Licensure guide · Massachusetts

How to get a Massachusetts occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in Massachusetts are licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professions. 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 an accredited occupational therapist educational program approved by the Board and the therapist-level fieldwork requirements of an accredited program. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the licensure examination currently administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). [3]
Background check: Board staff review Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) on convictions and pending criminal cases, received from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, to decide whether an applicant must be reviewed by or appear before the Board. [4]
Fees: Licensure by examination costs $204.00 in total ($104.00 vendor fee plus $100.00 application and licensure fee), and licensure by reciprocity costs $260.00 ($160.00 vendor fee plus $100.00); all fees are non-refundable. [5]
Where to apply: Initial applications are filed online through the Board's application vendor, Professional Credential Services, Inc. (PCS), linked from the Board's application page. [9] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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

Licensed in another state: Occupational therapists holding a current license in good standing in another U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico may apply for licensure by endorsement, submitting an application, the fee, an official transcript, evidence of passing the required examination and official documentation of the current license. [6]
Interstate compact: Massachusetts has not joined the OT Compact; Senate bill S.2672, relative to the occupational therapist interstate licensure compact, was reported favorably on 11/13/2025 and referred to Senate Ways and Means. [8]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Recent occupational therapy graduates may request a temporary license, practicing under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist who co-signs all documentation; if the exam is given on an ongoing basis they must pass it within 120 days of receiving the temporary license. [6]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Occupational therapist licenses renew biennially (every 2 years) on the licensee's birthday, with a $100.00 renewal fee; a $57 late fee applies if the renewal is received after the license expires. [5]
Continuing education: Occupational therapists must complete at least 24 points of Board-recognized continuing competence activities each biennial renewal period, including two points in ethics, laws and regulations governing practice in Massachusetts; for therapists licensed by examination the requirement begins after their first renewal period. [7]

Working in Massachusetts

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in Massachusetts earn a mean of $99,730 a year (BLS). Most of our Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Massachusetts licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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