Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Tennessee: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Tennessee?
Tennessee is issuing Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact privileges, so the answer depends on what you're doing. If you live in and are licensed by another issuing state, you can practice in Tennessee on a compact privilege (the $75 commission fee plus Tennessee's fee) without a Tennessee license. If you're moving to Tennessee, or your home state isn't issuing, you need a Tennessee license from the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards): endorsement fee $135 ($125 non-refundable OT application fee + $10 state regulatory fee under Board Rule 1150-02-.06(4) as amended effective June 21, 2026 (OTA $100 + $10 = $110). The Board's online application checklist still shows the earlier $100 + $10 = $110 (OTA $85), so confirm the amount due at the end of the online application. The background-check vendor fee is paid separately. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Tennessee privilege: $125 OT / $100 OTA state fee + $75 Commission fee).), no verified processing time, NBCOT exam passage verified rather than retaken.
Moving to Tennessee from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement · OT Compact privilege (not a license)
Tennessee is one of the few states where the OT Compact is working, but a privilege only helps if your home state is issuing too and you still live there. Travel contracts, a caseload that crosses the state line, or telehealth into Tennessee fit the privilege model. A permanent move does not: once Tennessee is where you live, you need a Tennessee license from the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards).
Tennessee is one of the eleven states ISSUING OT Compact privileges (live since May 20, 2026). An OT who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Tennessee on a privilege ($125 Tennessee fee + $75 Commission fee; no jurisprudence exam) instead of getting a license. Anyone else, including an OT moving to Tennessee as their new home state, applies for licensure by reciprocity through the Department of Health's online licensing system (LARS). The Board's online checklist also lists a letter of recommendation from a licensee (date, state, license number, handwritten signature); Board Rule 1150-02-.05 requires a letter of recommendation only in its examination procedure (paragraph (1)(g)), not in the reciprocity procedure (paragraph (2)), so confirm with the Board whether it applies to reciprocity applicants. Tennessee offers expedited licensure forms for military members (PH-4279) and military spouses (PH-4280). Applicants not currently practicing elsewhere whose NBCOT exam is more than three years old may face added requirements (self-assessment, formal learning hours, or ethics/jurisprudence/documentation CE).
Tennessee requirements at a glance
| Exam | The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Under Board Rule 1150-02-.05(2)(i) the reciprocity applicant must have NBCOT certification exam results sent directly to the Board (an NBCOT Score Transfer / verification of exam results). The rule asks for exam results, not proof of CURRENT NBCOT certification. Tennessee does not require a jurisprudence exam for licensure by reciprocity (the Commission also lists Tennessee's compact jurisprudence as 'Not required'). |
|---|---|
| Fees | $135 ($125 non-refundable OT application fee + $10 state regulatory fee under Board Rule 1150-02-.06(4) as amended effective June 21, 2026 (OTA $100 + $10 = $110). The Board's online application checklist still shows the earlier $100 + $10 = $110 (OTA $85), so confirm the amount due at the end of the online application. The background-check vendor fee is paid separately. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Tennessee privilege: $125 OT / $100 OTA state fee + $75 Commission fee).) |
| Processing time | no processing time is published; Board Rule 1150-02-.05(2)(f) says completed reciprocity files are ordinarily processed at the next Board meeting scheduled to review files, and the Board meets four times a year |
Step by step
- Confirm Tennessee's current requirements on the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Graduate transcript sent directly from an AOTA/ACOTE-accredited degree program.
- Have NBCOT send your certification exam results directly to the Board.
- Have license verification sent directly to the Board from every state where you are or ever were licensed.
- Complete a criminal background check through the Board's vendor (OCA code 1594 for OTs), with results sent directly to the Board.
- Submit a passport-style photo taken within the last 12 months, proof of citizenship/lawful presence, and the mandatory Practitioner Profile.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Tennessee:
Nearby states
Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Tennessee:
Tennessee for other professions
- Nursing in Tennessee
- Cosmetology / Barber in Tennessee
- Real Estate in Tennessee
- Contractor in Tennessee
- Teaching in Tennessee
- CPA / Accounting in Tennessee
- Electrician in Tennessee
- Plumber in Tennessee
- Engineering in Tennessee
- Pharmacy in Tennessee
- Physical Therapy in Tennessee
- Psychology in Tennessee
- Counseling in Tennessee
- Social Work in Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in Tennessee?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken.
Is Tennessee an OT Compact state?
Yes. Tennessee is issuing and accepting OT Compact privileges as of 2026-10-29. An OT or OTA who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Tennessee on a privilege; moving your residence to Tennessee requires a Tennessee license.
What does a Tennessee OT Compact privilege cost?
The uniform $75 commission fee plus Tennessee's own privilege fee, paid through the commission. The privilege expires with your home-state license and must be purchased again after each home renewal.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Occupational Therapy ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Tennessee Board of OT — Occupational Therapist online application checklist (still lists the pre-June-2026 $100 + $10 fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Rules of the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy ch. 1150-02, June 2026 revision (1150-02-.05(2) reciprocity procedure; 1150-02-.06 fees, amended effective June 21, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Tennessee accepting applications since May 20, 2026; $125 OT privilege fee; jurisprudence not required) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com