Occupational Therapy License from Georgia to Rhode Island: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing) ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from Georgia to Rhode Island by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing), verify your Georgia license, and meet Rhode Island's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The Board's application checklist for endorsement ('From Another State') applicants requires 'Scores sent directly from' NBCOT, i.e. an NBCOT score report to the Board. The regulations (216-RICR-40-05-12.4) require passage of the NBCOT OTR/COTA exam; neither the application nor the rules read says CURRENT NBCOT certification is required. No Rhode Island jurisprudence or laws-and-rules exam was found in the application or regulations..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Georgia and Rhode Island have both enacted the OT Compact, and neither was issuing privileges as of the verification date, so this is an ordinary endorsement move. Apply to the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing); your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification. If both states go live, working in Rhode Island while living in Georgia could later be done on a privilege.
What changes, Georgia → Rhode Island
| Georgia (current) | Rhode Island (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing | OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing |
| Application fee | $60 (OT application fee per the Board's application for licensure (form dated 04/24/2023; OTA $50); + $5 online processing fee (Board fee schedule rev. 03-03-22; applications are now online-only through GOALS); + GAPS fingerprinting fee. The OT line on the fee schedule PDF is blank in the rendered file, and the current GOALS fee schedule could not be read by automated fetch. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Commission lists Georgia's future state fee as $75 for OTs).) | $140 (non-refundable OT application fee (216-RICR-10-05-2 fee schedule, effective March 25, 2026; the application packet says it includes the first license up to the next June 30 even-year expiration). OTA application is also $140. Optional $30 framed-certificate fee. No fingerprint fee for the standard application (a RI Attorney General BCI is listed only on the military expedite form). No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Rhode Island is not issuing privileges).) |
| Processing time | 4–6 weeks (the Board's application states 'It takes approximately 4 - 6 weeks to process a complete application for licensure'; applications are processed in order of receipt, and incomplete applications are withdrawn if deficiencies are not cured within 60 days) | no processing time is published; the application packet says applications are valid for one year from receipt and that RIDOH will not accelerate one applicant's processing at the expense of others (military members, veterans and spouses may request expedited handling) |
| Licensing authority | Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) | Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Rhode Island sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Rhode Island's current requirements on the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Official transcript sent directly from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy program (student copies not accepted).
- Have NBCOT send your exam scores directly to the Board.
- Have license verification sent directly to the Board from every state where you hold or have held a license (the application includes an Interstate Verification Form).
- Submit the paper application with a check or money order payable to the RI General Treasurer.
- Pay the fees ($140 (non-refundable OT application fee (216-RICR-10-05-2 fee schedule, effective March 25, 2026; the application packet says it includes the first license up to the next June 30 even-year expiration). OTA application is also $140. Optional $30 framed-certificate fee. No fingerprint fee for the standard application (a RI Attorney General BCI is listed only on the military expedite form). No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Rhode Island is not issuing privileges).)) and allow no processing time is published; the application packet says applications are valid for one year from receipt and that RIDOH will not accelerate one applicant's processing at the expense of others (military members, veterans and spouses may request expedited handling).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Georgia occupational therapy license in Rhode Island?
A occupational therapy license transfers from Georgia to Rhode Island by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy (Rhode Island Department of Health, Professional Licensing), verify your Georgia license, and meet Rhode Island's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The Board's application checklist for endorsement ('From Another State') applicants requires 'Scores sent directly from' NBCOT, i.e. an NBCOT score report to the Board. The regulations (216-RICR-40-05-12.4) require passage of the NBCOT OTR/COTA exam; neither the application nor the rules read says CURRENT NBCOT certification is required. No Rhode Island jurisprudence or laws-and-rules exam was found in the application or regulations..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Georgia to Rhode Island?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The Board's application checklist for endorsement ('From Another State') applicants requires 'Scores sent directly from' NBCOT, i.e. an NBCOT score report to the Board. The regulations (216-RICR-40-05-12.4) require passage of the NBCOT OTR/COTA exam; neither the application nor the rules read says CURRENT NBCOT certification is required. No Rhode Island jurisprudence or laws-and-rules exam was found in the application or regulations.
How much does a Rhode Island OT license cost for someone licensed in Georgia?
$140 (non-refundable OT application fee (216-RICR-10-05-2 fee schedule, effective March 25, 2026; the application packet says it includes the first license up to the next June 30 even-year expiration). OTA application is also $140. Optional $30 framed-certificate fee. No fingerprint fee for the standard application (a RI Attorney General BCI is listed only on the military expedite form). No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Rhode Island is not issuing privileges).).
How long does Rhode Island take to process the application?
no processing time is published; the application packet says applications are valid for one year from receipt and that RIDOH will not accelerate one applicant's processing at the expense of others (military members, veterans and spouses may request expedited handling).
Can I use the OT Compact to work in Rhode Island?
Not for this move. Rhode Island has enacted the OT Compact but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. A Rhode Island license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- RIDOH — Occupational Therapists licensing page (Internet Archive copy, captured 2026-05-14; live page is behind a bot challenge) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- RI Board of Occupational Therapy — Instructions and Application for License (Endorsement/Examination), revised 10/24/2024 (Internet Archive copy, captured 2025-10-06) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- RI Department of State — 216-RICR-40-05-12 Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants (licensure requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- RI Department of State — 216-RICR-10-05-2 Fee Structure for Licensing (OT application $140, effective 2026-03-25) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Rhode Island: Not Yet) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Georgia State Board of OT, How-To Guide: Occupational Therapist (Internet Archive copy of 2026-04-24; live sos.ga.gov returned a Cloudflare challenge on 2026-09-27) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Georgia State Board of OT, Application for Licensure (form dated 04/24/2023) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Georgia State Board of OT, Fee Schedule (rev. 03-03-22) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Georgia State Board of OT, board page (Internet Archive copy of 2026-04-23) ↗ (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]