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

Updated · Data verified · source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy ↗
Generated from a source-cited dataset with AI-assisted research; facts checked against official sources · How these pages are made

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to New York?

By endorsement only. New York is outside the OT Compact, so no privilege applies there; you apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy for a New York license ($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.); no verified processing time), and your NBCOT exam result is verified rather than retaken.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Plan around the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy's timeline. New York is outside the OT Compact, so there is no privilege to fall back on and no shortcut for telehealth or travel work; a New York license is required before your first session with a client in New York. The endorsement path below is the only one.

New York has NOT enacted the OT Compact (a bill has been filed), so a New York license is the only route. There is one licensure pathway for everyone; applicants licensed elsewhere add Form 3 verifications. A New York license is valid for life, and its registration is renewed separately. A limited permit ($70, valid one year) covers only practice between finishing an OT program and receiving exam results. It is not a bridge for OTs already licensed elsewhere. The permit holder must be supervised and may work only in hospitals, health care agencies or schools.

New York requirements at a glance

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for New York, verified 2026-10-29
ExamThe NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam.
Fees$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.)
Processing timeNYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications

Step by step

  1. Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Submit Form 1 (Application for Licensure) online with the $294 licensure and first registration fee.
  5. Have your OT school send Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education) directly to NYSED (baccalaureate or entry-level master's in OT from an NYS-registered or ACOTE-accredited program, including six months of supervised experience).
  6. Have NBCOT send exam results or written verification of certification directly to NYSED.
  7. Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a license send Form 3 (Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification) directly.
  8. Be of good moral character and at least 21 years old.
  9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy ↗New York application ↗License verification ↗

Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering New York:

New York for other professions

Frequently asked questions

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

No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken.

Is New York an OT Compact state?

No. New York had not enacted the OT Compact as of 2026-10-29, so no privilege authorizes practice there and every incoming OT or OTA needs a New York license.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29

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