Occupational Therapy License from New York to Kansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Kansas State Board of Healing Arts ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, verify your New York license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. 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..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The compact plays no part here, since neither state is issuing privileges. You apply to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts as an OT licensed in another state, with NBCOT passage verified and your New York license confirmed, plus whatever Kansas adds such as fingerprints or a jurisprudence exam.
What changes, New York → Kansas
| New York (current) | Kansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement | OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing |
| 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.) | $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 | NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications. | 4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different') |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy | Kansas State Board of Healing Arts |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Kansas's current requirements on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (application linked below).
- 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
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my New York occupational therapy license in Kansas?
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, verify your New York license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. 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..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from New York to 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 a Kansas OT license cost for someone licensed in New York?
$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 process the application?
4–8 weeks (the Board's OT FAQ says 'The application process takes on average four to eight weeks; however, each application is different').
Can I use the OT Compact to work in Kansas?
Not for this move. Kansas has enacted the OT Compact but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. A Kansas license by endorsement is required.
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)
- 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]