Licensure guide · Tennessee

How to get a Tennessee occupational therapy license

Occupational therapists in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy. 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 ACOTE-accredited occupational therapist educational program and the supervised fieldwork experience required by ACOTE, and must be of good moral character. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the NBCOT certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and the Board adopts NBCOT's passing scores. [2]
Background check: Applicants must have the results of a criminal background check sent to the Board directly from the vendor named in the application materials. [2]
Fees: The occupational therapist application fee is $125 and is nonrefundable; applicants also pay a $10 state regulatory fee with the application. [2]
Where to apply: Applicants apply online for an initial license through the Tennessee Department of Health's online licensure system, linked from the Board's Applications section, and can pay by credit card, debit card or e-check. [1] Open the application →
Processing time: Applications are accepted throughout the year, and completed files are ordinarily processed at the next Board meeting scheduled for reviewing files. [2]

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

Tennessee is a OT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Tennessee without applying for a new state license.

Licensed in another state: The Board may license by reciprocity an occupational therapist who holds current licensure or certification in another state, D.C. or a U.S. territory and whose education and experience meet or exceed Tennessee's requirements; verification of licensure must be sent from every state where the applicant is or has been licensed. [2]
Interstate compact: Tennessee is an OT Compact member that began accepting applications for OT Compact privileges on May 20, 2026; the Tennessee state fee is $125 for OTs plus the $75 compact fee, and no jurisprudence exam is required. [3]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: A limited permit may be issued to applicants who have completed the educational and fieldwork requirements and are scheduled to take the NBCOT exam; holders must practice under a licensed occupational therapist's supervision, must take the exam within 90 days, and the permit is non-renewable (fee $25). [2]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Licenses renew every two years (the biennial renewal fee is $135 for occupational therapists), due by the last day of the licensee's birth month. [2]
Continuing education: Occupational therapists must complete 24 continued competence credits in the 24 months before the renewal month, including 1 hour on ethics and 1 hour on Tennessee occupational therapy law and rules; they must also complete a 2-hour Board-approved suicide prevention training at least once every 4 years. [2]

Working in Tennessee

Pay and openings

Occupational therapists in Tennessee earn a mean of $95,080 a year (BLS). Most of our Tennessee 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 Tennessee board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Tennessee licenses

Occupational therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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