Occupational Therapy License from California to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from California to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee), verify your California license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. 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..
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The compact plays no part here, since neither state is issuing privileges. You apply to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) as an OT licensed in another state, with NBCOT passage verified and your California license confirmed, plus whatever Arkansas adds such as fingerprints or a jurisprudence exam.
What changes, California → Arkansas
| California (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement | OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing |
| Application fee | $50 ($50 application fee paid in BreEZe. A separate initial license fee, prorated by your birth date and the month of issue, is stated in the approval letter and paid after approval, so it is not in this range. + $49 fingerprint-card fee if you are not using Live Scan (Live Scan fees are paid to the vendor).) | 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 time | 3–4 weeks (the Board states 'Processing time for all applications is 3-4 weeks'; 16 CCR 4112 gives the Board 30 days to review an application and notify the applicant of any deficiency; licenses issue once the approved applicant completes the online form and pays the initial license fee) | 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 |
| Licensing authority | California Board of Occupational Therapy | Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee) (application linked below).
- 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 (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
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my California occupational therapy license in Arkansas?
A occupational therapy license transfers from California to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas State Medical Board (Occupational Therapy Examining Committee), verify your California license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. 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..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from California to 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 a Arkansas OT license cost for someone licensed in California?
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 process the application?
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.
Can I use the OT Compact to work in Arkansas?
Not for this move. Arkansas has enacted the OT Compact but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. A Arkansas license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Arkansas State Medical Board, OT / OTA page ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Arkansas State Medical Board, Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet (rev. 10/11/2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Arkansas State Medical Board, Fee Schedule (Act 114 of 2023 fee reduction, July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission, Before You Apply (Arkansas: Not Yet accepting applications) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- California Board of OT, Application page (Internet Archive copy of 2026-01-22; bot.ca.gov refused connections from this environment on 2026-09-27) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- California Board of OT, Applicants FAQ (Internet Archive copy of 2026-01-22) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- California Board of OT, Initial License/Limited Permit Application Requirements checklist (Internet Archive copy of 2026-01-22) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]