Occupational Therapy License from Wisconsin to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy ↗
A occupational therapy license transfers from Wisconsin to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy, verify your Wisconsin license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The compact stops at the New York line. Wisconsin issues privileges, but New York has not enacted the compact, so this is a standard endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy. Keep your Wisconsin license current if you want to keep using privileges elsewhere.
What changes, Wisconsin → New York
| Wisconsin (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice | Licensure by endorsement |
| 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).) | $294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.) |
| Processing time | no processing time is published on the DSPS OT page; applicants can track status with the LicensE Application Status Lookup | NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications. |
| Licensing authority | Wisconsin Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services) | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Submit Form 1 (Application for Licensure) online with the $294 licensure and first registration fee.
- Have your OT school send Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education) directly to NYSED (baccalaureate or entry-level master's in OT from an NYS-registered or ACOTE-accredited program, including six months of supervised experience).
- Have NBCOT send exam results or written verification of certification directly to NYSED.
- Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a license send Form 3 (Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification) directly.
- Be of good moral character and at least 21 years old.
- Pay the fees ($294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.)) and allow NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Wisconsin occupational therapy license in New York?
A occupational therapy license transfers from Wisconsin to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Occupational Therapy, verify your Wisconsin license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam..
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Wisconsin to New York?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. New York has no separate endorsement application: OTs licensed elsewhere file the same Form 1 and meet the same education and exam requirements. NYSED needs NBCOT OTR exam results (passing score 450) sent directly from NBCOT; anyone who has already passed asks NBCOT to send written verification of certification directly to the Office of the Professions. Current NBCOT certification is not required. New York has no state jurisprudence exam.
How much does a New York OT license cost for someone licensed in Wisconsin?
$294 (Licensure and first registration fee for an OT ($147 for an OTA). An online application must be paid by credit card. A limited permit costs $70, non-refundable. Fees are subject to change; the fee in law when NYSED receives the application applies.).
How long does New York take to process the application?
NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for OT applications..
Can I use the OT Compact to work in New York?
Not for this move. New York has not enacted the OT Compact. A New York license by endorsement is required.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- NYSED Office of the Professions — License Requirements for Occupational Therapists ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — Application Forms for Occupational Therapists (Forms 1, 2, 2F, 3) ↗ (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)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Wisconsin accepting applications since May 29, 2026; $75 OT privilege fee; jurisprudence required) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
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