Licensure guide · District of Columbia

How to get a District of Columbia occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in District of Columbia are licensed by the Board of Rehabilitative Therapies. 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 complete an occupational therapy education program accredited by ACOTE and the period of supervised fieldwork required by their educational institution. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the NBCOT certification examination at the NBCOT-set passing score, and NBCOT must send the results directly to the Board. [2]
Background check: Applicants must complete (or re-do) a criminal background check with the online application and pay a $50 background check fee online. [3]
Fees: The application and license fee is $264, paid online with the application. [3]
Where to apply: New license applications are submitted through DC Health's online licensing application system, linked from the occupational therapy licensing page. [6] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

District of Columbia is not a member of the OT Compact: occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in another state need a full District of Columbia license before starting.

Licensed in another state: Occupational therapists licensed in another state apply by endorsement, submitting official license verifications from every state where they have ever held a license and an NBCOT certification verification letter. [4]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: An eligible applicant with an application on file may work under supervised practice from the date a Board representative signs the supervised practice form until the 60-day application file period expires; the form is issued only one time. [5]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Licenses are on a birth-month renewal cycle: credentials issued on or after June 16, 2024 expire on the last day of the holder's birth month, with renewals in odd or even years matching the birth year. [6]
Continuing education: Occupational therapists must complete 24 continuing education units per renewal, including 2 hours in LGBTQ cultural competence, and 10% of total continuing education must be in District public health priorities; first-time renewals are exempt. [7]

Working in District of Columbia

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in District of Columbia earn a mean of $110,850 a year (BLS). Most of our District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other District of Columbia licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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