Licensure guide · Pennsylvania

How to get a Pennsylvania occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in Pennsylvania are licensed by the State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure. 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 met the academic requirements of an occupational therapy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), or one approved by the Board and nationally accredited, and must complete 6 months of supervised fieldwork experience. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) licensure examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), or qualify for a waiver of that examination. [2]
Required courses: Applicants must complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting for initial licensure. [2]
Fees: The initial licensing fee for an occupational therapist license is $30.00. [2]
Where to apply: Applications for Pennsylvania professional licenses are submitted and renewed online in the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). [8] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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

Licensed in another state: Applicants with a current license in good standing from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards may be licensed by endorsement if they have actively practiced for at least 2 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application, have not been disciplined, and have completed 3 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting training. [3]
Interstate compact: Pennsylvania enacted legislation to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact: House Bill 482 became Act No. 28 of 2026, approved by the Governor on July 20, 2026. [7]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Applicants who meet licensure requirements and have applied to take the licensure examination may receive a temporary license that authorizes practice only as an assistant under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Nonresidents licensed in a substantially equal jurisdiction or NBCOT-certified may also receive a temporary license to perform services for no longer than 6 consecutive months in a calendar year. [4]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Occupational therapist licenses expire June 30 of every odd-numbered year and are renewed through an online-only process; the Board emails renewal notices 70 to 60 days before expiration. [5]
Continuing education: Occupational therapists must complete at least 24 contact hours of continued competency activities each biennial period, including at least 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting. Apart from the 2 child abuse hours, licensees are exempt for the first biennial renewal period after initial licensure. [6]

Working in Pennsylvania

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in Pennsylvania earn a mean of $98,460 a year (BLS). Most of our Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

Getting licensed in Pennsylvania for a move?

Tell us the setting and the city you want. We will tell you which employers are hiring and how long they will wait for a license.

Start a confidential conversation