Occupational Therapy License from Colorado to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from Colorado to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy, verify your Colorado license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam..
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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 New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy as an OT licensed in another state, with NBCOT passage verified and your Colorado license confirmed, plus whatever New York adds such as fingerprints or a jurisprudence exam.
What changes, Colorado → New York
| Colorado (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| Application fee | The DPO's OT Licensing Services and fee pages returned 'Access denied' to automated fetches on 2026-09-27, and the application preview does not state the fee, so the endorsement fee could not be verified. The Commission lists Colorado's compact privilege fee as TBD. | $294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.) |
| Processing time | no processing timeframe found on the DPO OT pages that could be read | NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications. |
| Licensing authority | Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Submit Form 1 (Application for Licensure) online with the $294 licensure and first registration fee.
- Have your OT school send Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education) directly to NYSED (baccalaureate or entry-level master's in OT from an NYS-registered or ACOTE-accredited program, including six months of supervised experience).
- Have NBCOT send exam results or written verification of certification directly to NYSED.
- Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a license send Form 3 (Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification) directly.
- Be of good moral character and at least 21 years old.
- Pay the fees ($294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.)) and allow NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Colorado occupational therapy license in New York?
A occupational therapy license transfers from Colorado to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy, verify your Colorado license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Colorado to New York?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam.
How much does a New York OT license cost for someone licensed in Colorado?
$294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.).
How long does New York take to process the application?
NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications..
Can I use the OT Compact to work in New York?
Not for this move. New York has not enacted the OT Compact. A New York license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- NYSED Office of the Professions — License Requirements for Occupational Therapists ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — Application Forms for Occupational Therapists (Forms 1, 2, 2F, 3) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Colorado DPO, Occupational Therapy homepage ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Colorado DPO, Occupational Therapy Applications and Forms ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Colorado DPO, OT Initial Application Preview (linked from the DPO Applications page) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission, Before You Apply (Colorado: Not Yet accepting applications) ↗ (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]