Licensure guide · Alabama
How to get a Alabama occupational therapy license
Occupational therapists in Alabama are licensed by the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.
Step by step
Getting licensed
- Education
- Applicants must have completed the academic requirements of an occupational therapy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. [2]
- National exam
- Applicants must pass a Board-approved written examination and have the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) send the Board a verification letter confirming they met certification requirements. [3]
- Fees
- The initial license fee for an occupational therapist is $140.00. [3]
- Where to apply
- Applicants can download the license application or submit it online from the board's Applications and Forms page. [6] Open the application →
Moving to the state
Already licensed somewhere else?
Alabama has enacted the OT Compact but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed elsewhere still need a Alabama license for now.
- Licensed in another state
- The Board may waive the examination, education or experience requirements for an applicant who holds a current OT license in another state, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory whose licensing standards the Board considers equivalent. [2]
- Interstate compact
- Alabama is one of 32 states that are members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, according to the board. [5]
Before your full license
New graduates and clinical fellows
- Temporary or provisional license
- Applicants who have not yet passed the NBCOT exam may obtain a limited permit to practice under supervision; it costs $25.00, expires 120 days after issuance or on notice of exam failure, and is not renewable. [3]
After you are licensed
Keeping the license active
- Renewal
- Current licenses expire on October 31, 2026; the OT renewal fee is $140.00, and a $50.00 late fee applies if the renewal is not completed by midnight on August 31, 2026 (60 days before expiration). [4]
- Continuing education
- OTs must obtain 15 contact hours (1.5 CEUs) annually or 30 contact hours (3.0 CEUs) biennially; no more than 1/3 may be administration, management or academic, with the rest related to direct patient treatment. [3]
Working in Alabama
Pay and openings
Occupational therapists in Alabama earn a mean of $95,760 a year (BLS). Most of our Alabama searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.
Sources
Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the Alabama board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.
- [1] https://ot.alabama.gov/
- [2] https://ot.alabama.gov/PDF/2022/CodifiedPracticeAct.pdf
- [3] https://ot.alabama.gov/PDF/rules/AdministrativeCode5-20.pdf
- [4] https://ot.alabama.gov/PDF/2026/RenewalOnlineInstructionsOCT2026.pdf
- [5] https://ot.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=16679
- [6] https://ot.alabama.gov/forms.aspx
Other Alabama licenses
Occupational therapy licenses in other states
Getting licensed in Alabama for a move?
Tell us the setting and the city you want. We will tell you which employers are hiring and how long they will wait for a license.