Occupational Therapy License from Tennessee to Ohio: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Yes, for working in Ohio — both Tennessee and Ohio are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Tennessee is your primary state of residence and your Tennessee license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Ohio without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Ohio, you will need a Ohio license once Ohio becomes your home state.

No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken; the applicant has NBCOT send a Score Transfer to the Ohio OTPTAT Board or uploads an official NBCOT Verification of Certification. Ohio also requires the Ohio OT Jurisprudence Exam (taken online via myicourse, 90% minimum passing score).

A privilege is enough if you keep living in Tennessee and your Tennessee license stays active and unencumbered. If you move your residence to Ohio, you need a Ohio license from the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board (Occupational Therapy Section).

A Ohio compact privilege costs the $75 commission fee plus Ohio's privilege fee. A Ohio license by endorsement, for a relocation: $100 (non-refundable endorsement application fee paid online through eLicense Ohio; + $22 BCI and $24 FBI background-check fees (plus any vendor fingerprinting fee); + $35 NBCOT Score Transfer if not already sent. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Ohio privilege: $25 state fee + $75 commission fee).).

A privilege depends on your FBI background check through the Tennessee board and any Ohio jurisprudence step. A Ohio license by endorsement: the Board states only that an application is reviewed within five business days of submission (approval or a request for more documents); no end-to-end licensing timeframe is published, and FBI checks from ink-rolled cards can take up to three months.