Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Colorado: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Colorado?
Not through the compact yet. Colorado has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-10-29, so you transfer by endorsement with the Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA). The fee is The DPO's OT Licensing Services and fee pages returned 'Access denied' to automated fetches on 2026-09-27; on 2026-10-29 the Licensing Services page returned 'Page not found' and the fee pages 'Access denied'. Neither the application preview nor the DPO's Occupational Therapy Licensing Guide states the fee, so the endorsement fee could not be verified. The Commission lists Colorado's compact privilege fee as TBD and processing runs no processing timeframe found on the DPO OT pages that could be read; your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.
Moving to Colorado from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement · OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Don't let "enacted" mislead you. Colorado has passed the OT Compact but had not started issuing privileges as of 2026-10-29, and the commission publishes no go-live date. Until it does, the only way to practice in Colorado is a Colorado license through the Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA), and the endorsement steps below are the whole process.
Colorado has enacted the OT Compact but is NOT yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-10-29). The DPO's online OT application offers three methods: 'by Original' for new graduates, 'by Endorsement' for anyone with an active license elsewhere, and 'by Telehealth' for out-of-state OTs who will practice by telehealth only and designate a Colorado registered agent. Applications are filed online, and if you submit an application you do not qualify for, the fee is not refunded or transferred. New licenses issued within 120 days of the renewal date get the next expiration date. Military and veteran licensing information is on the DPO's VOCAL page. DPO's Occupational Therapy Licensing Guide lists somewhat different endorsement competency options (400 hours of practice in another state over a 12-month period within the last 3 years, 24 hours of continued professional competency within the last 2 years, or at least one year of licensure in another jurisdiction) than the online application preview listed in this row, so confirm which option applies with DPO before applying.
Colorado requirements at a glance
| Exam | The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. On the endorsement path the online application (per the DPO's application preview) asks for an active license, an attestation of an approved OT program, and proof of competency; it does not request an NBCOT score transfer or certification upload. The 'by Original' path for unlicensed applicants requires CURRENT NBCOT certification. No Colorado jurisprudence exam appears in the application. |
|---|---|
| Fees | The DPO's OT Licensing Services and fee pages returned 'Access denied' to automated fetches on 2026-09-27; on 2026-10-29 the Licensing Services page returned 'Page not found' and the fee pages 'Access denied'. Neither the application preview nor the DPO's Occupational Therapy Licensing Guide states the fee, so the endorsement fee could not be verified. The Commission lists Colorado's compact privilege fee as TBD |
| Processing time | no processing timeframe found on the DPO OT pages that could be read |
Step by step
- Confirm Colorado's current requirements on the Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active, unrestricted OT license in another state or jurisdiction.
- Attest to completing an approved (ACOTE- or WFOT-accredited) OT program.
- Prove competency within the last two years: 400 hours of OT practice in a 12-month period (Verification of Practice form), 24 hours of OT continuing education, or completion of an OT education program.
- Hold professional liability insurance or qualify for an exemption.
- Submit fingerprints for a CBI and FBI background check through a DPO-approved vendor (IdentoGO or American BioIdentity); DPO must receive both results before it issues a license.
- Upload verification of every OT license you hold or have held, showing original issue date and any discipline.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Nearby states
Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Colorado:
Colorado for other professions
- Nursing in Colorado
- Cosmetology / Barber in Colorado
- Real Estate in Colorado
- Contractor in Colorado
- Teaching in Colorado
- CPA / Accounting in Colorado
- Electrician in Colorado
- Plumber in Colorado
- Engineering in Colorado
- Pharmacy in Colorado
- Physical Therapy in Colorado
- Psychology in Colorado
- Counseling in Colorado
- Social Work in Colorado
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Colorado?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken.
Is Colorado an OT Compact state?
Colorado has enacted the compact but was not accepting applications or issuing privileges as of 2026-10-29. Until it goes live, endorsement is the only way to practice in Colorado.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Colorado DPO, Occupational Therapy homepage ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO, Occupational Therapy Applications and Forms ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO, OT Initial Application Preview (linked from the DPO Applications page) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO, Occupational Therapy Licensing Guide (linked from the DPO Applications page) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO, Fingerprinting and Background Check (OT and OTA listed; linked from the OT Applications page) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- OT Compact Commission, Before You Apply (Colorado: Not Yet accepting applications) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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