Occupational Therapy License from New York to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health) ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health), verify your New York license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; applicants must have obtained a passing score on the NBCOT exam. The Department's licensing pages do not specify whether a Score Transfer or a Verification of Certification is required, and do not require CURRENT NBCOT certification. No Washington jurisprudence exam was found on the licensing requirements page..
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The compact plays no part here, since neither state is issuing privileges. You apply to the Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health) as an OT licensed in another state, with NBCOT passage verified and your New York license confirmed, plus whatever Washington adds such as fingerprints or a jurisprudence exam.
What changes, New York → Washington
| New York (current) | Washington (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.) | $166 (OT application and initial license fee under WAC 246-847-990, including a $16 HEALWA surcharge (OTA also $166). Non-refundable. The FBI fingerprinting fee is separate and not published on the pages read. Limited permit $55. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Washington is not issuing privileges).) |
| Processing time | NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications. | no processing time is published; the Department says delayed responses to its requests lengthen processing, and military spouses/registered domestic partners may be eligible for expedited processing |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy | Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Graduate of a nationally accredited, board-approved OT program with at least six months of supervised fieldwork (official transcript sent directly from the school).
- Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a credential (or applied for one) send the verification form directly to the Department.
- Complete an FBI fingerprint-based background check (required of all new applicants from July 1, 2026; instructions are sent after you apply).
- Provide a complete chronology of activities from OT graduation to application, accounting for any gaps.
- Substantially-equivalent-state route (SHB 1724): be credentialed for at least two years in a state Washington has deemed equivalent, with no disciplinary action.
- Pay the fees ($166 (OT application and initial license fee under WAC 246-847-990, including a $16 HEALWA surcharge (OTA also $166). Non-refundable. The FBI fingerprinting fee is separate and not published on the pages read. Limited permit $55. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Washington is not issuing privileges).)) and allow no processing time is published; the Department says delayed responses to its requests lengthen processing, and military spouses/registered domestic partners may be eligible for expedited processing.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my New York occupational therapy license in Washington?
A occupational therapy license transfers from New York to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Occupational Therapy Practice Board (Washington State Department of Health), verify your New York license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; applicants must have obtained a passing score on the NBCOT exam. The Department's licensing pages do not specify whether a Score Transfer or a Verification of Certification is required, and do not require CURRENT NBCOT certification. No Washington jurisprudence exam was found on the licensing requirements page..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from New York to Washington?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; applicants must have obtained a passing score on the NBCOT exam. The Department's licensing pages do not specify whether a Score Transfer or a Verification of Certification is required, and do not require CURRENT NBCOT certification. No Washington jurisprudence exam was found on the licensing requirements page.
How much does a Washington OT license cost for someone licensed in New York?
$166 (OT application and initial license fee under WAC 246-847-990, including a $16 HEALWA surcharge (OTA also $166). Non-refundable. The FBI fingerprinting fee is separate and not published on the pages read. Limited permit $55. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Washington is not issuing privileges).).
How long does Washington take to process the application?
no processing time is published; the Department says delayed responses to its requests lengthen processing, and military spouses/registered domestic partners may be eligible for expedited processing.
Can I use the OT Compact to work in Washington?
Not for this move. Washington has enacted the OT Compact but was not issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. A Washington license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Washington DOH — OT and OTA Licensing Information (application, fee schedule WAC 246-847-990) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Washington DOH — OT and OTA Licensing Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Washington DOH — OT and OTA Substantially Equivalent States (SHB 1724) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Washington DOH — OT and OTA Frequently Asked Questions (FBI background checks from July 1, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Washington DOH — OT Licensure Compact ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Washington: Not Yet) ↗ (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
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