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LicenseReciprocity

Occupational Therapy License from Pennsylvania to Kansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Kansas State Board of Healing Arts ↗

A occupational therapy license transfers from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania and Kansas have both enacted the OT Compact, and neither was issuing privileges as of the verification date, so this is an ordinary endorsement move. Apply to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts; your NBCOT result is verified by Score Transfer or Verification of Certification. If both states go live, working in Kansas while living in Pennsylvania could later be done on a privilege.

What changes, Pennsylvania → Kansas

Side-by-side: Pennsylvania vs Kansas (Occupational Therapy (OT/OTA)), verified 2026-09-27
Pennsylvania (current)Kansas (destination)
OT Compact statusOT Compact enacted — not yet issuingOT Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Application fee$30 (application for license fee, the same for OT and OTA (49 Pa. Code 42.17; the Board's Licensure Snapshot shows a $30 initial fee). The Act 41 endorsement route charges the same 42.17 application fee (42.9(a)(5)). Biennial renewal is $55 (OTA $45). The fee schedule also lists a $20 temporary license. No fingerprint/background-check fee was found in the Board materials read. No OT Compact privilege fee exists yet (Pennsylvania is not issuing privileges).)$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 timethe Department of State publishes processing guides and timelines only for certain boards, and none covers occupational therapy. Applications are filed and tracked in PALS, and the Board may require an interview (Act 41 route)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 authorityPennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State)Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kansas sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Kansas's current requirements on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. 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.
  5. Submit the application with the additional forms and required documents listed by the Board, with all fees paid.
  6. 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

Kansas State Board of Healing Arts ↗Kansas application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Kansas → PennsylvaniaOccupational Therapy in PennsylvaniaOccupational Therapy in KansasAll occupational therapy statesThe OT Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my Pennsylvania occupational therapy license in Kansas?

A occupational therapy license transfers from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

$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.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]