Occupational Therapy License from Wisconsin to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice ↗
Yes, for working in Maryland — both Wisconsin and Maryland are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Wisconsin is your primary state of residence and your Wisconsin license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Maryland without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Maryland, you will need a Maryland license once Maryland becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Because Wisconsin and Maryland are both issuing privileges, you may not need a Maryland license at all, provided Wisconsin stays your home. An OT or OTA living in Wisconsin with an active, unencumbered Wisconsin license can practice in Maryland on a compact privilege. That changes if you relocate: living in Maryland makes it your home state, and the privilege gives way to a Maryland license from the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
What changes, Wisconsin → Maryland
| Wisconsin (current) | Maryland (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice | OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice |
| Application fee | $60 (credential fee per DSPS information sheet #1569 (rev. 4/2022), paid online via LicensE; DSPS's current initial-fee schedule could not be confirmed separately. Optional fee reduction (form 3217). Oral examination, if required: $266. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Wisconsin privilege: $75 state fee + $75 Commission fee).) | $200 (Application for initial licensure is $200 (COMAR 10.46.05.01B). It is non-refundable and includes a first temporary license. The fingerprinting vendor fee is extra; the Board does not state the amount. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee: Maryland's privilege costs $125 (COMAR 10.46.05.01M) plus the $75 Commission fee.) |
| Processing time | no processing time is published on the DSPS OT page; applicants can track status with the LicensE Application Status Lookup | The Board publishes no processing timeframe. |
| Licensing authority | Wisconsin Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services) | Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
- To work in Maryland: purchase a OT Compact privilege for Maryland through the compact commission and complete any Maryland jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Maryland: apply for a Maryland license with the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice; a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Wisconsin occupational therapy license in Maryland?
Yes, for working in Maryland — both Wisconsin and Maryland are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Wisconsin is your primary state of residence and your Wisconsin license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Maryland without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Maryland, you will need a Maryland license once Maryland becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Wisconsin to Maryland?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Maryland asks for verification of INITIAL NBCOT certification or examination; screenshots from NBCOT's verification site are accepted. Current NBCOT certification is not required. An applicant who is not currently NBCOT-certified submits a Continuing Competency Requirement Compliance Report showing 24 contact hours in the preceding 24 months. Every applicant must also complete the Maryland jurisprudence exam, an open-book exam on Health Occupations Article Title 10 and COMAR 10.46, answered on paper or online.
Do I need a Maryland license or just a compact privilege?
A privilege is enough if you keep living in Wisconsin and your Wisconsin license stays active and unencumbered. If you move your residence to Maryland, you need a Maryland license from the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
What does it cost?
A Maryland compact privilege costs the $75 commission fee plus Maryland's privilege fee. A Maryland license by endorsement, for a relocation: $200 (Application for initial licensure is $200 (COMAR 10.46.05.01B). It is non-refundable and includes a first temporary license. The fingerprinting vendor fee is extra; the Board does not state the amount. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee: Maryland's privilege costs $125 (COMAR 10.46.05.01M) plus the $75 Commission fee.).
How long does it take?
A privilege depends on your FBI background check through the Wisconsin board and any Maryland jurisprudence step. A Maryland license by endorsement: The Board publishes no processing timeframe..
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Forms (Necessary Forms for an Initial License) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Application for Licensure (2026 version) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice — Applicant's Checklist (2026 version) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- COMAR 10.46.05 Collection of Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Maryland accepting applications since April 15, 2026; $125 privilege fee; jurisprudence required) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Occupational Therapist profession page (application forms, temporary credential, OT Compact) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Wisconsin DSPS — #1569 Credentialing Information for OT/OTA Applicants (rev. 4/2022; reciprocal applicants) ↗ (accessed 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]