Licensure guide · New Jersey
How to get a New Jersey occupational therapy license
Occupational therapists in New Jersey are licensed by the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council. 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 their school send an official transcript directly to the Council showing completion of a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy, plus verification of at least 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork. [2]
- National exam
- Applicants must pass the NBCOT certification examination; those who took it on or after January 1, 2003 must have NBCOT send a score transfer showing a passing result. [2]
- State law exam
- Every applicant must complete the Council's online jurisprudence orientation on New Jersey occupational therapy statutes and regulations before a license is issued. [3]
- Background check
- Applicants must complete a Certification and Authorization Form with the application and will then receive a letter with instructions for scheduling digital fingerprinting for a criminal history background check. [2]
- Fees
- The application fee is $100.00 and non-refundable. The occupational therapist license fee, paid after the Council confirms eligibility, is $160.00 in the first year of the biennial period or $80.00 in the second year. [2]
- Where to apply
- Applicants apply through the Council's online Application for Occupational Therapist, linked from its Applications page. [5] Open the application →
- Processing time
- The Council lists current timeframes of 3 weeks for initial review (Phase I), 3-5 weeks for the background check and deficiencies (Phase II), and 1-2 weeks to approval (Phase III). [4]
Moving to the state
Already licensed somewhere else?
New Jersey is not a member of the OT Compact: occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in another state need a full New Jersey license before starting.
- Licensed in another state
- Applicants who hold a current, active license in good standing in another state that meets New Jersey's minimum requirements may apply by endorsement, with license verification sent directly from each state where they were ever licensed. [2]
Before your full license
New graduates and clinical fellows
- Temporary or provisional license
- A temporary license is available to applicants scheduled to take the NBCOT examination; the holder may practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, and a $50.00 fee is submitted with a verification of supervision form. [2]
After you are licensed
Keeping the license active
- Renewal
- Licenses run on a biennial cycle that ends on September 30 of odd-numbered years. [2]
Working in New Jersey
Pay and openings
Occupational therapists in New Jersey earn a mean of $110,150 a year (BLS). Most of our New Jersey 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 New Jersey board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.
- [1] https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ot/Pages/default.aspx
- [2] https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Documents/licenseprocess/Occupational-Therapy-Application-Process.pdf
- [3] https://www.nj.gov/lps/ca2/OT/OTJ/index.html
- [4] https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ot/Pages/Phases-and-Timelines.aspx
- [5] https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ot/pages/applications.aspx
Other New Jersey licenses
Occupational therapy licenses in other states
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