Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Kansas: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Kansas State Board of Healing Arts ↗
Not through the compact yet. Kansas has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, so you transfer by endorsement with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. The fee is $80 (application for license fee on the KSBHA License Fees page (applies to OT and OTA); temporary license $25; renewal $72 online or $75 on paper, annually) and processing runs 4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different'); your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.
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Verdict
OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Kansas's compact status reads better on paper than it works in practice. The legislature has enacted the OT Compact, but the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts was not accepting privilege applications as of 2026-09-27, so for now Kansas 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 Kansas goes live.
Kansas has enacted the OT Compact but is NOT yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-09-27). OTs are licensed by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. The Board says initial applications may be submitted on paper with additional forms. A temporary license (K.S.A. 65-5408) is available to an applicant who meets all requirements, or all except the exam; it expires after one year or when the Board acts on the application, and the FAQ says only one may be issued. Licenses expire March 31 and renew annually. Military licensure applies under K.S.A. 48-3402. WARNING: the old domain ksbha.org now serves an unrelated parked/advertising page; the Board's official site is ksbha.ks.gov.
Kansas requirements at a glance
| Exam | The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The Board's published FAQ does not say how it verifies NBCOT passage or whether a Kansas jurisprudence exam applies, so confirm both with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts before applying. |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $80 (application for license fee on the KSBHA License Fees page (applies to OT and OTA); temporary license $25; renewal $72 online or $75 on paper, annually) |
| Processing time | 4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different') |
Step by step
- Confirm Kansas's current requirements on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Maintain professional liability insurance (K.A.R. 100-54-13): at least $100,000 per claim and $300,000 aggregate individually, or employer coverage of at least $1,000,000 and $3,000,000 as an additional insured.
- Submit the application with the additional forms and required documents listed by the Board, with all fees paid.
- Pay the fees ($80 (application for license fee on the KSBHA License Fees page (applies to OT and OTA); temporary license $25; renewal $72 online or $75 on paper, annually)) and allow 4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different').
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Kansas:
Nearby states
Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Kansas:
Kansas for other professions
Frequently asked questions
Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Kansas?
Not through the compact yet. Kansas has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, so you transfer by endorsement with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. The fee is $80 (application for license fee on the KSBHA License Fees page (applies to OT and OTA); temporary license $25; renewal $72 online or $75 on paper, annually) and processing runs 4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different'); your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.
Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Kansas?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The Board's published FAQ does not say how it verifies NBCOT passage or whether a Kansas jurisprudence exam applies, so confirm both with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts before applying.
How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in Kansas?
$80 (application for license fee on the KSBHA License Fees page (applies to OT and OTA); temporary license $25; renewal $72 online or $75 on paper, annually).
How long does Kansas take to issue an OT license by endorsement?
4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different').
Is Kansas an OT Compact state?
Kansas 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 Kansas.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- KSBHA, Occupational Therapist (O.T.) profession page (Internet Archive copy of 2026-09-06; live site returned Access Denied on 2026-09-27) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- KSBHA, License Fees (Internet Archive copy of 2026-06-15) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- KSBHA, Occupational Therapist FAQs (Internet Archive copy of 2026-04-15) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- KSBHA, Licensure Types/Designations: Occupational Therapist (Internet Archive copy of 2025-10-28) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission, Before You Apply (Kansas: 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]