Licensure guide · Oregon

How to get a Oregon occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in Oregon are licensed by the Oregon Occupational Therapy Licensing Board. 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

State law exam: All applicants must pass the Oregon Law/Ethics exam, an open-book online exam, before receiving a license. [2]
Required courses: Applicants must complete the free Oregon Health Authority Pain Commission 1-hour pain management course as a condition of licensure and upload the completion certificate. [3]
Background check: All applicants must pass a fingerprint background check before licensure, with prints taken at a Fieldprint office; the $50 background check cost is added to the licensure fee. [3]
Fees: Starting March 1, 2026, the OT application fee is $330 ($280 plus a $50 fingerprint background check fee) for a two-year license; application fees are non-refundable. [3]
Where to apply: Applications are submitted through the Board's online Applicant Portal, linked from the OT & OTA Applications page. [3] Open the application →
Processing time: The Board states it issues the license within 3 days once all documentation is received. [3]

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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

Licensed in another state: Occupational therapists coming from another state apply through the same application; they do not need to send school transcripts or NBCOT verification, but must have official verifications sent from every state where they were licensed and worked. [3]
Interstate compact: Oregon is not part of the OT Licensure Compact, so an Oregon license is required; the 2025 bill (HB 2357) to enact the compact did not pass. [6]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: A one-time limited permit is available to applicants waiting to take the NBCOT exam; it costs $25, is valid for 90 days, and requires supervision by an Oregon-licensed OT. [4]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Continuing education: Licensees must earn at least 30 points of CE in the two years before renewal (current NBCOT certification satisfies this), plus 1 hour of cultural competency and the OHA pain management module every renewal. [5]

Working in Oregon

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in Oregon earn a mean of $112,000 a year (BLS). We have 1 public occupational therapy opening in Oregon right now, and more searches that are never posted.

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 Oregon board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Oregon licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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