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LicenseReciprocity

Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Georgia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) ↗

Not through the compact yet. Georgia has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, so you transfer by endorsement with the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division). The fee is $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).) and processing runs 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a complete application for licensure'; applications are processed in order of receipt, and incomplete applications are withdrawn if deficiencies are not cured within 60 days); your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.

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Verdict

OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Georgia's compact status reads better on paper than it works in practice. The legislature has enacted the OT Compact, but the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) was not accepting privilege applications as of 2026-09-27, so for now Georgia works like a non-member: nobody practices there on a privilege, and OTs who live there cannot buy privileges elsewhere. Plan on endorsement. This page will change when Georgia goes live.

Georgia has enacted the OT Compact but is NOT yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-09-27). Georgia's routes are named differently from most states. Its 'Application/Examination' route covers OTs already licensed elsewhere who passed NBCOT. Its 'Reciprocity' route is only for OTs licensed after a non-NBCOT exam and requires a petition for rule variance. 'Endorsement' is reserved for military service members, transitioning service members and military spouses, who may also get expedited processing. A 90-day, non-renewable limited permit exists for applicants awaiting the NBCOT exam. All applications go through the GOALS portal; paper applications are returned.

Georgia requirements at a glance

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for Georgia, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. An OT licensed elsewhere who passed the NBCOT exam uses the standard Application/Examination path. Staff confirm your certification and scores on the NBCOT verification portal, or you have NBCOT send a Score Transfer or Verification of Certification. If you took the exam more than once, the Board must receive ALL of your scores. The application refers to 'NBCOT Certification' and scores but does not say that a lapsed certification is disqualifying. No Georgia jurisprudence exam is required. Georgia's 'Reciprocity' route is only for OTs licensed after a non-NBCOT exam.
Additional requirements
  • Official transcript showing degree and date, sent directly from the school, plus documentation of completed supervised fieldwork
  • Have every state where you hold or ever held a license send verification of its status directly to the Board
  • Submit three notarized references known to you within five years: two professional (at least one from a licensed or certified OT practitioner) and one personal
  • Register with the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) and complete a fingerprint criminal background check right after applying
  • Submit a secure and verifiable document and affidavit of citizenship (immigration documents if applicable)
Fees$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).)
Processing time4–6 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)

Step by step

  1. Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Official transcript showing degree and date, sent directly from the school, plus documentation of completed supervised fieldwork.
  5. Have every state where you hold or ever held a license send verification of its status directly to the Board.
  6. Submit three notarized references known to you within five years: two professional (at least one from a licensed or certified OT practitioner) and one personal.
  7. Register with the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) and complete a fingerprint criminal background check right after applying.
  8. Submit a secure and verifiable document and affidavit of citizenship (immigration documents if applicable).
  9. Pay the fees ($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).)) and allow 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).

Official links

Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) ↗Georgia application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Georgia:

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Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Georgia:

Georgia for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Georgia?

Not through the compact yet. Georgia has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, so you transfer by endorsement with the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division). The fee is $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).) and processing runs 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); your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.

Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Georgia?

No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. An OT licensed elsewhere who passed the NBCOT exam uses the standard Application/Examination path. Staff confirm your certification and scores on the NBCOT verification portal, or you have NBCOT send a Score Transfer or Verification of Certification. If you took the exam more than once, the Board must receive ALL of your scores. The application refers to 'NBCOT Certification' and scores but does not say that a lapsed certification is disqualifying. No Georgia jurisprudence exam is required. Georgia's 'Reciprocity' route is only for OTs licensed after a non-NBCOT exam.

How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in Georgia?

$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).).

How long does Georgia take to issue an OT license by endorsement?

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).

Is Georgia an OT Compact state?

Georgia has enacted the compact but was not accepting applications or issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. Until it goes live, endorsement is the only way to practice in Georgia.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

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