Licensure guide · North Dakota

How to get a North Dakota occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in North Dakota are licensed by the North Dakota State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. 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 hold a degree from an occupational therapy program accredited by ACOTE, or a foreign occupational therapy degree that NBCOT deems comparable. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the NBCOT occupational therapist registered (OTR) certification examination. [2]
State law exam: All new and reciprocity applicants must complete an open-book jurisprudence exam of 20 questions on the laws and rules governing OT practice in North Dakota; the license is not issued until it is completed. [3]
Background check: The board reported in February 2026 that it has received authority under North Dakota law to perform criminal history checks through BCI, with FBI final approval still pending. [4]
Fees: Occupational therapist applicants pay a combined initial application and license fee of $200, or $125 if the application is received after 6/30 and on or before 12/31 of an odd year. [5]
Where to apply: Applicants apply through the board's online application, which accepts credit card payment and document uploads, linked from the Requirements for Licensure page. [3] Open the application →
Processing time: The board states that licenses are typically issued within a week after all completed documents are received. [3]

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

North Dakota has enacted the OT Compact but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed elsewhere still need a North Dakota license for now.

Licensed in another state: Occupational therapists licensed in another state apply by reciprocity and must have license verifications sent from every state where they currently hold or have held a license, send a copy of another state's laws and rules, and complete the jurisprudence exam. [3]
Interstate compact: North Dakota has enacted the OT Licensure Compact (ND Century Code 43-40.1, effective 8/1/2025), but the compact is not yet issuing licenses or accepting applications. [4]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Recent graduates who have not yet passed the NBCOT exam may apply for a limited permit, which is issued for four months and can be extended once for another four months; applicants must take the exam within four months of completing their education and experience requirements. [3]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Licenses must be renewed every 2 years, by June 30 of even-numbered years. [6]
Continuing education: Licensees must complete a minimum of twenty contact hours of continuing education within the twenty-four months before renewal; those first licensed partway through a cycle need 10 or 0 hours for that first period. Continuing education must relate to occupational therapy practice and the licensee's current or intended area of practice. [7]

Working in North Dakota

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in North Dakota earn a mean of $87,670 a year (BLS). Most of our North Dakota 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 North Dakota board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other North Dakota licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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