State Re-activation

In certain situations (for example, if an occupational therapy practitioner has not practiced for a certain period of time), regulatory laws in some states/jurisdictions require individuals who have obtained OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST REGISTERED OTR® (OTR), and/or CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT COTA® (COTA) certification to take the NBCOT examination for state regulatory purposes only.

Such state requirements must be met in order to obtain a limited permit or license to practice in that state/jurisdiction. Candidates taking the examination for this purpose are eligible as State Re-Activation candidates. These individuals must be pre-approved by the state regulatory entity to sit for the examination.

Since the formation of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT), in 1986, NBCOT has worked closely with state regulatory entities to administer the certification examinations (OTR/COTA) to individuals for State Re-Activation purposes. The NBCOT has done so in order to assist the states/jurisdictions who have this requirement written into their statutes and/or regulations.

Currently, jurisdictions known to require NBCOT’s examination for State Re-Activation purposes include: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. It is extremely important for each individual to contact the state agency directly to determine whether examination under the State Re-Activation provisions would be a requirement in order to obtain a limited permit or license to practice in that jurisdiction.

If you are required by the state to examine for State Re-activation purposes:

View the State Reactivation Handbook

For further information about the “State Re-activation” process please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .