Occupational Therapist / Colorado
2026 data Colorado board official source

Colorado Occupational Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Helps patients develop daily living and work skills. Requires masters or doctoral degree.

What the Colorado data shows for Occupational Therapists

To practice as an occupational therapist in Colorado, the state licensing board requires 3,851 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Colorado's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

The initial price tag is $267, and renewal costs $224 every 2 years. The license also carries an ongoing 36-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For occupational therapists, the reciprocity picture is: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
29/100
Occupational Therapist · Colorado

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,851 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$267
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$112/yr
$224 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
18.0 hrs/yr
36 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Colorado

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,851 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$267
Renewal Fee
$224
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
36 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Occupational Therapist All Colorado licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Colorado licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in Colorado? ▼
Colorado requires 3851 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBCOT Certification Exam), and an initial fee of $267. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in Colorado? ▼
Colorado licenses occupational therapists who complete its requirements (3851 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Colorado licensing board.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to Colorado from another state? ▼
Occupational Therapist licenses generally reciprocate as follows: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Colorado licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Colorado require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for occupational therapist licensing in Colorado. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in Colorado? ▼
Licensed occupational therapists in Colorado must complete 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $224.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

Occupational Therapist in Colorado, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an occupational therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Colorado's occupational therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Occupational Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state occupational therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Colorado's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Colorado overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Colorado licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.