Licensure guide · California
How to get a California occupational therapy license
Occupational therapists in California are licensed by the California 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
- You need a degree from an occupational therapy program. For licensure the board requires an official sealed transcript from the program showing the degree and graduation date. [2]
- National exam
- California uses the NBCOT certification examination as its licensing exam. A permanent license is issued after you pass the NBCOT exam. [3]
- Background check
- Every applicant must pass a DOJ and FBI criminal background check. Use Live Scan in California, or the board's fingerprint cards (with a $49 processing fee) if you live out of state. [4]
- Fees
- The application fee is $50. The initial license fee is separate. It is prorated based on your birth date and the month the license is issued, and the board states the amount in your approval letter. [5]
- Where to apply
- Apply online through DCA BreEZe; the board page linked here has the link. [3] Open the application →
- Processing time
- The board reviews initial license applications within 30 days of submission. [3]
Moving to the state
Already licensed somewhere else?
California is not a member of the OT Compact: occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in another state need a full California license before starting.
- Licensed in another state
- California has no separate endorsement license. Out-of-state OTs file the standard application. An OT with a valid license in another state who has passed the national exam may work in California for 60 calendar days after the board receives the application, in association with a California-licensed OT. [6]
Before your full license
New graduates and clinical fellows
- Temporary or provisional license
- Recent graduates can get a limited permit ($100) to work under supervision while waiting to take the NBCOT exam. You must apply to NBCOT within 4 months of finishing your education. The permit lasts up to 3 months and ends immediately if you fail the exam. [2]
After you are licensed
Keeping the license active
- Renewal
- Licenses renew every two years. They expire at midnight on the last day of your birth month, in odd or even years depending on your birth year. [7]
- Continuing education
- Each two-year renewal requires 24 professional development units (PDUs). Twelve of them must relate directly to delivering OT services, and up to 6 extra PDUs can carry over to the next period. [8]
Working in California
Pay and openings
Occupational therapists in California earn a mean of $121,920 a year (BLS). Most of our California 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 California board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.
- [1] https://www.bot.ca.gov/
- [2] https://www.bot.ca.gov/applicants/limited_permits.shtml
- [3] https://www.bot.ca.gov/applicants/lp_faq.shtml
- [4] https://www.bot.ca.gov/applicants/fingerprints.shtml
- [5] https://www.bot.ca.gov/applicants/app_faq.shtml
- [6] https://www.bot.ca.gov/forms_pubs/gen_faqs.shtml
- [7] https://www.bot.ca.gov/licensees/renewal_info.shtml
- [8] https://www.bot.ca.gov/licensees/competency_faqs.shtml
Other California licenses
Occupational therapy licenses in other states
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