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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) ↗

New Hampshire has enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact but, as of 2026-09-27, is not yet accepting applications or issuing privileges, so no privilege lets you practice there. Every incoming OT or OTA needs a New Hampshire license by endorsement from the New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification): $110 (OT application fee on OPLC's Occupational Therapy Governing Board License Fees page (Internet Archive copy of 2025-05-31; OTA also $110; separate $20 certificate fee and $10 license-verification fee listed). OPLC moved the page to a new address in 2026 that could not be retrieved, so confirm the current amount (fees are set in Plc 1000). + FBI background-check fees. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (New Hampshire is not issuing privileges).), processing OPLC publishes no OT processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue a provisional license to an endorsement applicant whose FBI check results are still pending, with NBCOT exam passage verified instead of retaken.

Moving to New Hampshire from a specific state?

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Verdict

OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Don't let "enacted" mislead you. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire is a New Hampshire license through the New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification), and the endorsement steps below are the whole process.

New Hampshire has enacted the OT Compact but is NOT yet issuing or accepting privileges (Commission status 'Not Yet' as of 2026-09-27). Since May 3, 2024 OPLC has licensed OTs and OTAs from 'qualifying jurisdictions' under RSA 310:17 (HB 594, 2023). For OTs, Plc 313.43 lists every other U.S. state as qualifying; the District of Columbia is not on the OT list, so a DC-only licensee should confirm eligibility with OPLC. This remains an application with a fee, license proof and FBI check, not automatic recognition. OPLC can issue a provisional license (shown as 'Active-Provisional') while FBI results are pending. The fee and checklist were read from 2025 archive copies because oplc.nh.gov blocked automated access on 2026-09-27.

New Hampshire requirements at a glance

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for New Hampshire, verified 2026-09-27
Exam	The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. OPLC's OT initial-application checklist lists NBCOT certification as an eligibility item and requires a letter sent directly from NBCOT verifying your certification and its expiration dates (Occ 302.03(e)), i.e. an NBCOT Verification of Certification, so current NBCOT certification appears to be expected. The separate universal reciprocity route (RSA 310:17) asks for the application, fee, proof of your active license and an FBI background check. No New Hampshire jurisprudence exam was found.
Additional requirements	Apply online through OPLC; applicants licensed in another state can use the universal reciprocity route (Universal Application for Initial License with a copy or portal screenshot of the active, good-standing license) Complete an FBI criminal history records check Have NBCOT send a letter directly to the Board verifying your certification and its expiration dates Have each other state of licensure send license verification directly to the Board, where applicable Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited OT program (official transcript sent directly from the school on the standard initial route)
Fees	$110 (OT application fee on OPLC's Occupational Therapy Governing Board License Fees page (Internet Archive copy of 2025-05-31; OTA also $110; separate $20 certificate fee and $10 license-verification fee listed). OPLC moved the page to a new address in 2026 that could not be retrieved, so confirm the current amount (fees are set in Plc 1000). + FBI background-check fees. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (New Hampshire is not issuing privileges).)
Processing time	OPLC publishes no OT processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue a provisional license to an endorsement applicant whose FBI check results are still pending

Step by step

Confirm New Hampshire's current requirements on the New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
Apply online through OPLC; applicants licensed in another state can use the universal reciprocity route (Universal Application for Initial License with a copy or portal screenshot of the active, good-standing license).
Complete an FBI criminal history records check.
Have NBCOT send a letter directly to the Board verifying your certification and its expiration dates.
Have each other state of licensure send license verification directly to the Board, where applicable.
Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited OT program (official transcript sent directly from the school on the standard initial route).
Pay the fees ($110 (OT application fee on OPLC's Occupational Therapy Governing Board License Fees page (Internet Archive copy of 2025-05-31; OTA also $110; separate $20 certificate fee and $10 license-verification fee listed). OPLC moved the page to a new address in 2026 that could not be retrieved, so confirm the current amount (fees are set in Plc 1000). + FBI background-check fees. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (New Hampshire is not issuing privileges).)) and allow OPLC publishes no OT processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue a provisional license to an endorsement applicant whose FBI check results are still pending.

Official links

New Hampshire Occupational Therapists Governing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) ↗New Hampshire application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into New Hampshire:

California → New Hampshire Florida → New Hampshire Georgia → New Hampshire Illinois → New Hampshire Michigan → New Hampshire New York → New Hampshire North Carolina → New Hampshire Ohio → New Hampshire Pennsylvania → New Hampshire Texas → New Hampshire

Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering New Hampshire:

New Hampshire for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to New Hampshire?

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

No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. OPLC's OT initial-application checklist lists NBCOT certification as an eligibility item and requires a letter sent directly from NBCOT verifying your certification and its expiration dates (Occ 302.03(e)), i.e. an NBCOT Verification of Certification, so current NBCOT certification appears to be expected. The separate universal reciprocity route (RSA 310:17) asks for the application, fee, proof of your active license and an FBI background check. No New Hampshire jurisprudence exam was found.

How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in New Hampshire?

$110 (OT application fee on OPLC's Occupational Therapy Governing Board License Fees page (Internet Archive copy of 2025-05-31; OTA also $110; separate $20 certificate fee and $10 license-verification fee listed). OPLC moved the page to a new address in 2026 that could not be retrieved, so confirm the current amount (fees are set in Plc 1000). + FBI background-check fees. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (New Hampshire is not issuing privileges).).

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

OPLC publishes no OT processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue a provisional license to an endorsement applicant whose FBI check results are still pending.

Is New Hampshire an OT Compact state?

New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire.

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]