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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing) ↗

Not through the compact yet. Michigan has passed the OT Compact into law but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, so you transfer by endorsement with the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing). The fee is $187.40 (combined application fee + 2-year license fee for 'OT by Examination or Endorsement', paid by card through MiPLUS, per LARA's Occupational Therapist Licensing Guide (revision date 10/01/23, read from an Internet Archive copy of 2025-03-03). The April 2026 LARA OT page links a newer file revision of the same guide that could not be retrieved, so confirm the amount in MiPLUS. Fingerprint vendor fee and PSI jurisprudence-exam fee not stated in the guide. NOT an OT Compact privilege fee (Michigan is not issuing privileges).) and processing runs LARA's OT licensing guide and OT page publish no processing time; your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification.

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Verdict

OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Don't let "enacted" mislead you. Michigan has passed the OT Compact but had not started issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, and the commission publishes no go-live date. Until it does, the only way to practice in Michigan is a Michigan license through the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing), and the endorsement steps below are the whole process.

Michigan has enacted the OT Compact but is NOT yet issuing or accepting privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-09-27), so relocating OTs need a Michigan license by endorsement from LARA. Endorsement has two tiers under the licensing guide: an applicant first licensed elsewhere who has practiced for MORE than 5 years needs NBCOT passage and the Michigan jurisprudence exam plus the requirements that apply to all applicants; one with LESS than 5 years must meet the full examination-applicant requirements (ACOTE transcripts, NBCOT, jurisprudence). All applicants also demonstrate English proficiency and provide an SSN or SSN affidavit. Source caveat: the guide read is revision 10/01/23; the Board held a public hearing on OT rules in July 2025 and the live michigan.gov pages could not be loaded on 2026-09-27, so confirm current requirements in MiPLUS before applying.

Michigan requirements at a glance

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for Michigan, verified 2026-09-27
Exam	The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; LARA requires certification of your passing NBCOT score sent directly to the Bureau by NBCOT. Michigan ALSO requires its jurisprudence examination for endorsement: a passing score (75%) on the Michigan OT jurisprudence exam taken through PSI, sent directly by PSI and dated within the 3 years before you apply. (The Commission's 'not required' jurisprudence entry for Michigan refers only to future compact privileges.) The licensing guide asks for NBCOT exam passage, not current NBCOT certification.
Additional requirements	Pass the Michigan OT jurisprudence exam through PSI (75% passing score) within the 3 years before applying Have NBCOT send certification of your passing OT exam score directly to LARA Have every state or country where you hold or ever held a license send verification directly to LARA, showing no pending discipline or sanctions in force If you have practiced in another state for LESS than 5 years, also meet the examination requirements, including official transcripts sent directly from an ACOTE-accredited (or WFOT-approved) OT program Complete the criminal background check (instructions emailed after you apply), one-time human-trafficking training, and 2 hours of implicit-bias training within the prior 5 years
Fees	$187.40 (combined application fee + 2-year license fee for 'OT by Examination or Endorsement', paid by card through MiPLUS, per LARA's Occupational Therapist Licensing Guide (revision date 10/01/23, read from an Internet Archive copy of 2025-03-03). The April 2026 LARA OT page links a newer file revision of the same guide that could not be retrieved, so confirm the amount in MiPLUS. Fingerprint vendor fee and PSI jurisprudence-exam fee not stated in the guide. NOT an OT Compact privilege fee (Michigan is not issuing privileges).)
Processing time	LARA's OT licensing guide and OT page publish no processing time

Step by step

Confirm Michigan's current requirements on the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
Pass the Michigan OT jurisprudence exam through PSI (75% passing score) within the 3 years before applying.
Have NBCOT send certification of your passing OT exam score directly to LARA.
Have every state or country where you hold or ever held a license send verification directly to LARA, showing no pending discipline or sanctions in force.
If you have practiced in another state for LESS than 5 years, also meet the examination requirements, including official transcripts sent directly from an ACOTE-accredited (or WFOT-approved) OT program.
Complete the criminal background check (instructions emailed after you apply), one-time human-trafficking training, and 2 hours of implicit-bias training within the prior 5 years.
Pay the fees ($187.40 (combined application fee + 2-year license fee for 'OT by Examination or Endorsement', paid by card through MiPLUS, per LARA's Occupational Therapist Licensing Guide (revision date 10/01/23, read from an Internet Archive copy of 2025-03-03). The April 2026 LARA OT page links a newer file revision of the same guide that could not be retrieved, so confirm the amount in MiPLUS. Fingerprint vendor fee and PSI jurisprudence-exam fee not stated in the guide. NOT an OT Compact privilege fee (Michigan is not issuing privileges).)) and allow LARA's OT licensing guide and OT page publish no processing time.

Official links

Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing) ↗Michigan application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

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

All 50 origin states

Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Michigan:

Michigan for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Michigan?

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

No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; LARA requires certification of your passing NBCOT score sent directly to the Bureau by NBCOT. Michigan ALSO requires its jurisprudence examination for endorsement: a passing score (75%) on the Michigan OT jurisprudence exam taken through PSI, sent directly by PSI and dated within the 3 years before you apply. (The Commission's 'not required' jurisprudence entry for Michigan refers only to future compact privileges.) The licensing guide asks for NBCOT exam passage, not current NBCOT certification.

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

$187.40 (combined application fee + 2-year license fee for 'OT by Examination or Endorsement', paid by card through MiPLUS, per LARA's Occupational Therapist Licensing Guide (revision date 10/01/23, read from an Internet Archive copy of 2025-03-03). The April 2026 LARA OT page links a newer file revision of the same guide that could not be retrieved, so confirm the amount in MiPLUS. Fingerprint vendor fee and PSI jurisprudence-exam fee not stated in the guide. NOT an OT Compact privilege fee (Michigan is not issuing privileges).).

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

LARA's OT licensing guide and OT page publish no processing time.

Is Michigan an OT Compact state?

Michigan 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 Michigan.

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

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]