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LicenseReciprocity

Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Arkansas: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) ↗

Arkansas has enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact but, as of 2026-09-27, is not yet accepting applications or issuing privileges, so no privilege lets you practice there. Every incoming OT or OTA needs a Arkansas license by endorsement from the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee): 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, 2026, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. No post-June 2026 OT fee was published as of 2026-09-27, so the current amount is unverified. + $36.25 state and federal criminal background check. The Commission lists a $4 future Arkansas compact privilege fee (not issuing)., processing 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, with NBCOT exam passage verified instead of retaken.

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Verdict

OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Don't let "enacted" mislead you. Arkansas has passed the OT Compact but had not started issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, and the commission publishes no go-live date. Until it does, the only way to practice in Arkansas is a Arkansas license through the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee), and the endorsement steps below are the whole process.

Arkansas enacted the OT Compact (Act 257 of 2023) but is NOT yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-09-27). 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

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for Arkansas, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe 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.
Additional requirements
  • 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
FeesThe 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, 2026, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. No post-June 2026 OT fee was published as of 2026-09-27, so the current amount is unverified. + $36.25 state and federal criminal background check. The Commission lists a $4 future Arkansas compact privilege fee (not issuing).
Processing timethe 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

  1. Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Obtain verification of every OT license ever held, including temporary and inactive licenses.
  7. Have every facility and employer from the last five years (or since graduation, if shorter) verify your work directly to the Board.
  8. Submit the notarized paper application with a passport-style photo, the Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit and the OT Practice Act questionnaire.
  9. Pay the fees (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, 2026, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. No post-June 2026 OT fee was published as of 2026-09-27, so the current amount is unverified. + $36.25 state and federal criminal background check. The Commission lists a $4 future Arkansas compact privilege fee (not issuing).) and allow 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.

Official links

Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) ↗Arkansas application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Arkansas:

California → ArkansasFlorida → ArkansasGeorgia → ArkansasIllinois → ArkansasMichigan → ArkansasNew York → ArkansasNorth Carolina → ArkansasOhio → ArkansasPennsylvania → ArkansasTexas → Arkansas

Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Arkansas:

Arkansas for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Arkansas?

Arkansas has enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact but, as of 2026-09-27, is not yet accepting applications or issuing privileges, so no privilege lets you practice there. Every incoming OT or OTA needs a Arkansas license by endorsement from the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee): 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, 2026, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. No post-June 2026 OT fee was published as of 2026-09-27, so the current amount is unverified. + $36.25 state and federal criminal background check. The Commission lists a $4 future Arkansas compact privilege fee (not issuing)., processing 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, with NBCOT exam passage verified instead of retaken.

Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Arkansas?

No. 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.

How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in Arkansas?

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, 2026, which 'may or may not apply in future years'. No post-June 2026 OT fee was published as of 2026-09-27, so the current amount is unverified. + $36.25 state and federal criminal background check. The Commission lists a $4 future Arkansas compact privilege fee (not issuing)..

How long does Arkansas take to issue an OT license by endorsement?

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.

Is Arkansas an OT Compact state?

Arkansas has enacted the compact but was not accepting applications or issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. Until it goes live, endorsement is the only way to practice in Arkansas.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

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