Occupational Therapy License from California to North Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from California to North Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, verify your California license, and meet North Dakota's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. North Dakota rules require passage of the NBCOT OTR exam, and the Board can pull NBCOT scores sent to it. A reciprocity applicant who is currently licensed in another state proves eligibility through license verifications rather than a recent score: the 18-month score-recency rule applies to initial applicants, and NDCC 43-40-12 lets the Board waive exam requirements for applicants licensed in an equivalent state. No Board source found requires CURRENT NBCOT certification. North Dakota ALSO requires its own Jurisprudence Exam (20 questions, open book, online; 80% or higher per the application instructions) before the license issues..
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 North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice as an OT licensed in another state, with NBCOT passage verified and your California license confirmed, plus whatever North Dakota adds such as fingerprints or a jurisprudence exam.
What changes, California → North Dakota
| California (current) | North Dakota (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).) | $125–$200 ($50 initial application fee + initial OT license fee of $150, or $75 if the application is received July 1 to December 31 of an odd-numbered year (N.D. Admin. Code 55.5-02-01-03), so $200 or $125 in total. OTA: $50 + $110 or $55. The fee is waived for qualifying military spouses. No fingerprint fee is currently charged (see notes). NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (North Dakota's state privilege fee is listed as TBD, plus the $75 Commission fee).) |
| 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 states only that licenses are typically issued within a week after all completed documents are received and the Jurisprudence Exam is passed; no end-to-end timeframe is published. The Board asks for 2-3 days to enter an online application before the applicant can take the Jurisprudence Exam or check status |
| Licensing authority | California Board of Occupational Therapy | North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — North Dakota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm North Dakota's current requirements on the North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Degree from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy program (or a foreign program NBCOT deems comparable).
- Pass the North Dakota OT Jurisprudence Exam on ND laws and rules (license is not issued until it is completed).
- Have license verification sent directly to the Board from every state where you currently hold or have ever held an OT license.
- Submit a copy of the current licensure law and rules of the state(s) where you are licensed.
- Pay the fees ($125–$200 ($50 initial application fee + initial OT license fee of $150, or $75 if the application is received July 1 to December 31 of an odd-numbered year (N.D. Admin. Code 55.5-02-01-03), so $200 or $125 in total. OTA: $50 + $110 or $55. The fee is waived for qualifying military spouses. No fingerprint fee is currently charged (see notes). NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (North Dakota's state privilege fee is listed as TBD, plus the $75 Commission fee).)) and allow the Board states only that licenses are typically issued within a week after all completed documents are received and the Jurisprudence Exam is passed; no end-to-end timeframe is published. The Board asks for 2-3 days to enter an online application before the applicant can take the Jurisprudence Exam or check status.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my California occupational therapy license in North Dakota?
A occupational therapy license transfers from California to North Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, verify your California license, and meet North Dakota's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. North Dakota rules require passage of the NBCOT OTR exam, and the Board can pull NBCOT scores sent to it. A reciprocity applicant who is currently licensed in another state proves eligibility through license verifications rather than a recent score: the 18-month score-recency rule applies to initial applicants, and NDCC 43-40-12 lets the Board waive exam requirements for applicants licensed in an equivalent state. No Board source found requires CURRENT NBCOT certification. North Dakota ALSO requires its own Jurisprudence Exam (20 questions, open book, online; 80% or higher per the application instructions) before the license issues..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from California to North Dakota?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. North Dakota rules require passage of the NBCOT OTR exam, and the Board can pull NBCOT scores sent to it. A reciprocity applicant who is currently licensed in another state proves eligibility through license verifications rather than a recent score: the 18-month score-recency rule applies to initial applicants, and NDCC 43-40-12 lets the Board waive exam requirements for applicants licensed in an equivalent state. No Board source found requires CURRENT NBCOT certification. North Dakota ALSO requires its own Jurisprudence Exam (20 questions, open book, online; 80% or higher per the application instructions) before the license issues.
How much does a North Dakota OT license cost for someone licensed in California?
$125–$200 ($50 initial application fee + initial OT license fee of $150, or $75 if the application is received July 1 to December 31 of an odd-numbered year (N.D. Admin. Code 55.5-02-01-03), so $200 or $125 in total. OTA: $50 + $110 or $55. The fee is waived for qualifying military spouses. No fingerprint fee is currently charged (see notes). NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (North Dakota's state privilege fee is listed as TBD, plus the $75 Commission fee).).
How long does North Dakota take to process the application?
the Board states only that licenses are typically issued within a week after all completed documents are received and the Jurisprudence Exam is passed; no end-to-end timeframe is published. The Board asks for 2-3 days to enter an online application before the applicant can take the Jurisprudence Exam or check status.
Can I use the OT Compact to work in North Dakota?
Not for this move. North Dakota has enacted the OT Compact but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. A North Dakota license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- ND State Board of OT Practice — Requirements for Licensure (initial and reciprocity) (Internet Archive copy, captured 2026-04-20) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- ND State Board of OT Practice — OT Licensure Compact page (Internet Archive copy, captured 2026-06-09) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- ND State Board of OT Practice — Requirements and Instructions for Licensure Application, rev. 10/2019 (Internet Archive copy) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- N.D. Admin. Code ch. 55.5-02-01 — Initial Licensure and Renewals (application, requirements, fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- N.D. Century Code ch. 43-40 — Occupational Therapy Practice (43-40-12 waiver for applicants licensed in another state) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (North Dakota: Not Yet) ↗ (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]