Occupational Therapy License from New York to District of Columbia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to District of Columbia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration), verify your New York license, and meet District of Columbia's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The endorsement checklist asks the applicant to order an NBCOT Verification of Certification through MyNBCOT so the Board can confirm certification status. The checklist does not say whether a lapsed certification is acceptable, and it lists no DC jurisprudence exam..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Neither New York nor District of Columbia is issuing OT Compact privileges, so there is one route: a District of Columbia license by endorsement from the District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration). The board verifies your New York license and your NBCOT exam passage; being licensed in New York neither speeds nor slows District of Columbia's standard out-of-state review.
What changes, New York → District of Columbia
| New York (current) | District of Columbia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Application fee | $294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.) | $264 (application and license fee, paid online with the endorsement application; + $50 criminal background check paid online) |
| Processing time | NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications. | DC Health publishes no OT processing timeframe; applicants can call the Processing Center (1-877-672-2174) or check status in the online portal |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy | District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — District of Columbia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm District of Columbia's current requirements on the District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Official transcript from an ACOTE-accredited OT program, sent directly from the school (email to [email protected] preferred).
- Order an NBCOT Verification of Certification through MyNBCOT.
- Obtain official license verifications from every state and jurisdiction where you ever held a professional license, in any status.
- Complete a new criminal background check with each application ($50, paid online).
- If you answer yes to any screening question, include supporting documents and an NPDB self-query report dated within 30 days.
- Pay the fees ($264 (application and license fee, paid online with the endorsement application; + $50 criminal background check paid online)) and allow DC Health publishes no OT processing timeframe; applicants can call the Processing Center (1-877-672-2174) or check status in the online portal.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my New York occupational therapy license in District of Columbia?
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to District of Columbia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration), verify your New York license, and meet District of Columbia's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The endorsement checklist asks the applicant to order an NBCOT Verification of Certification through MyNBCOT so the Board can confirm certification status. The checklist does not say whether a lapsed certification is acceptable, and it lists no DC jurisprudence exam..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from New York to District of Columbia?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. The endorsement checklist asks the applicant to order an NBCOT Verification of Certification through MyNBCOT so the Board can confirm certification status. The checklist does not say whether a lapsed certification is acceptable, and it lists no DC jurisprudence exam.
How much does a District of Columbia OT license cost for someone licensed in New York?
$264 (application and license fee, paid online with the endorsement application; + $50 criminal background check paid online).
How long does District of Columbia take to process the application?
DC Health publishes no OT processing timeframe; applicants can call the Processing Center (1-877-672-2174) or check status in the online portal.
Can I use the OT Compact to work in District of Columbia?
Not for this move. District of Columbia has not enacted the OT Compact. A District of Columbia license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- DC Health, Occupational Therapy Licensing ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- DC Health, Occupational Therapy New License Application, Endorsement Checklist ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — License Requirements for Occupational Therapists ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — Application Forms for Occupational Therapists (Forms 1, 2, 2F, 3) ↗ (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]