state and federal criminal background check (ASMB fee schedule). NOT the OT Compact privilege fee: an Arkansas privilege costs a $4 state fee (OTA $3) plus the $75 Commission fee.), no verified processing time, NBCOT exam passage verified rather than retaken.
Moving to Arkansas from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement · OT Compact privilege (not a license)
Arkansas is one of the few states where the OT Compact is working, but a privilege only helps if your home state is issuing too and you still live there. Travel contracts, a caseload that crosses the state line, or telehealth into Arkansas fit the privilege model. A permanent move does not: once Arkansas is where you live, you need an Arkansas license from the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee).
Arkansas enacted the OT Compact (Act 257 of 2023) and is now one of the eleven states ISSUING OT Compact privileges: the Commission lists Arkansas as accepting applications since October 5, 2026, the start date the Board announced. An OT who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Arkansas on a privilege ($4 Arkansas fee + $75 Commission fee; the Commission lists no Arkansas jurisprudence requirement) instead of getting a license. Everyone else applies for an Arkansas license. OT licensure in Arkansas is 'by credentials', and every credential is verified from the originating source. The paper application must carry an original signature and cannot be faxed or emailed. After all verifications arrive, staff check your timeline for unexplained gaps of 30 days or more before the file goes to the Board. A temporary permit is available only to applicants who have NOT yet passed the NBCOT exam, so it does not help an already-licensed OT. Licenses renew annually by the end of your birth month. The Board warns against relocating before your license is granted.
Arkansas requirements at a glance
| Exam | The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Applicants who have passed the exam have NBCOT send a Verification of Certification directly to the Arkansas State Medical Board. The packet does not say whether that certification must be current. Arkansas also requires a signed Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit and a completed 10-question OT Practice Act questionnaire, both returned with the application. This is an open-book questionnaire, not a proctored jurisprudence exam. |
|---|---|
| Fees | $4 (The ASMB application packet (rev. 10/11/2024) and fee schedule list a $4 OT application fee (OTA $3; temporary permit $1), payable by check or money order. The fee schedule says this is a reduced fee under Act 114 of 2023, in effect July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. + $39.36 state and federal criminal background check (ASMB fee schedule). NOT the OT Compact privilege fee: an Arkansas privilege costs a $4 state fee (OTA $3) plus the $75 Commission fee.) |
| Processing time | the Board says a permanent license application 'will take several weeks to complete', that applications are processed in order of receipt, and that the federal portion of the background check 'can take several weeks or more'; no numeric range is published |
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited OT program (bachelor's or master's level) with at least six months of supervised fieldwork; the school sends the education verification form and official transcript directly.
- Complete a state and federal criminal background check through the Arkansas State Police; out-of-state applicants receive a CBC packet by mail, and previously obtained checks are not accepted.
- Obtain verification of every OT license ever held, including temporary and inactive licenses.
- Have every facility and employer from the last five years (or since graduation, if shorter) verify your work directly to the Board.
- Submit the notarized paper application with a passport-style photo, the Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit and the OT Practice Act questionnaire.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Arkansas:
Nearby states
Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Arkansas:
Arkansas for other professions
- Nursing in Arkansas
- Cosmetology / Barber in Arkansas
- Real Estate in Arkansas
- Contractor in Arkansas
- Teaching in Arkansas
- CPA / Accounting in Arkansas
- Electrician in Arkansas
- Plumber in Arkansas
- Engineering in Arkansas
- Pharmacy in Arkansas
- Physical Therapy in Arkansas
- Psychology in Arkansas
- Counseling in Arkansas
- Social Work in Arkansas
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Arkansas?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken.
Is Arkansas an OT Compact state?
Yes. Arkansas is issuing and accepting OT Compact privileges as of 2026-10-29. An OT or OTA who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Arkansas on a privilege; moving your residence to Arkansas requires an Arkansas license.
What does an Arkansas OT Compact privilege cost?
The uniform $75 commission fee plus Arkansas's own privilege fee, paid through the commission. The privilege expires with your home-state license and must be purchased again after each home renewal.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Arkansas State Medical Board, OT / OTA page ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Arkansas State Medical Board, Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet (rev. 10/11/2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Arkansas State Medical Board, Fee Schedule (Act 114 of 2023 fee reduction, July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- OT Compact Commission, Before You Apply (Arkansas accepting applications since October 5, 2026; $4 OT / $3 OTA state fee; jurisprudence not required) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Arkansas State Medical Board, home page ('OT Compact implementation is scheduled to begin October 5, 2026') ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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