Occupational Therapist / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia data shows for Occupational Therapists

District of Columbia sets the entry bar for occupational therapists at 3,573 training hours and a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under District of Columbia's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Budget $204 to get started, plus $175 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
33/100
Occupational Therapist · District of Columbia

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
3,573 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$204
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$88/yr
$175 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 District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,573 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$204
Renewal Fee
$175
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 District of Columbia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with District of Columbia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia's requirements cover 3573 hours of education or training, the NBCOT Certification Exam exam, and an initial fee of $204. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in District of Columbia? ▼
To become a licensed occupational therapist in District of Columbia, you must meet the state's requirements including 3573 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the District of Columbia licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
For occupational therapists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the District of Columbia licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for occupational therapist licensing in District of Columbia. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in District of Columbia? ▼
To stay licensed as an occupational therapist in District of Columbia, plan on 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $175.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

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

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the District of Columbia 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.