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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) ↗

Pennsylvania has enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact but, as of 2026-09-27, is not yet accepting applications or issuing privileges, so no privilege lets you practice there. Every incoming OT or OTA needs a Pennsylvania license by endorsement from the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State): $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).), processing the 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), with NBCOT exam passage verified instead of retaken.

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Verdict

OT Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Don't let "enacted" mislead you. Pennsylvania has passed the OT Compact but had not started issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27, and the commission publishes no go-live date. Until it does, the only way to practice in Pennsylvania is a Pennsylvania license through the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State), and the endorsement steps below are the whole process.

Pennsylvania is listed as having ENACTED the OT Compact (Commission compact map: HB 482 / SB 571) but is NOT yet issuing privileges. It does not appear on the Commission's Before You Apply table, and neither the OT Board page nor the Department of State's Health Care Licensure Compacts page (which lists only the Nurse, Interstate Medical and PT compacts) mentions an OT Compact launch. Relocating OTs must get a Pennsylvania license, applied for online through PALS by one of two paths: (1) the standard application with an exam waiver for applicants licensed in a substantially equivalent state or currently NBCOT certified (49 Pa. Code 42.12-42.13); or (2) Act 41 licensure by endorsement for applicants with a current, discipline-free license in a substantially equivalent jurisdiction and 2 of the last 5 years in practice (42.9), for which the Board may require a personal interview. Pennsylvania requires every OT (not OTA) to carry $1,000,000 in professional liability insurance. Renewal is biennial with 24 hours of continued competency, including 2 hours of child-abuse training.

Pennsylvania requirements at a glance

Out-of-state occupational therapy license transfer requirements for Pennsylvania, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe NBCOT OTR exam is not retaken. The applicant directs NBCOT to send exam results to the Board (49 Pa. Code 42.11(c), 42.13(a)(4)). Under 42.12 the Board may waive the licensure exam for an applicant who is licensed in another state, territory or DC with substantially equivalent requirements, OR who has passed the NBCOT exam and is CURRENTLY NBCOT certified; current certification is one route, not a universal requirement. A separate Act 41 endorsement route (42.9) requires a current, good-standing license in a substantially equivalent jurisdiction and practice for at least 2 of the last 5 years. No Pennsylvania jurisprudence exam was found.
Additional requirements
  • Completion of an ACOTE-accredited (or Board-approved, USDE-recognized-accreditor) OT program including at least 6 months of supervised fieldwork
  • Complete 3 hours of Board-approved (DHS-approved provider) child abuse recognition and reporting training
  • Provide proof of professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence or claims made (or a carrier/employer coverage letter)
  • Show a current license in good standing in a substantially equivalent jurisdiction, or current NBCOT certification (exam waiver under 49 Pa. Code 42.12)
  • For the Act 41 endorsement route, submit the other jurisdiction's current licensure law/rules (with enactment date) and show active practice for at least 2 of the 5 years before applying
Fees$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).)
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)

Step by step

  1. Confirm Pennsylvania's current requirements on the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Completion of an ACOTE-accredited (or Board-approved, USDE-recognized-accreditor) OT program including at least 6 months of supervised fieldwork.
  5. Complete 3 hours of Board-approved (DHS-approved provider) child abuse recognition and reporting training.
  6. Provide proof of professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence or claims made (or a carrier/employer coverage letter).
  7. Show a current license in good standing in a substantially equivalent jurisdiction, or current NBCOT certification (exam waiver under 49 Pa. Code 42.12).
  8. For the Act 41 endorsement route, submit the other jurisdiction's current licensure law/rules (with enactment date) and show active practice for at least 2 of the 5 years before applying.
  9. Pay the fees ($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).)) and allow the 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).

Official links

Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) ↗Pennsylvania application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

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Nearby states

Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact but, as of 2026-09-27, is not yet accepting applications or issuing privileges, so no privilege lets you practice there. Every incoming OT or OTA needs a Pennsylvania license by endorsement from the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State): $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).), processing the 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), with NBCOT exam passage verified instead of retaken.

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

No. The NBCOT OTR exam is not retaken. The applicant directs NBCOT to send exam results to the Board (49 Pa. Code 42.11(c), 42.13(a)(4)). Under 42.12 the Board may waive the licensure exam for an applicant who is licensed in another state, territory or DC with substantially equivalent requirements, OR who has passed the NBCOT exam and is CURRENTLY NBCOT certified; current certification is one route, not a universal requirement. A separate Act 41 endorsement route (42.9) requires a current, good-standing license in a substantially equivalent jurisdiction and practice for at least 2 of the last 5 years. No Pennsylvania jurisprudence exam was found.

How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in Pennsylvania?

$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).).

How long does Pennsylvania take to issue an OT license by endorsement?

the 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).

Is Pennsylvania an OT Compact state?

Pennsylvania has enacted the compact but was not accepting applications or issuing privileges as of 2026-09-27. Until it goes live, endorsement is the only way to practice in Pennsylvania.

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]